Ryohei Sakaguchi

Ryohei Sakaguchi
Sakaguchi in 2022
Nationality Japanese
Born (1975-02-06) 6 February 1975
Habikino, Japan
RelativesSena Sakaguchi (nephew)
Racing licence FIA Silver
Championship titles
2016, 2018
2010–2012
2003
1996
1996		Super Taikyu – ST-3
Super Taikyu – ST-2
Korean Formula 1800 Series
JAF Formula 4 Okayama Series
JAF Formula 4 Mine Series

Ryohei Sakaguchi (阪口 良平, Sakaguchi Ryōhei; born 6 February 1975[1] in Habikino) is a Japanese racing driver currently competing in Super GT for Pacific Racing Team.

He won the 2003 Korean Formula 1800 Series and has five Super Taikyu titles to his name, two in ST-3 and three in ST-2.

Career

Sakaguchi made his single-seater debut in 1995, racing in both the JAF Formula 4 Okayama and Suzuka Series. After winning both the Okayama and Mine title the following year,[2] Sakaguchi then raced part-time in various series until 2003, when he won the Korean Formula 1800 Series.[3] Following that, Sakaguchi raced sporadically until 2008, when he partook in his first full-season in the series for Team Uematsu Nova, as well as finishing runner-up in the Super 2000 standings of the Superrace Championship in 2009 and third in Super 3800 the same year.[2]

Racing mainly in Super Taikyu until 2012, Sakaguchi won the ST-2 class title three times,[4] before making one-off appearances in the LMGTE class of the Asian Le Mans Series for AAI-Rstrada,[5] and in the GT300 class of Super GT for Arnage Racing.[6] Sakaguchi then returned to Asian Le Mans Series the following year, racing in all but one rounds and finishing third in the GT standings with a win at Inje.[7] After competing in the last five rounds of the 2015 Super GT season for Pacific Racing Team in GT300,[8] Sakaguchi raced part-time in the LMP3 class of the 2015–16 Asian Le Mans Series, finishing second at Buriram.[9]

With Pacific Racing Team switching to the Porsche 911 for the 2016 season, Sakaguchi remained with the team alongside Hiroki Yoshida, scoring a best result of eighth at Motegi in his second season with the team.[10] In early 2017, it was announced that EIcars Bentley TTO would join Super GT, with Sakaguchi and Yuji Ide as their drivers. In their first season in the series, the team scored a best result of 16th at Fuji.[11] Sakaguchi remained with EIcars Bentley for the 2018 season, partnering Ide for the second season in a row.[12] At the second Fuji round, Sakaguchi scored the team's best result by finishing 13th.[13]

With the EIcars Bentley team ceasing operations in early 2019,[14] Sakaguchi was left without a seat for most of the season, only making a one-off appearance for Team Mach at the fifth round of the season at Fuji as a third driver alongside Yuya Hiraki and Natsu Sakaguchi.[15] Following his one-off outing for Team Mach in 2019, Sakaguchi returned to full-time competition in 2020, joining muta Racing INGING alongside Kazuto Kotaka.[16] Sakaguchi scored two podiums, at Suzuka and at the season-finale at Fuji.[17][18]

With Inging Motorsport merging their GT300 operations with Cars Tokai Dream28 ahead of the 2021 season, Sakaguchi joined Hiroki Katoh at the newly-rebranded muta Racing INGING.[19] At Motegi, Sakaguchi scored his maiden win in GT300 by taking advantage of a mid-race safety car.[20] In early 2022, Sakaguchi joined Arnage Racing, alongside Masaki Kano, Ryosei Yamashita and Takeshi Suehiro.[21] Sakaguchi scored his only points of the season by finishing seventh at the fourth round of the season at Fuji.[22]

