TSUGIO MATSUDA
Date of birth: 18 June 1979
Place of birth: Mie prefecture, Japan
Nationality: Japanese
Lives: Tokyo, Japan
Languages: Japanese
Twitter: @TsugioMatsuda
Tsugio Matsuda is the reigning Super GT GT500 Champion after winning the title in 2014 in the #23 Motul Autech GT-R. Along with his team-mate Ronnie Quintarelli he won the final round at Motegi in November, sealing the coveted Super GT title for NISMO.
Matsuda's career began in go karts before he progressed to the All-Japan Formula 3 Championship in 1998. From there he moved to the Formula Nippon series where he became Champion in 2007 and 2008. Since 2000 he has competed regularly in Super GT (formerly JGTC) and Formula Nippon, making him one of the most experienced drivers in the NISMO team.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2014
- Winner of the Super GT GT500 Championship (with team mate Ronnie Quintarelli). Raced the #23 Motul Autech GT-R (Nissan GT-R NISMO GT500).
- Competed in the Silverstone and Austin rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship in LM P2 with KCMG, finishing second and first respectively.
2013
- Participated in Super GT in a Nissan GT-R. Finished 9th in the Driver's rankings, team placed 9th in the Team standings.
- Super Formula (formerly Formula Nippon): series ranking 6th
- Raced in the Fuji round of the FIA World Endurance Championship in LM P2 with KCMG and the Sepang round of the Asian Le Mans Series.
2012
- Participated in Super GT in a Nissan GT-R. Came 4th in the Driver's rankings, team placed 4th in the Team standings.
- Formula Nippon: series ranking 8th
2011
- Participated in Super GT in a Nissan GT-R. Came 5th in the Driver's rankings, team placed 5th in the Team standings.
2010
- Super GT: (Nissan GT-R) driver ranking 5th, team ranking 5th
- Formula Nippon: series ranking 14th (partial season)
2009
- Super GT: (Nissan GT-R), driver ranking 11th, team ranking 10th
- Formula Nippon: series ranking 11th
2008
- Super GT: (Nissan GT-R), driver ranking 5th, team ranking 4th
- Formula Nippon: Series champion
2007
- Super GT: (Fairlady Z), driver ranking 5th, team ranking 2nd
- Formula Nippon: Series champion
2006
- Super GT: (Fairlady Z), driver ranking 6th, team ranking 4th
- Formula Nippon: series ranking 2nd
2005
- Formula Nippon: series ranking 6th
- Super GT: series ranking 9th
2004
- Formula Nippon: series ranking 11th
- JGTC: series ranking 8th (1 win)
2003
- Formula Nippon: series ranking 11th
- JGTC: series ranking 11th
2002
- Formula Nippon: series ranking 5th
- JGTC: series ranking 2nd (3 wins)
2001
- Formula Nippon: series ranking 10th
- JGTC: series ranking 8th (1 win)
2000
- Formula Nippon: series ranking 4th (1 win) - Youngest Japanese winner, youngest to reach the podium.
- JGTC (Japanese GT Championship)
1999
- Japanese F3: series ranking 5th
- Macau F3 GP: 4th, Korea F3 GP
1998
- Japanese F3: series ranking 4th (1 win)
- Formula Nippon: Spot entry at Suzuka
- Macau GP
1997
- SRS-F (Suzuka Racing School Formula): scholarship recipient
1996
- World Cup Asia Pacific Championship, ICA class champion
- All Japan Kart Championship, FSA class
1994-95
- All Japan Kart
1993
- Karting debut
Last Update: 12 January 2015
