Heros Racing Explained

Heros Racing
Long Name:Heros Racing Corporation
Base:Japan
Drivers: Kazuyoshi Hoshino
Constructors:Tyrrell
Kojima
Debut:1976 Japanese Grand Prix
Races:2
Cons Champ:0
Drivers Champ:0
Wins:0
Podiums:0
Points:0
Poles:0
Fastest Laps:0
Last Race:1977 Japanese Grand Prix

Heros Racing (listed in some sources as Heroes Racing) was a Japanese motor racing team which competed briefly in Formula One in the and seasons. The team entered the 1976 and 1977 Japanese Grands Prix, each time with local driver Kazuyoshi Hoshino with a best result of 11th in 1977.[1] The team also competed in two races in the 1978 European Formula Two Championship and in Japanese top formula racing.

Racing history

Formula One

The team's first F1 race was the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix, where Hoshino qualified 21st using an outdated Tyrrell 007. However, in the race, run in very wet conditions, he placed as high as third at one point before having to pit for replacement tyres. He was forced to retire on lap 28 (of 73), having used all his available tyres.[2] [3]

At the 1977 event, the team entered Hoshino in a Kojima KE009. He qualified 11th ahead of several works entries and also finished 11th, two laps down.[4]

Formula Two

Heros Racing, with Hoshino driving, competed in two races in the 1978 European Formula Two Championship using a Nova-BMW, but did not score any points.[5]

Japanese Top Formula racing

The Japanese Top Formula series (also known as the Super Formula Championship) was the premier single-seater domestic series run to various formulae over several years. In 1973, Motoharu Kurosawa, driving a March 722 for Heros Racing, won the inaugural series run to Formula 2000 rules.[6] This success was repeated in 1976 with Noritake Takahara driving a Nova-BMW[7] and again in 1977 with Hoshino using a Nova. In 1978, the series moved to Formula Two rules and Hoshino again took the title with a Nova-BMW.[8]

In 1984, 1985 and 1986 the team achieved a further hat-trick of title wins with Japanese driver Satoru Nakajima in a March-Honda,[9] and one further title in 1991 for Ukyo Katayama (Lola-Cosworth DFV) when the series had moved on to Formula 3000 regulations.[10]

Complete Formula One results

(key)

YearChassisEngineDriver1234567891011121314151617WDCPoints
1976Tyrrell 007Cosworth V8Kazuyoshi HoshinoBRARSAUSWESPBELMONSWEFRAGBRGERAUTNEDITACANUSAJPN
Ret
NC0
1977Kojima KE009Cosworth V8Kazuyoshi HoshinoARGBRARSAUSWESPMONBELSWEFRAGBRGERAUTNEDITAUSACANJPN
11
NC0

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kazuyoshi Hoshino - Grands Prix started • Stats F1. www.statsf1.com. 21 September 2016.
  2. Web site: The Japanese Grand Prix. Henry. Alan. Alan Henry. December 1976. Motor Sport magazine archive. 34. 21 September 2016.
  3. Book: Small, Steve. The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who. 1994. Guinness. 191. 0851127029.
  4. Web site: Henry. Alan. Alan Henry. The Japanese Grand Prix: Hunt leaves no doubt . Motor Sport magazine archive. December 1977. 44. 22 September 2016.
  5. Web site: Heros Racing Corporation. 2015. Motor Sport magazine database. 21 September 2016.
  6. Web site: Motoharu Kurosawa. driverdb.com. 22 September 2016.
  7. Web site: Noritake Takahara. www.historicracing.com. 22 September 2016. 24 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160424045710/http://historicracing.com/driver_nation.cfm?countryCode=JP&driverID=5240. dead.
  8. Web site: Kazuyoshi Hoshino, Racing career profile, Driver Database. www.driverdb.com. 22 September 2016.
  9. Web site: Satoru Nakajima. driverdb.com. 23 September 2016.
  10. Web site: Ukyo Katayama. www.driverdb.com. 23 September 2016.