Ryō Hirakawa: Bringing Japanese Motorsport Excellence to WEC and Formula 1

Brief overview of Ryō Hirakawa’s career in motorsport

Ryō Hirakawa is a Japanese racing driver best known for his work in top-level endurance racing. Born in Japan, he has built a strong international reputation racing for Toyota Gazoo Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

He reached global attention during his first full WEC Hypercar season in 2022, when he won the FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar Drivers’ title and the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 12, 2022, at Le Mans, France.

Hirakawa successfully defended the WEC Hypercar championship in 2023, confirming his place among the world’s elite endurance drivers. Alongside sports car racing, he has also gained Formula 1 testing and practice experience with McLaren.

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Ryō Hirakawa’s age, family and early life

Ryō Hirakawa was born on March 7, 1994, in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan. Growing up in a coastal city, he was introduced to motorsport later than most professional drivers, starting karting at age 13 in 2007. 

Hirakawa’s parents supported his interest in motorsports, and he quickly showed talent by winning the All Japan Junior Kart Championship in 2008, at just 14 years old. 

That success encouraged him to move into single-seater racing, and by 2009 he was competing nationally in Japan. His steady progress during his teenage years laid the foundation for his professional career.

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How did Ryō Hirakawa get to WEC?

Hirakawa’s route to the World Endurance Championship came through Japan’s top domestic series. He made his Super Formula debut in 2013 and competed full-time from 2014 through 2021, finishing runner-up in the 2020 Super Formula Championship. 

In parallel, he became a front-line driver in Super GT, where he won the 2017 Super GT GT500 championship with Lexus Team TOMS, one of Japan’s most competitive racing titles.

In February 2022, Toyota promoted Hirakawa to its Hypercar lineup for the FIA World Endurance Championship, pairing him with Sébastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley. His smooth driving style later attracted Formula 1 attention. 

On October 12, 2023, he tested a McLaren Formula 1 car at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and he later took part in FP1 at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in the United Arab Emirates.

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Notable moments and races in Ryō Hirakawa’s career

One of Hirakawa’s biggest milestones came in June 2022 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he won overall in his debut Hypercar season. That same year, he secured the 2022 WEC title with Toyota. 

In 2023, racing at circuits like Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Fuji Speedway in Japan, he repeated the championship success. 

Earlier in his career, his 2017 Super GT GT500 championship remains one of his most important achievements in Japanese motorsport.

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Ryō Hirakawa height: How tall is Ryō Hirakawa?

Ryō Hirakawa is approximately 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall. 

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What is Ryō Hirakawa’s net worth?

Ryō Hirakawa’s exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed. However, his income comes from Toyota factory contracts, WEC championship winnings from 2022 and 2023, sponsorship agreements, and Formula 1 testing duties. 

His success with Toyota places him among the highest-earning Japanese endurance drivers of his generation.

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Ryō Hirakawa’s relationship status: Who is Ryō Hirakawa’s wife?

Ryō Hirakawa is married and has a wife and a young daughter. While his wife’s name has not been made public, she has appeared with him at international race events, including the Monaco Grand Prix weekend in May 2025, alongside their daughter.

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Photo:Charly López / DPPI