Hiroshi Masuoka
Hiroshi Masuoka ( born March 13, 1960) is a Japanese marathon rally driver who is best known for his victories in the Dakar Rally.
Masuoka took in 1979 at his first off-road rally part. In 1987 he was its first participation in the Dakar Rally. In 1990, he won the class T2 of the near-series vehicles. In 1994 he was the driver of the Mitsubishi factory team and achieved fourth place in the overall standings of the Dakar Rally. During the year, Masuoka began his collaboration with the co-pilot Andreas Schulz, who was his co-driver until 1999. They made it a year later at the Dakar Rally to tenth place and also completed the UAE Desert Challenge with a fourth place very well. In 1997, Masuoka with a second place a high point of his career. The following year he was again far up there and finished the Dakar Rally in fourth place. 2001 Masuoka finished second again.
Masuokas greatest moment came in 2002 when he won the Dakar Rally in the Mitsubishi Pajero. He was by Kenjiro Shinozuka only the second Japanese who achieved this success. 2003 was able to defend his title Masuoka, this time in the new Pajero Evolution. He also won the Baja Italy. In 2004 he finished second in the Dakar Rally behind his teammate Stephane Peterhansel. Then he stepped back for the time being.
A few months later in October 2004 Masuoka returned back into the cockpit and won in his sixth participation in the UAE Desert Challenge. The 2005 Dakar Rally, he was forced to retire due to engine problems. In the second event of the 2005 season, the Rally of Tunisia, managed Masuoka with a third place on the podium. In 2006 he lost after an accident in Morocco his chance of a third overall victory in the Dakar Rally. In the 2007 Dakar Rally Masuoka was only sixth, as he had to replace the clutch, and as a result lost a lot of time. The 2009 Dakar Rally, he had already quit prematurely at the first stage.
Achievements
2002
- Dakar Rally victory
2003
- Dakar Rally victory
- Victory Baja Italy
2004
- UAE Desert Challenge victory