After his stint at Arnage Racing, Sakaguchi returned to Pacific Racing Team after a seven year hiatus, alongside Liang Jiatong.[23] At the second Suzuka round, Sakaguchi finished 11th, which would be the team's best result of the season.[24] In 2024, Sakaguchi returned to Pacific Racing Team, teaming up with Yusuke Tomibayashi.[25] Sakaguchi scored a best result of 12th at Fuji.[26] Ahead of the 2025 season, it was announced that Sakaguchi would return to Pacific Racing Team, alongside the returning Tomibayashi and Yuta Fujiwara.[27] Racing in all but two rounds, Sakaguchi scored a best result of fifth at Okayama en route to a 26th-place points finish.[28]

Personal life

Sakaguchi is the uncle of 2020 Formula Regional Japan champion Sena Sakaguchi.[29]

Racing record

Racing career summary

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
1995 JAF Formula 4 – Okayama Series 6th
JAF Formula 4 – Suzuka Series 7th
1996 JAF Formula 4 – Okayama Series 1st
JAF Formula 4 – Mine Series 1st
1997 Japanese Formula 3 Championship Akiland Racing 5 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1998 Honda Civic Intercup Series 10th
2000 Formula Dream 4th
2003 Korean Formula 1800 Series 1st
2005 Suzuka 1000 km – RS Max Racing 1 1 0 0 1 N/a 1st
2006 Super GT – GT300 910 Racing With Team Ishimatsu 2 0 0 0 0 4 33rd
2007 Super GT – GT300 Yokoyama Racing 2 0 0 0 0 5 25th
Team Uematsu 3 0 0 0 0
2008 Super GT – GT300 Team Uematsu Nova 9 0 0 0 0 24 17th
2009 Superrace Championship – Super 2000 2nd
Superrace Championship – Super 3800 3rd
2010 Super GT – GT300 Team RQS Motorsports 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2012 Japanese Formula 3 Championship – National Class CMS Motor Sports Project 2 0 0 0 1 6 8th
Super GT – GT300 JLOC 2 0 0 0 0 2 26th
2013 Asian Le Mans Series – LMGTE AAI-Rstrada 1 0 0 0 1 18 3rd
Super GT – GT300 Arnage Racing 2 0 0 0 0 4 24th
2014 Asian Le Mans Series – GT AAI-Rstrada 3 1 0 1 3 58 3rd
2015 Super GT – GT300 Pacific Racing Team 5 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2015–16 Asian Le Mans Series – LMP3 Team AAI 2 0 0 0 1 18 4th
2016 Sepang 12 Hours – GT4 Muta Racing TWS RC350 1 0 1 0 1 N/A 2nd
Super GT – GT300 Gulf Racing with Pacific 7 0 0 0 0 3 22nd
2016–17 Asian Le Mans Series – LMP3 FIST-Team AAI 1 0 0 0 0 0 17th
2017 Super GT – GT300 EIcars Bentley TTO 6 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Super Taikyu – ST-3 Tracy Sports 6 1 1 4 3 79‡ 4th‡
2018 Super GT – GT300 EIcars Bentley 7 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Super Taikyu – ST-3 Tracy Sports 6 2 1 3 5 130.5‡ 1st‡
2019 Super GT – GT300 Team Mach 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Super Taikyu – ST-3 Tracy Sports 5 2 0 0 5 112.5‡ 3rd‡
2020 Super GT – GT300 Advics muta Racing INGING 8 0 2 0 2 34 9th
Formula Regional Japanese Championship Field Motorsport[30] 3 0 0 0 0 26 13th
Super Taikyu – ST-1 Tracy Sports[31] 2 0 0 0 2 50‡ 2nd‡
2021 Super GT – GT300 muta Racing INGING 8 1 0 1 1 23 11th
Super Taikyu – ST-1 Tracy Sports 6 2 2 1 6 124‡ 2nd‡
2022 Super GT – GT300 Arnage Racing 8 0 0 0 0 4 29th
Super Taikyu – ST-3 Tracy Sports[32] 5 2 2 0 3 99‡ 3rd‡
Super Taikyu – ST-5 Mazda Spirit Racing 1 0 0 0 0 5.5‡ 13th‡
Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86/BRZ Cup T by Two CABANA Racing 6 0 0 0 0 1 23rd
2023 Super GT – GT300 Pacific Racing Team 7 0 0 0 0 0 NC
GT World Challenge Asia – GT4 Silver-Am Akiland Racing 6 0 1 1 5 94 3rd
SRO Japan Cup – GT4 6 1 1 0 5 87 3rd
Super Taikyu – ST-Q Mazda Spirit Racing 5 0 ?? ?? ?? 0‡ NC‡
Super Taikyu – ST-4 Over Drive 1 0 0 0 0 70‡ 5th‡
2024 Super GT – GT300 Pacific Racing Team 8 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Super Taikyu – ST-Q Mazda Spirit Racing 5 1 0 0 2 0‡ NC‡
SRO Japan Cup – GT4 Silver-Am K-tunes Racing 2 0 0 0 0 22 11th
2025 Super GT – GT300 Pacific Racing Team 6 0 0 0 0 12.5 26th
Super Taikyu – ST-Q Mazda Spirit Racing 3 0 0 0 0 0‡ NC‡
2026 Super Taikyu – ST-Q Mazda Spirit Racing ‡ ‡
Sources:[33]

