Hiroshi Masuoka (rally driver)

Hiroshi Masuoka (増岡 浩, Masuoka Hiroshi, born 13 March 1960) is a Japanese rally driver.

Hiroshi Masuoka - Dakar 2009

Career

Masuoka's most notable achievement was his back-to-back successes in the Dakar Rally in 2002 and 2003, only the fourth driver in the event's history to win in consecutive years.[1] He was also victorious in the 2003 Baja Italy and the 2004 UAE Desert Challenge.[2]

Throughout his career he has been employed as a works driver by Mitsubishi, typically driving a Pajero. The 2009 Dakar Rally was his 21st and final participation in the rally, after which he retired along with Mitsubishi's withdrawal from the event. During his Dakar career, he won 25 stages, putting him fifth in the all-time list for the car category. He is now Senior Expert of Mitsubishi's Public Relations Department.[3]

Personal life

Masuoka currently resides in Iruma, Saitama Prefecture, with his wife Chiaki and son Shoichiro.[2]

Dakar Rally results
YearClassVehicleResultStages
1987 Car Japan Mitsubishi 29th 2
1988 DNF 0
1989 Did not enter
1990 Car Japan Mitsubishi 10th 0
1991 95th 0
1992 20th 0
1993 DNF 0
1994 4th 0
1995 10th 0
1996 6th 1
1997 4th 1
1998 4th 2
1999 6th 0
2000 6th 1
2001 2nd 5
2002 1st 5
2003 1st 4
2004 2nd 4
2005 DNF 0
2006 DNF 0
2007 5th 0
2008 Event cancelled – replaced by the 2008 Central Europe Rally
2009 Car Japan Mitsubishi DNF 0

References
  1. "Mitsubishi Motors Takes Third Straight Dakar Rally Title" Archived 2008-07-03 at the Wayback Machine, Mitsubishi Motors press release, January 20, 2003
  2. Official page, Pajero-dakar.com
  3. "Triumph on Pikes Peak", dSpace Magazin, January, 2015, p.50
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