Masataka Yanagida

Masataka Yanagida, born on June 4, 1979, is a highly accomplished Japanese racing driver with a career spanning several racing disciplines. The son of former racer Haruhito Yanagida, Masataka began his racing journey in karting in 1993. He then honed his skills in France, competing in Formula Renault Campus and the French Formula Renault Championship in the late 1990s. Returning to Japan, he raced in Formula Dream, securing multiple victories before transitioning to Japanese Formula 3 and Japanese GT racing in 2001.

Yanagida's career highlights include winning the GT300 class in 2003 and the Super Taikyu Series ST1 class in 2009. His success continued in the GT500 class of Super GT, where he achieved back-to-back championships in 2011 and 2012. This historic feat made him the first driver to win both GT300 and GT500 class titles in successive years. Over his Super GT career, Yanagida has amassed numerous wins, pole positions, and podium finishes, solidifying his reputation as a top-tier driver. In recent years, he has continued to compete in Super GT, contributing to various teams and showcasing his enduring talent and passion for motorsports.