Equally feisty and attacking on the tracks, the japanese driver. Behind the wheel of a galant vr4 he won the asiapacific rally championship in 1988. Race driver hiroshi masuoka, who counts 21 dakar rally starts to his name plus a backtoback title in 2002 and 2003, in his present capacity as a senior expert in mitsubishi motors corporations mmc public relations department was again wheeled out by the car maker so he could demonstrate the enhanced offroad capabilities of the revised mitsubishi strada pickup. Hiroshi masuoka japanese voice actor sazaesan dead at age 83. Hiroshi masuoka was born on august 7, 1936 in iwatsuki, saitama, japan. I retired from the rally scene after the dakar rally in 2009, but i was able to maximize my years of rally experience. Stephane peterhansel held onto the overall lead of the dakar rally despite his mitsubishi colleague hiroshi masuoka taking victory on stage nine. Most events since the inception in 1978 were from paris, france, to dakar, senegal, but due to security threats in mauritania, which led to the cancellation of the 2008 rally, the 2009 dakar rally was run in south america argentina and chile. We had the privilege to be taken for a taxi ride by hiroshi masuoka above, middle, two time, consecutive dakar rally champion 20032004 in the new 2019 mitsubishi triton pickup truck at the 4sure thrill roadshow organised by mitsubishi motors malaysia mmm over the weekend at setia city convention centre. We fasten our seatbelts for a ride with dakar champ hiroshi masuoka. Hiroshi masuoka of japan, in a mitsubishi, won the dakar rally. During event registration, we were given a stub that we could use for testing the pickup, and for going on a taxi ride with backtoback dakar rally winner hiroshi masuoka.
Bbc sport motorsport gordon grabs early dakar glory. Wikimedia commons has media related to rally drivers from japan pages in category japanese rally drivers the following 10 pages are in this category, out of 10 total. If you want proof, you neednt look any further than whenever dakar rally legend hiroshi masuokaonly the fourth driver to win the world. Mitsubishi upbeat despite hiroshi masuoka s withdrawal mitsubishi believe they are still wellplaced for an eighth successive dakar rally triumph despite the shock withdrawal of two. Masuokasan has to be one of the most chill drivers youll ever encounter. His most notable achievement was his backtoback successes in the dakar rally in 2002 and 2003, only the. Aside from being a voice actor, hiroshi masuoka is also a rally car driver. Hiroshi masuoka japan born march, 1960, in saitama prefecture, japan. Masuokasan is a famous japanese rally champion driver, and mitsubishis works driver. We spend a day with mitsubishis rally master and a pair of electric race cars and see what the future of motorsport could be like. The 29th baja portalegre 500 in 2015 mitsubishi motors. Japanese driver hiroshi masuoka was forced out of the dakar rally following a crash during yesterdays fourth stage. She made motorsports history when she rolled into dakar, senegal, on jan.
Results first before continuing with factory team, says outlander phev driver hiroshi masuoka. Hiroshi masuoka born th march 1960 is a professional racing driver who competes internationally for japan. Riding in the outlander phev rally car with masuoka. Masuokas most notable achievement outside of work was hisvictory at the dakar rally in 2002 and 2003, making him just the fourth driver history to win back to back. Frances stephane peterhansel and hiroshi masuoka of japan are favorites to maintain mitsubishis stranglehold on the dakar rally when the 28th race starts on saturday. Evolution iii blasts past the main straight with rally master hiroshi masuoka at the controls. He was an actor, known for hyakuju sentai gaorenja 2001, doragon boru. He easily maneuvers the 2,870kg strada across the tight pradera. I first participated in the dakar rally 18 years ago. Since his debut in 1967, his greatest successes have been as a works driver for mitsubishi motors. Mitsubishi upbeat despite hiroshi masuoka s withdrawal mitsubishi believe they are still wellplaced for an eighth successive dakar rally. German jutta kleinschmidt became the first woman to win the parisdakar rally on sunday, after completing the last 25kms timed stage in dakar. He also finished on a podium two times, in 2001 and 2004. Bbc sport motorsport kleinschmidt makes rally history.
