Today's Photo Story - Masanori Sekiya, first Japanese driver to win at Le Mans, in 1995
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Today's Photo Story - Masanori Sekiya, first Japanese driver to win at Le Mans, in 1995

On December 18, 1956, Japan was admitted into the United Nations. On June 18, 1995, Masanori Sekiya became the first Japanese driver to win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in a McLaren F1 GTR, along with J.J. Lehto and Yannick Dalmas clinching the third of his four victories at the 24 Hours.

It's clear that Japanese people are quite the motorsports enthusiasts given the crowds at the rounds of Super GT, the local super-touring championship, despite extremely narrow access roads to the circuits. It would take until 1973 to see a Japanese driver (actually two) for the first time at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a Sigma-Mazda (retirement). Twenty-two years later, another Japanese driver, Masanori Sekiya, (11 participations) would triumph…

Photo (Copyright - Archives/ACO): The #59 McLaren G1 GTR with which Masanori Sekiya won at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995.

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