Keiichi Tsuchiya Keiichi Tsuchiya born 1956,Tomi-Nagano-Japan,is a professional racing driver.He also known as the 'Drift King' otherwise as 'Dorikin'for his nontraditional use of drifting in non-drifting racing events and his role in popularizing drifting as a motorsport.He is also known for touge driving.The car that he uses to drive TOYOTA AE 86 SPRINTER TRUENO.Tsuchiya started his career through amateur racing in the Fuji Freshman series in 1977.Unlike many drivers who came a traditional route via wealthy families or previous motorsport backround,he honed his skills from street racing becoming an underground legend.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:He would continue to take part in the JTCC,the latter whilst driving a Skyline GT-R,in the group A championship and later a Honda Civic in the supertouring car championship.
LE MANS:He went on to score a class win and a top place at the 1995 Le Mans in Honda NSX.In 1999 of the same race,this time in a Toyota GT-One,during the last hour while co-driver Ukyo Katayama was building up pace to the leading BMW v12 LMR he was forced in to the grass by a backmarker privateer's BMW LMP,blowing the tire out.They survived the ordeal and went on to score the fastest lap but were forced to settle for second.
NASCAR:He has raced in nascar sancioned exhibition races at Suzuka Circuit and at Twing Ring Motegi Superspeedway for the 1998 Nascar sancioned exhibition and 1999 Nascar Grand National Division,Auto Zone West Series races at the circuit,both named the Coca Cola 500k.
RETIREMENT:His last race was round eight at Suzuka for the japanase GT Championship(JGTC)
After his retirement,he remained in racing and is now an offical D1 Grand PRIX judge and was team director for both GT500(for one year) GT300 slass of ARTA,JGTC Team until the team disbanded their GT300 operation at the end of the 2005 season.He owned the aftermarket 'KEI OFFICE' until he sold the business to ogura racing clutch in 2005.
HISTORY:
-1985 all japan touring car championship (toyota ae86) 1st in class 3
-1986 corolla sprinter cup-2 podium places
-1987 all japan touring car championship (honda civic)-1 win
-1988 toyota cup-1st overall
all japan touring car championship (bmw m30)-3rd in class 2
macau guia race (bmw m3)-4th overall
-1989 all japan f3 championship
all japan touring car championship (ford sierra cosworth)-1 win
-1990 all japan touring car championship (ford sierra cosworth)
macau guia race (ford sierra cosworth)
new zealand touring car series (toyota)
-1991 all japan f3 championship (ralt-mugen)-10th overall
all japan touring car championship (nissan skyline gt-r)-5th overall
-1992 all japan touring car championship (nissan skyline gt-r)
-1993 all japan touring car championship (taisan nissan skyline gt-r)-1 win
japan endurance series (honda prelude)-2nd tsukuba 12 hours
-1994 all japan gt championship (porsche 911t)-1 win
all japan touring car championship (honda civic)
suzuka 1000kms (porsche 911t)-1st in class, 2nd overall
le mans 24 hours (honda nsx)-18th overall
