Hitoshi Ogawa
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese racing car driver.
and finished 2nd in the same championship in 1990. In the same year, teaming up with Masanori Sekiya
, he won the JAF Grand Prix All Japan Fuji 500km
, held at Fuji
. In 1992, he won the first round of the World Sportscar Championship
in Monza
in C1, partnering Geoff Lees
.
's car on the main straight, but the latter held his position while Ogawa moved slightly to the side. He clipped the rear left wheel and the front of his car became lodged in the rear bodywork. Both went down the straight at speed and went into the gravel trap, which was insufficient in slowing down either car. Gilbert-Scott spun, hit the tyre wall and flipped, landing upside-down. Ogawa went in nose-first, hit a mound in the gravel trap and was launched over the tyre barrier, hitting a high-fence supporting pole. Both cars were wrecked and the race was stopped immediately. As a result of the accident at least one cameraman, several photographers, and Gilbert-Scott all sustained injuries. Ogawa was freed but had suffered severe leg, head and neck injuries and was pronounced dead on the way to hospital.
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 racing car driver.
Career
During the 1980s, he competed in several Fuji Grand Champion Series races. Ogawa won the 1989 All Japan Formula 3000 Championship1989 Japanese Formula 3000 season
The 1989 Japanese Formula 3000 season was contested over 8 rounds. 17 different teams, 29 different drivers, 5 different chassis and 2 different engines competed.-Calendar:-Driver:...
and finished 2nd in the same championship in 1990. In the same year, teaming up with Masanori Sekiya
Masanori Sekiya
is a racing car driver from Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, most famous for being the first Japanese driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1995.Sekiya drove in single-seaters in his early career, contesting the Japanese Formula 3000 Championship and Formula Nippon from 1987 to 1993, mostly for the...
, he won the JAF Grand Prix All Japan Fuji 500km
JAF Grand Prix
The is an auto race held in Japan by the Japan Automobile Federation . The race was first held in 1969 as a formula car race, and 20 events where held until 1990....
, held at Fuji
Fuji Speedway
is a race track standing in the foothills of Mount Fuji, in Oyama, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the early 1960s and hosted the first Formula One race in Japan in 1976. In the 1980s, Fuji Speedway was used for the FIA World Sportscar Championship and national racing...
. In 1992, he won the first round of the World Sportscar Championship
1992 World Sportscar Championship season
The 1992 Sportscar World Championship season was the 40th and final FIA World Sportscar Championship season. It was a series of Group C formula sportscars separated into two classes, termed C1 and FIA Cup. It ran from April 26, 1992 to October 18, 1992, comprising 6 races.-Pre-Season:From the...
in Monza
1992 500km of Monza
The 1992 500 km of Monza was the opening race of the FIA Sportscar World Championship. It was run on April 26, 1992-Official results:Class winners in bold...
in C1, partnering Geoff Lees
Geoff Lees
Geoffrey Lees is a former racing driver from England. He participated in 12 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 16 July 1978. He scored no championship points.-Career:...
.
Death
Ogawa was killed in an accident on lap 27 of a round held at Suzuka in 1992. Ogawa aimed to overtake Andrew Gilbert-ScottAndrew Gilbert-Scott
Andrew Gilbert-Scott is a former British racing driver.- Early career :He started his racing career in the Formula Ford British championship in 1981. In 1983, he moved to the Lola Formula Ford works team...
's car on the main straight, but the latter held his position while Ogawa moved slightly to the side. He clipped the rear left wheel and the front of his car became lodged in the rear bodywork. Both went down the straight at speed and went into the gravel trap, which was insufficient in slowing down either car. Gilbert-Scott spun, hit the tyre wall and flipped, landing upside-down. Ogawa went in nose-first, hit a mound in the gravel trap and was launched over the tyre barrier, hitting a high-fence supporting pole. Both cars were wrecked and the race was stopped immediately. As a result of the accident at least one cameraman, several photographers, and Gilbert-Scott all sustained injuries. Ogawa was freed but had suffered severe leg, head and neck injuries and was pronounced dead on the way to hospital.