Mitsubishis factory team stopped joining the wrc starting in 2005, and also stopped joining the rallye dakar starting in 2010, but now they are coming back. Japanese rally driver hiroshi masuoka has won the ninth stage of the paris to dakar rally from zouerat to atar in mauritania while defending motorcycle champion fabrizio meoni of italy maintained. Japans leading crosscountry driver made his international debut on the pharaohs rally in 1985. Masuoka san is a famous japanese rally champion driver, and mitsubishis works driver. It was only last year when he decided to retire from his. The longtime mitsubishi rally driver is a backtoback champion of the dakar rally, bagging top podium honors in 2002 and 2003. The former racing driver hiroshi masuoka is one of only two japanese racers who won the dakar rally. New mitsubishi outlander phev will race baja portalegre 500 challenge. Japans driver masuoka hiroshi of repsol mitsubishi ralliart. His most notable achievement was his backtoback successes in the dakar rally in 2002 and 2003, only the fourth driver in the events history to win in consecutive years. Japanese driver hiroshi masuoka and french copilot gilles picardon, wait for assistance as their mitsubishi broke 08 january 2004, during the 8th stage between atar and tidjika, for the 26th edition.
His most notable achievement was his backtoback successes in the dakar rally in 2002 and 2003 only the fourth driver in the events history to win in consecutive years. Its safe to assume that on transit stages, baja rally driver hiroshi masuoka probably utilizes the climate control to help cool things down a bit, and turns on the multimedia system to help. Robby gordon won the first stage of the dakar rally, a 6km super special, on the castelldefels beach near barcelona. Hiroshi masuoka and 8 related entities entities finder. Voltes v and dragon ball fans mourn the death of japanese. Since the inception of the dakar rally in 1979, 22 drivers have won the cars category, with stephane peterhansel the most successful of all with seven triumphs. Masuoka wins stage 9 of dakar rally 20020106 voice. Masuoka also will be playing a role as the team captain. Jan 29, 2019 during event registration, we were given a stub that we could use for testing the pickup, and for going on a taxi ride with backtoback dakar rally winner hiroshi masuoka.
Mitsubishi motors is the most successful make in dakar rally history, winning the worlds toughest race a record of 12 times. Jan, 2001 defending champion jeanlouis schlesser won yesterdays 580km special stage of the parisdakar rally in his schlesser buggy, but japans hiroshi masuoka hung on to the overall lead. Henri magne loses his life after a tragic accident in. Jan 21, 2001 german jutta kleinschmidt became the first woman to win the parisdakar rally on sunday, after completing the last 25kms timed stage in dakar. Mar 11, 2019 we had the privilege to be taken for a taxi ride by hiroshi masuoka above, middle, two time, consecutive dakar rally champion 20032004 in the new 2019 mitsubishi triton pickup truck at the 4sure thrill roadshow organised by mitsubishi motors malaysia mmm over the weekend at setia city convention centre. The mitsubishi driver beat japanese team mate hiroshi masuoka, while frenchman jeanlouis schlesser, the winner in 1999 and last year, finished third in his buggy.
Riding shotgun with dakar rally champ masuoka on the strada. Ride with dakar rally hiroshi masuoka with the mitsubishi. Hiroshi masuoka was born in the saitama prefecture on august 7, 1936. His everpresent grin and easygoing demeanour hide a. New mitsubishi outlander phev will race baja portalegre. A word from hiroshi masuoka team captain and driver this is the first time ive competed in the baja portalegre in 10 years. We take a spin around a rally driver s playground with hiroshi masuoka. Hiroshi masuoka, dortoka maisuaren ahotsa jatorrizko bertsioan, hil egin da. The mitsubishi driver beat japanese team mate hiroshi. Dec 18, 2015 in 2001, jutta kleinschmidt from germany became the first and only female driver to win dakar rally. Mar 05, 2019 hiroshi masuoka is the second only japanese driver in history to win the dakar rally in year 2002 in a mitsubishi pajeromontero.
