Japanese Drivers at Le Mans: From Sekiya to Nakajima
Japanese Drivers at Le Mans: From Sekiya to Nakajima
From the first winner in 1995 to three straight Toyota triumphs, Japan has a proud history at Le Mans. An overview.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans holds a special place in Japanese motorsport. From Masanori Sekiya, the first Japanese winner in 1995, to Kazuki Nakajima’s three Toyota triumphs, Japan has a proud history at the world’s greatest endurance race — both as drivers and through manufacturers like Toyota and Mazda.
1. The first winner
Sekiya breaks through.
Masanori Sekiya became the first Japanese driver to win Le Mans, in 1995 — a landmark for the country at the great race.1 Four years earlier, Mazda had given Japan its first manufacturer win with the 787B in 1991.
2. The Toyota era
Years of effort, finally rewarded.
After a long quest, Toyota dominated Le Mans from 2018 — with Kazuki Nakajima winning three in a row (2018–2020), the only Japanese multiple winner.1 See our guide to the WEC hypercar era.
3. The new generation
Japan’s endurance present.
Today, drivers such as Ryo Hirakawa and Kamui Kobayashi carry the flag in top-level endurance racing, keeping Japan at the front at Le Mans.
4. Why it matters
A race woven into Japanese motorsport.
Le Mans is where Japanese manufacturers and drivers have made some of their biggest global statements — a tradition explored across our Japanese cars at Le Mans guide.
Frequently asked questions
Who was the first Japanese driver to win Le Mans?
Masanori Sekiya, in 1995.
Who is the most successful Japanese driver at Le Mans?
Kazuki Nakajima, with three wins (2018–2020) for Toyota.
When did a Japanese manufacturer first win?
Mazda, with the 787B in 1991.
Keep exploring
Explore the stories, systems and culture behind Japanese sport.
Sources & notes
- Masanori Sekiya first Japanese Le Mans winner (1995); Mazda 787B first Japanese manufacturer win (1991); Kazuki Nakajima three wins (2018–2020), only Japanese multiple winner. 24h-lemans.com; Wikipedia.
A guide dated 21 June 2026. No copyrighted material is reproduced.
📅 更新履歴
| 日付 | 変更内容 |
|---|---|
| 2026年6月22日 | 初回公開 |
✅ ファクト再検証
最終検証日：2026年6月22日
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