Hiroya Minowa

Hiroya's passion for cars ignited at 7 years old when he took the wheel of a JZX100 with an automatic transmission. His first taste of drifting came at 8 years old when he drove Ebisu circuit. At the age of 11 Hiroya learned manual transmission and his drifting journey began. He also delved into SIM practice. Within six months of driving manual, he clinched victory in several local events, demonstrating his innate talent. At 11 years old, Hiroya ventured into competitive drifting, participating in the MSC Challenge with his mom's car. (Both of Hiroya's parents competed in Formula Drift Japan and are a part of the team HEYMAN.) He qualified 1st and finished 3rd in a major competition. 2021 was an incredible year for him, securing the MSC Challenge series win, an event win, a 3rd place and a 4th place finish. Locally, he dominated, securing overall wins in 3 different track events and numerous podium finishes. In 2022, Hiroya made his mark on the international scene by competing in Formula Drift Japan. He showcased his talent by qualifying 1st and achieving a remarkable 5th place finish in the series, ranking 16th overall. Hiroya also claimed victory once again in the D1 divisional series. The following year, Hiroya continued his ascent winning an event and 2 podiums. He concluded the 2023 Formula Drift Japan series in 2nd place. Off the track Hiroya showcased his charisma on Japanese TV shows, making multiple appearances from 2021 to 2023. In 2024, he will be competing in Formula Drift USA Pro on Jerry Yang Racing team debuting a new Toyota FRS VR38dett engine as a Red Bull athlete.