Yutaka Toriba

Over the past few years, Yutaka Toriba has grown into a fierce competitor in Masters Racing Legends, having started with a Wolf-Williams FW05 before transferring to a potentially race-winning Williams FW07C. Having come close on a number of occasions, the Japanese driver fulfilled that promise with a hard-earned win at Brands Hatch in 2025. We hooked up with Yutaka after a competitive run at the 2025 Oldtimer Grand Prix meeting on the Nürburgring.

How did you get involved in historic motor racing?

YT: The start was my experience in Monaco. In 2019, I was traveling around Europe and my friend called me, ‘I’ve got a ticket to the Monaco Grand Prix. If you want to I can provide whatever you want.’ I had never seen Formula One and I was not interested in F1 cars, but still decided to go. And when I got there – the atmosphere, the sound of the Formula One cars, all the people, it was such a great experience. Looking back on my life, I had never even driven a single-seater, but when I got back to Tokyo, I said to my friend that I wanted to try a formula car. So the guy prepared a Formula 3 car for me. I thought it was quite scary, but it was so much fun. So much fun! So I decided to do a race with it. But when I asked about the cost of racing in Japanese Formula 3, it was super expensive – at the time, anyway. So I decided to switch to Formula 4. The cost was much more reasonable than Formula 3, maybe one third of the cost. So in 2020, I started to race in Japanese Formula 4.

So you actually started in modern racing!

YT: Yes, but it was a disaster! I didn’t know anything about racing – what is a yellow flag, a red flag, you know, so I was given lots of penalties. I still hold the penalty record there! So at first, it was a disaster. Then I found out that I could drive a formula car myself at Monaco. Really? I was so excited to learn that Monaco has a historic event. So what did I need to do in order to compete in the Monaco Historic Grand Prix? First of all, it required an International B license, so had to complete more than 10 races. I spent the rest of 2019 earning my racing credentials, and in 2020 participated in 14 FIA-sanctioned Formula 4 races to complete it – I got my ticket to Monaco! At the start of 2020, I asked ADP if they could support me on my way to Monaco. I had been associated with them for about two or three years before because I sent my car to them to restore – and they said yes, we can.

So what happened next?

YT: My first Formula One car was the Wolf-Williams FW05, the ex-Nick Padmore car. Back then, I didn’t know anything about Formula One history, so didn’t know anything about how it had performed. I chose it because it looked cool! I did two or three races with that, and I still own and treasure it, but I wanted to fight with the top drivers in the wing cars. We went looking and I luckily found a good Williams FW07C that I bought from Italy. We first went to Monaco with it but I had a crash with the FW05 and retired the FW07C with brake issues, so I didn’t have a great time. Later in the season, I returned to Masters with the FW07C and took my first podiums. Then in 2025, I crashed the FW07C at Paul Ricard, so I was forced to be absent at Hockenheim. Then I did Brands Hatch, where I won for the first time, then Zandvoort and now the Nürburgring.

Do you still race Formula 4 in Japan to keep practicing?

YT: I changed my category from Formula 4 up to Formula Regional, because Formula Regional operates at higher speed ranges and allows me to experience more downforce. That is very important to me, so I keep doing that.

Your first-ever Masters event?

YT: Silverstone in the FW05. It was a rain race where I was completely lost – the wing cars kept blowing past me and it was really scary! I just drove slowly and didn’t enjoy it at all..

But you have claimed your first historic Formula One victory now. Are you in it to win it – or is it still just for fun?

YT: Winning has become very important, because there are so many good drivers here. I now have the opportunity to compete with them. I am 61, so I can’t keep on doing this forever. Maybe in three or four years, I have to quit. So for now, I want to compete with these guys, and it’s super fun.

Your best day in motorsport must be your first Formula One win at Brands Hatch.

YT: Oh, there have been many good days, but for me it’s the moment when I lost the last race of the season at Fuji in Formula 4. That year, I could have been champion in the gentlemen class but in the end I didn’t because I spun and the car stalled. That moment gave me a lot – I learned how to control myself, how to compete with others, have respect for all the guys and also that I needed to practice more to have the skills in order to be faster. That was the best moment for me, because it taught me about the need for self-improvement. Even if it was a bad moment in itself, it helped me grow. Defeat is the best teacher.

And your worst day?

YT: In my second year of Super Endurance racing in 2023, when we were going for back-to-back championships, we entered the fourth round in second place in the series. This was a crucial race – if we won here, we could have gained a significant advantage for the remaining races that year. But I got hit by a smaller car, spun, and the engine wouldn’t start right away, costing us a lot of time. It wasn’t my mistake, but… it made me think, ‘If I’d been just two or three tenths quicker here and there, I could have avoided the collision.’ Racing is just like life – everything is connected. But at that moment I was really depressed, felt terrible toward my team, and temporarily grew to dislike racing. That was my worst moment.

The best car you’ve ever driven?

YT: The FW07C, because it’s a living creature, not a machine. A Formula 4 is okay, but it doesn’t move naturally. An endurance car is quick, but it feels like a machine. But the 07C is a monster, it moves like a living creature. I can feel what it wants to do, and feel that we are together. I like its movement, it’s very natural.

And the worst car?

YT: Nothing. Even if the car is slow or bad – if I think I can control it, every car is fun.

Your favourite circuit?

YT: Suzuka, definitely. It’s super challenging and makes drivers concentrate on everything. I would want all Masters drivers to come to Suzuka and race there with me. They will love it, they will love it! And in Europe, I should say Brands Hatch. I come from a motorcycle background. When I was 17, 18, every weekend I would go into the mountains and compete on my motorcycle. I did lots of part-time jobs just to earn the petrol, the parts, the suits and gloves and everything. So I love motorcycles and the winding roads of the mountains. I can feel the same at Brands Hatch. The beautiful green woods, the narrow road that is quite technical, and high-speed corners too. I love it.

Why doesn’t Masters go to…?

YT: I really wanted to go to Hockenheim! Maybe next year…

Who is the rival that you fear or respect the most?

YT: I came here because I wanted to compete with Michael Lyons. He’s quite famous also in Japan. When I first met him, his way of coaching was great. He knew everything – how to drive and how to prepare yourself for racing and testing. He’s a kind person, and on the surface he’s very calm and smiling, but his eyes change when he grips the wheel. I love that! And he is a very clean racer, so one day I hope to race with him. But Masters has many excellent and fast drivers that I want to compete with.

Who is your best mate in the paddock?

YT: The FW07C! Because, as I said, it’s a living creature… Apart from that, everyone is nice to me. Especially Matthew is close to my heart. He always looks out for me, but on track he’s more of a tough rival than a friend! And I must say that the guys from the team are super good. They are all my friends, contributing their time and energy for my racing and always taking care of me. I’m super lucky to have them as a team.