‡ Team standings

Complete Japanese Formula 3 results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Engine Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 DC Pts
1997 Akiland Racing Toyota SUZ1
9 		TSU
13 		MIN
Ret 		FUJ
1 		SUZ2
Ret 		SUG SEN MOT FUJ2 SUZ3
12 		NC 0
2012 CMS Motor Sports Project Toyota N SUZ
1
8 		SUZ
2
12 		MOT
1 		MOT
2 		FUJ
1 		FUJ
2 		MOT
1 		MOT
2 		OKA
1 		OKA
2 		SUG
1 		SUG
2 		SUG
3 		FUJ
1 		FUJ
2 		8th 6

Complete Super GT results

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DC Points
2006 910 Racing With Team Ishimatsu Porsche 996 GT3 RSR GT300 SUZ OKA FUJ SEP SUG SUZ
12 		MOT AUT FUJ
18 		33rd 4
2007 Yokoyama Racing Vemac RD320R GT300 SUZ
15 		OKA FUJ
7 		25th 5
Team Uematsu SEP SUG
16 		SUZ
10 		MOT AUT FUJ
13
2008 Team Uematsu Nova Vemac RD320R GT300 SUZ
8 		OKA
13 		FUJ
8 		SEP
4 		SUG
8 		SUZ
Ret 		MOT
15 		AUT
7 		FUJ
8 		17th 24
2010 R'Qs Motorsports Vemac RD350R GT300 SUZ OKA FUJ SEP SUG SUZ
13 		FUJ MOT NC 0
2012 JLOC Lamborghini Gallardo RG-3 GT300 OKA
 FUJ
Ret 		SEP SUG SUZ
10 		FUJ AUT MOT 26th 2
2013 Arnage Racing Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 GT300 OKA
 FUJ
Ret 		SEP
 SUG
 SUZ
8 		FUJ
 FUJ AUT
 MOT
 24th 4
2015 Pacific Racing Team McLaren MP4-12C GT3 GT300 OKA
 FUJ
 CHA
 FUJ
16 		SUZ
22 		SUG
23 		AUT
20 		MOT
Ret 		NC 0
2016 Gulf Racing with Pacific Porsche 911 GT3R GT300 OKA
DNS 		FUJ
Ret 		SUG
13 		FUJ
21 		SUZ
13 		BUR
17 		MOT
22 		MOT
8 		23rd 3
2017 EIcars Bentley TTO Bentley Continental GT3 GT300 OKA
20 		FUJ
16 		AUT
19 		SUG FUJ
18 		SUZ
Ret 		CHA MOT
22 		NC 0
2018 EIcars Bentley Bentley Continental GT3 GT300 OKA
21 		FUJ
22 		SUZ
18 		CHA FUJ
13 		SUG
15 		AUT
18 		MOT
19 		NC 0
2019 Team Mach Toyota 86 MC GT300 GT300 OKA
 FUJ
 SUZ
 CHA
 FUJ
17 		AUT
 SUG
 MOT
 NC 0
2020 Advics muta Racing INGING Toyota 86 MC GT300 GT300 FUJ
14 		FUJ
9 		SUZ
13 		MOT
16 		FUJ
7 		SUZ
2 		MOT
22 		FUJ
3 		9th 34
2021 muta Racing INGING Lotus Evora MC GT300 GT300 OKA
Ret 		FUJ
10 		SUZ
9 		MOT
1 		SUG
16 		AUT
18 		MOT
24 		FUJ
12 		11th 23
2022 Arnage Racing Toyota 86 MC GT300 GT300 OKA
16 		FUJ
25 		SUZ
20 		FUJ
7 		SUZ
23 		SUG
22 		AUT
21 		MOT
16 		29th 4
2023 Pacific Racing Team Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo GT300 OKA
23† 		FUJ
WD 		SUZ
25 		FUJ
22 		SUZ
11 		SUG
17 		AUT
23 		MOT
19 		NC 0
2024 Pacific Racing Team Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo GT300 OKA
21 		FUJ
12 		SUZ
17 		FUJ
Ret 		SUZ
14 		SUG
20 		AUT
Ret 		MOT
17 		NC 0
2025 Pacific Racing Team Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo GT300 OKA
5 		FUJ
18 		SEP
 FS1
22 		FS2
(13) 		SUZ
21 		SUG
16 		AUT
23 		MOT
 26th 12.5

‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.
(Number) Driver did not take part in this sprint race, points are still awarded for the teammate's result.
* Season still in progress.

Complete Asian Le Mans Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Class Car Engine 1 2 3 4 Pos. Points
2013 AAI-Rstrada LMGTE Porsche 997 GT3-RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 INJ
 FUJ
 ZHU
 SEP
3 		3rd 18
2014 AAI-Rstrada GT BMW Z4 GT3 BMW 4.4 L V8 INJ
1 		SHA SEP
3 		3rd 58
Nissan GT-R GT3 Nissan 3.8 L V6 FUJ
2
2015–16 Team AAI LMP3 ADESS-03 Nissan VK50 5.0 L V8 FUJ
Ret 		SEP BUR
2 		SEP 4th 18
2016–17 Fist-Team AAI LMP3 ADESS-03 Nissan VK50 5.0 L V8 ZHU
 FUJ
 BUR
 SEP
Ret 		17th 0

Complete Formula Regional Japanese Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos Points
2020 Field Racing FUJ1
1
5 		FUJ1
2
6 		FUJ1
3
6 		SUG
1 		SUG
2 		SUG
3 		FUJ2
1 		FUJ2
2 		MOT
1 		MOT
2 		OKA
1 		OKA
2 		AUT
1 		AUT
2 		13th 26

Complete GT World Challenge Asia results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 DC Points
2023 Akiland Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 GT4 Silver-Am BUR
1
 BUR
2
 FSW
1
30 		FSW
2
27 		SUZ
1
31 		SUZ
2
Ret 		MOT
1
 MOT
2
 OKA
1
2 		OKA
2
4 		SEP
1
 SEP
2
 4th 87

