In a historic moment for Formula Drift, 14-year-old Hiroya Minowa has become the youngest driver ever to secure a podium finish in the series. Competing in the Formula Drift Pro Championship, Minowa drove his Toyota GT86, equipped with GT Radial tires, to an impressive second-place finish.
Minowa, who joined the GT Radial team at the start of the 2024 season as part of Team Jerry Yang Racing, has quickly made a name for himself in the motorsport world. His achievement was met with enthusiasm by the GT Radial team.
Mike Meeiem, GT Radial’s motorsports manager, expressed the team’s excitement, stating that they were thrilled to see Minowa reach a podium finish so early in his promising career.
Meeiem highlighted the company’s dedication to nurturing young talent, noting that after Amanda Sorensen made history as the first woman to podium with a second-place finish in the New Jersey ProSpec round, GT Radial now has the honor of supporting the youngest driver ever to reach the podium. Minowa narrowly missed the top spot, finishing just behind series points leader James Deane, who claimed first place in St. Louis.
GT Radial, the reigning champion of the 2023 Formula Drift Tire Cup, continues to build on its success. The brand, which manufactures its Champiro SX2 RS tires at the Giti Tire plant in Richburg, South Carolina, outperformed four other tire brands to win the Tire Cup last season.