Toru Takahashi (高橋徹, Takahashi Tōru, 6 October 1960 in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan – 23 October 1983) was a Japanese race car driver.
Career
In 1982, he was runner-up in Japanese Formula 3. The following year, he ran a dual campaign, racing in the Grand Champion Series and also stepping up to Japanese Formula 2 (now Super Formula).
Takahashi was killed in the fourth and final round of the Grand Champion Series race at Fuji Speedway, Japan, in 1983, at the age of 23. Exiting the high-speed Last Corner at around 140mph, his BMW lifted and flew off the track, hitting a catch fence and killing a female spectator. In the post race classification, Takahashi was declared a non-starting entrant. A chicane was installed in the final turn, and Hermann Tilke demolished the section in 2003 as part of a total circuit reconstruction.
Takahashi's final position in the 1983 Japanese Formula 2 season was fifth, with 49 points.
Racing record
Japanese Top Formula Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
References
- http://afw.fc2web.com/ziko/ziko1980.htm
External links
- Toru Takahashi's fatal crash on YouTube