References

  1. ^ "阪口 良平 RYOHEI SAKAGUCHI". drivingathlete.com.
  2. ^ a b "ドライバー：阪口 良平 プロフィール". inging.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  3. ^ "阪口良平、韓国レースに今季2回目の挑戦　PP獲得も雨に足下をすくわれる". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 14 July 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  4. ^ "S耐:エンドレスアドバンランサーが失格、第6戦ST-2クラスの優勝はRSオガワランサー、シリーズチャンピオンも同チームが獲得". fmotor.jp (in Japanese). 12 December 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Grand finale in Malaysia decided the results of the first season". motorsport.com. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  6. ^ "SGT:アルナージュレーシング、アストンマーチンのサードドライバーに阪口良平を起用". fmotor.jp (in Japanese). 3 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  7. ^ "7 Entries for Fuji". sportscar365.com. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  8. ^ "PACIFIC RACING、白坂、阪口、山脇で1000kmに挑戦". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 24 August 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  9. ^ "AsLMS: Thailand, Weekend Report, Eurasia Edge Algarve Pro Racing". dailysportscar.com. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  10. ^ "ガルフカラーポルシェ見参。富士でシェイクダウン". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  11. ^ "EIcars BENTLEY TTOによるベントレーのGT300参戦が決定！ 井出／阪口のコンビに". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 18 February 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  12. ^ "スーパーGT：EIcars BENTLEY、ベントレーで参戦継続。ドライバーは井出／阪口". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 22 January 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  13. ^ "TOM's Racing Triumphs With 1-2 Finish In Fuji 500 Miles". dailysportscar.com. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  14. ^ "スーパーGT：EIcars BENTLEY、2018年限りでのモータースポーツ活動終了を発表". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 25 January 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  15. ^ "スーパーGT：TEAM MACH、阪口良平を第5戦富士の第3ドライバーに起用". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 29 July 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  16. ^ "スーパーGT：GT300クラスにINGINGが86 MCで参戦！ 強力体制でカーナンバー『6』復帰". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 10 February 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  17. ^ "Last-To-First Victory & A Season Sweep For NISMO At Suzuka Circuit". dailysportscar.com. 25 October 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  18. ^ "Super GT Wrap-Up, GT300: Kondo Racing Crowned At Fuji". dailysportscar.com. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  19. ^ "INGING & Cars Tokai Dream28 Collaborate For 2021 GT300 Entry". dailysportscar.com. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  20. ^ "【スーパーGT】ライバルの追撃振り切り勝利した2号車ロータス「抜かれることはないと思っていた」と阪口良平". jp.motorsport.com (in Japanese). 18 July 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  21. ^ "Arnage Racing、2022年は86 MCにスイッチ。加納／阪口／山下のトリオでGT300に挑む". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 11 February 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  22. ^ "Fenestraz, Miyata Score Maiden GT500 Victories For TOM's At Fuji". dailysportscar.com. 7 August 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  23. ^ "PACIFIC RACING TEAMがVTuberグループ『ぶいすぽっ！』とタイアップ。体制も一新". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 27 February 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  24. ^ "GT300 Official Result" (PDF). dailysportscar.com. 27 August 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  25. ^ "PACIFIC RACING TEAM、2024年も『ぶいすぽっ！』コラボを継続。メルセデスでGT300参戦へ". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 21 January 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  26. ^ "SUPER GT 2024 第2戦富士レースレポート" (PDF). pacific-racing.jp (in Japanese). 9 May 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  27. ^ "スーパーGT、2025年のエントリーリスト出揃う。GT300はStudieが撤退、代わって芳賀美里監督の新チーム登場". jp.motorsport.com (in Japanese). 21 February 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  28. ^ "TOM'S Reigning Champions Cruise To Win In Wet Okayama Opener". dailysportscar.com. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  29. ^ Klein, Jamie (12 June 2021). "The junior driver Honda (probably) regrets letting go of". motorsport.com. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  30. ^ "FRJ第3戦も阪口晴南が圧勝、最終ラップまで攻め続ける走りをみせ3連勝". jp.motorsport.com (in Japanese). 2 August 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  31. ^ "スーパー耐久：TRACY SPORTS、ADVICS muta Racing RCF TWSでST-1に挑戦". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 25 August 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  32. ^ "TRACY SPORTS、muta RacingとコラボしST-3クラスにレクサスRC350を投入。ST-1と2台体制に". as-web.jp (in Japanese). 15 February 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  33. ^ "Ryohei Sakaguchi | Racing career profile | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
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