Kohei Hirate

Kohei Hirate, born on March 24, 1986, in Komaki, Aichi, is a highly accomplished Japanese race car driver. He began his racing journey with karting at the age of 13, showcasing early talent by winning the All Japan Junior Kart Championship. Hirate transitioned to Formula Toyota, securing the runner-up position in his debut season with four wins. His career then took him to Europe, where he competed in Formula Renault and Formula Three Euroseries, achieving notable success, including a second-place finish in the Italian Formula Renault in 2004 and third in the 2006 Formula Three Euroseries.

Hirate also served as a test driver for Toyota's Formula 1 team during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. In 2008, he returned to Japan and competed in both Formula Nippon and Super GT. He has won the Super GT series twice, in 2013 and 2016. His accomplishments underscore his versatility and skill across different racing disciplines.