Ukyo Sasahara: “An incredible year for me”

This victory in the GT Cup of the FIA ​​Motorsport Games necessarily has a special flavor for Japan and the tandem Hiroshi Hamaguchi – Ukyo Sasahara.

If Hiroshi Hamaguchi is neither unknown to the GT3 peloton nor to FFF Racing, after winning the Pro-Am title in GT World Challenge Europe this year, Ukyo Sasahara had never driven in such a car.

This is car in Asia that the 23-year-old driver shines, after winning this season the F3 Asia, with eight victories and seven poles for the Hitech GP driver. A first consecration after finishing 3rd in the Formula Renault 2.0 NEC in 2015 or 3rd in Japanese F3 in 2018.

“It’s been an incredible year for me. the Nippon told us after receiving his gold medal.

We were always on the pace this weekend, and even though it was my first race in the category, I was able to count on the experience of the team. Hiroshi is a truly incredible and very fast Bronze pilot.

He was a real teacher this weekend. He has GT World Challenge experience. Before this event, we had only done basic driving, so that I could learn the procedures. »

Titled in F3 Asia, the Japanese still remains cautious about his future in 2020. " Nothing is decided, continues Sasahara. I would like to race in a major championship. Super GT or also Super Formula are possible options. »

FFF Racing behind the scenes

In addition to offering a gold medal to their country for the first edition of the FIA ​​Motorsport Games, the Japanese duettists once again demonstrated the impeccable work of Andrea Caldarelli's FFF Racing, at the helm for the operation of the Lamborghini Winners' Huracan GT3.

Enough to conclude in style the 2019 campaign of the Sino-Italian structure, titled three times in Pro in GT World Challenge Europe, Blancpain GT Series Endurance and in the cumulative standings of the Blancpain GT Series this year.

“Knowing that this weekend was Ukyo's first time in a GT3 car and that he hadn't done more than testing before this race, he did an incredible job, Caldarelli comments.

The team made no mistakes. For us it is the first time we have participated in the FIA ​​Motorsport Games, as we were not in Bahrain last year, but it is fantastic to end the season with another victory. »