Yutaka Yamamoto

Naoki Yamamoto is a prominent Japanese racing driver currently competing in Super GT with Team Kunimitsu under the Honda Racing Corporation banner. Born on July 11, 1988, Yamamoto has established himself as a formidable force in Japanese motorsport, securing multiple championships in both Super Formula and Super GT.

Yamamoto's career began in karting in 1994, culminating in the All-Japan Kart Championship FA class title in 2002. After graduating from the Suzuka Circuit Racing School Formula (SRS-F) in 2006, he quickly ascended the ranks, showcasing his talent in Formula Challenge Japan and the Japanese Formula 3 Championship. His transition to Super Formula (formerly Formula Nippon) in 2010 marked a significant step, earning him Rookie of the Year honors in his debut season. He is a three-time champion in Super Formula and a two-time champion in the GT500 class of Super GT. Notably, Yamamoto is the only driver to have achieved the remarkable feat of winning both the Super Formula and GT500 championships in the same season on multiple occasions, accomplishing this in 2018 and 2020. At the end of 2024, Yamamoto retired from Super Formula.