Hiroshi Masuoka
Encyclopedia
Hiroshi Masuoka (born 13 March 1960) is a Japan
ese rally driver. His 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. He was also victorious in the 2003 Baja Italy and the 2004 UAE Desert Challenge. Throughout his career he has been employed as a works driver by Mitsubishi Motors
, typically driving a Pajero
. The 2007 Dakar Rally
was his twentieth consecutive participation in the event, during which time he has failed to finish only once.
He currently resides in Iruma, Saitama Prefecture
, with his wife Chiaki and son Shoichiro.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese rally driver. His most notable achievement was his back-to-back successes in the Dakar Rally
Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally is an annual rally raid type of off-road automobile race, organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation...
in 2002 and 2003, only the fourth driver in the event's history to win in consecutive years. He was also victorious in the 2003 Baja Italy and the 2004 UAE Desert Challenge. Throughout his career he has been employed as a works driver by Mitsubishi Motors
Mitsubishi Motors
is a multinational automaker headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. In 2009 it was the fifth-largest Japan-based automaker and the 17th-largest in the world measured by production...
, typically driving a Pajero
Mitsubishi Pajero
The Mitsubishi Pajero is a sport utility vehicle manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors. It was named after Leopardus pajeros, the Pampas Cat which is native to the Patagonia plateau region of southern Argentina. However, since pajero is an offensive term for "wanker" in Spanish, alternative names have...
. The 2007 Dakar Rally
2007 Dakar Rally
The 2007 Dakar Rally was the 29th running of the event. It started in Lisbon, Portugal on 6 January and ran through Europe and Africa until 21 January 2007.-Entrants:...
was his twentieth consecutive participation in the event, during which time he has failed to finish only once.
He currently resides in Iruma, Saitama Prefecture
Saitama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
, with his wife Chiaki and son Shoichiro.