Unlike regular rallies that are run on paved and unpaved roads, rally raids are. But you got to remember this is the land of trophy trucks, shelby mustangs and top fuel dragsters. To the uninitiated, masuokasan is one of the most revered of rally drivers, more specifically rally raids. The outlander phev driver, hiroshi masuoka, is a dakar legend having won the brutal event in 2002 and 2003 in mitsubishi pajero evos. Dakar rally champ hiroshi masuoka 3rd place pikes peak run. Racing electric with mitsubish is hir oshi masuoka. Japans driver masuoka hiroshi of repsol mitsubishi ralliart arrives at a check point on april 19, 2008 at the kossuth square in front of the hungarian parliament building, at budapest downtown, prior to the central european rally cer. Jan 20, 2003 hiroshi masuoka of japan, in a mitsubishi, won the dakar rally for the second straight year, completing a grueling 18day race that began in the french port of marseille and ended yesterday at the. Seiyu hiroshi masuoka passed away at the age of 83. He was also victorious in the 2003 baja italy and the 2004 uae desert challenge. Japanese driver hiroshi masuoka and french copilot gilles. They conducted a shakedown at the dirt course at ikenotaira wonder land in aichi prefecture before the rally. We fasten our seatbelts for a ride with dakar champ. In total, masuoka participated twentyone times at dakar rally, always driving for mitsubishi.
We can also appreciate adrian newey, reinhold joest, sebastien loeb, jackie ickx, hiroshi masuoka, vladimir chagin, audi, citroen, porsche, renault and other nonamerican powerhouses of the racing world. For the upcoming baja portalegre 500, hiroshi masuoka of mitsubishi motors, who had two successive championships at the dakar rally in 2002 to 2003, will be the driver as well as the team manager. Together with co driver andreas schulz, she won driving a mitsubishi pajero with just two and a half minutes advantage over hiroshi masuoka after more than 6000 competitive kilometers. Japanese rally driver hiroshi masuoka has been driving with mitsubishi his entire career and has participated in the dakar rally the original african one 12 times, of which he claimed back to. How to go rallying in a mitsubishi outlander phev autocar. Hiroshi masuoka what made you want to take part in the dakar rally. Masuoka surname hiroshi given name people of saitama prefecture. He started his voice acting career in the anime wolf boy ken as kuma. Hiroshi masuoka climbs pikes peak in the mitsubishi imiev evolution. Media in category hiroshi masuoka the following 2 files are in this category, out of 2 total.
His most notable achievement was his backtoback successes in the dakar rally. Ouarzazate morocco team repsol mitsubishi ralliart withdrew stephane peterhansel and co driver jeanpaul cottret from the orpi rally of morocco after the final 222 km selective section, as a mark of respect to team co driver henri magne, who lost his life in a tragic accident between the first and second passage controls at the 60. Ride with dakar rally hiroshi masuoka with the mitsubishi strada. Taxi ride with hiroshi masuoka two time dakar rally. Oct 15, 2016 masuokasan is a japanese national who gained worldwide acclaim for his skills behind the steering wheel. History of dakar rally, one of the worlds most iconic racing. Of course, i immediately lined up for the taxi ride and the taters snack bar. It was only last year when he decided to retire from his voice acting roles due to his advanced age.
Hiroshi masuoka of mmc who won the dakar rally two years in succession in 2002 and 2003. The 2009 dakar rally was his 21st and final participation. The historic dakar rally is perhaps the toughest offroad race in the world, and masuokasan has notched 25. The first win by an american in the car category, the volkswagen driver clocked four minutes 20. The twotime former winner, who was in second place following mondays special. Masuoka did that two times in a row, driving the factoryentered mitsubishi pajero in 2002 and 2003.
His most notable achievement was his backtoback successes in the dakar rally in 2002 and 2003, only the fourth. In total, masuoka participated twentyone times at dakar rally, always driving for. He played the role of masuo in sazaesan for 41 years and uncle ja 2 weeks ago. At the end of november he will enter the qatar baja driving the mitsubishi pajero montero to gain as much. Kaette kita son goku to nakamatachi 2008 and dragon ball z. Masuoka hiroshi born march 1960 is a japanese rally driver. Masuoka obviously learned his lesson, as he added the following two editions to his roll of honour.