Mitsunori Takaboshi

Mitsunori Takaboshi is a racing driver from Japan who most recently won the 2017 Japanese Formula 3 Championship. It's his second title in Formula 3 as he was F3 National Class champion four years earlier, in 2013.

In 2017, Takaboshi became regular competitor in the Japanese Super GT Series, first in GT300 class and then moving to GT500 class in 2018.

Mitsunori Takaboshi

Starting a career in the Formula Challenge Japan

Born in January 1993, Mitsunori Takaboshi started his career in racing with cars in 2010, entering the Formula Challenge series, what is today Japanese Formula 4. In his debut season, Takaboshi was without wins or podiums. He improved his performance in 2011, scoring one podium to finish seventh in the points.

In 2012, he was on a podium six times, including two victories, finishing third in the final classification, behind Nobuharu Matsushita and Ryo Hirakawa.

Mitsunori Takaboshi is a Nissan athlete since 2013

Japanese Formula 3 National Class champion in 2013

In 2013, Takaboshi stepped into Nissan Driver Development Program (NDDP) and progressed to the Japanese Formula 3 Championship in 2013. Driving a Dallara-Toyota for NDDP Racing, he finished ninth in the overall classification but captured the National Class title after being a race winner in eleven of fifteen races.

He spent two more seasons in Formula 3, finishing third in overall classification in both seasons. In 2014, he was a race winner three times, finishing behind Nobuharu Matsushita and Kenta Yamashita. In 2015, Takaboshi celebrated three wins again, finishing third in the points behind Nick Cassidy and Kenta Yamashita.

Kazuki Hoshino and Mitsunori Takaboshi were ace winners two times in the 2015 Super GT Series

Super GT Series debut in 2015

In 2015, Takaboshi had a double programme, also spending a full season in the Super GT Series with NDDP Racing. He was sharing the #3 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 with Kazuki Hoshino.

They scored GT300 class victory at Chang International Circuit in Thailand and one more at Autopolis Circuit, finishing fourth in final GT300 standings.

In2016, Takaboshi spent a season in the Blancpain GT Series

2016 – a season in Europe

In 2016, Takaboshi's main commitment was driving for Nissan GT Academy Team RJN in the Europe-based Blancpain GT Series, both in the Endurance Cup and Sprint Cup. His car was the #23 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3.

He participated in four rounds of the Sprint Cup, sharing a car with Alex Buncombe and not scoring points. In the Endurance Cup, his full-time partners in the #23 Nissan were Alex Buncombe and Lucas Ordonez. The third place at Nurburgring was their best result and they finished ninth in the points.

Mitsunori Takaboshi - 2017 Japanese Formula 3 champion

Japanese Formula 3 champion in 2017

In 2016, Takaboshi also had a part-time schedule in Japan, winning three of eight races in Formula 3 and participating in four races of the Super GT Series with two teams. He scored a podium at Suzuka 1000 Kilometers, driving the #46 Mola Nissan GT-R together with Satoshi Motoyama.

In 2017, Takaboshi returned full time to Japan, racing both in Formula 3 and Super GT Series. He was a race winner seven times in Formula 3, finally capturing championship title. In the GT championship, he rejoined Kazuki Hoshino in the #3 NDDP Racing's Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3. Without wins or podiums, they finished 17th in the points.

Mitsunori Takaboshi during Formula E rookie test in January 2018

Stepping to the GT500 class in 2018

In 2018, Takaboshi made a step up to the GT500 class in the Super GT Series with Kondo Racing, sharing the #24 Nissan GT-R with Joao Paulo de Oliveira. Scoring no wins or podiums, they finished 14th in the points.

He stayed in the same car in the 2019 Super GT season, sharing a car with Jann Mardenborough. Without wins or podiums, Takaboshi was 14th in the points again.

Photos: Mitsunori Takaboshi, Nismo, Olivier Beroud/VSP,