Toshiki Oyu

Oyu made his motorsport debut in karting in 2007, racing in local championships on his home island of Hokkaido. He would go on to win the All-Japan Junior Kart Championship in 2010, his first year of national-level competition, and would compete in the All-Japan Karting Championship and Suzuka series between 2011 and 2015 against the likes of Ritomo Miyata, Sena Sakaguchi, and Kazuto Kotaka, finishing in third behind the former two in 2013.{{Cite web |date=20 March 2014 |title=全日本カート選手権ＫＦ２部門 |url=https://www.kart.jp/wp-content/uploads/point_2013_kf2.pdf |access-date=2 February 2024}}

Oyu made his formula racing debut in 2015 after gaining the support of fellow Sapporo native Katsuyuki Hiranaka, racing in the Super FJ Okayama Challenge Cup for Rn-sports. After moving to Suzuka to further his racing career, he moved into Formula 4, remaining with Rn-sports to contest the JAF Formula 4 Championship and F4 Japanese Championship. In an extraordinarily successful year, Oyu became champion of both the West and East divisions in JAF F4, and took two race wins at Sportsland SUGO and Suzuka to finish third in the latter championship behind Miyata and Sakaguchi. In November 2016, Oyu graduated from Honda's {{Interlanguage link multi|Suzuka Circuit Racing School|ja|ホンダレーシングスクール鈴鹿}}, defeating Ukyō Sasahara, Yuki Tsunoda, and Teppei Natori to claim the first-place Honda Formula Dream Project scholarship.{{Cite web |date=17 November 2016 |title=SRS-Fのスカラシップ決定。大湯都史樹、笹原右京がHFDPへ |trans-title=SRS-F scholarship decision: Toshiki Oyu and Ukyo Sasahara to the HFDP |url=https://www.as-web.jp/domestic/66696?all |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=auto sport web |language=ja}} Oyu continued in the F4 Japanese Championship for the 2017 season as a Honda protégé, racing for the Honda Formula Dream Project's eponymous team, but would ultimately finish fourth behind reigning champion Miyata, Sasahara, and Tsunoda despite claiming victories at Autopolis, Fuji Speedway, and Twin Ring Motegi.{{fact|date=October 2024}}

File:2018 Japanese Formula 3 Championship, Sugo (41510654410).jpg in the 2018 Japanese Formula 3 Championship at Sportsland SUGO]]

Oyu stepped up to Formula Three for 2018, racing in the Japanese Formula 3 Championship for Toda Racing. He took four podium finishes at SUGO, Okayama, and Motegi, and finished sixth in the overall standings with 39 points. At the end of the season, he made his debut for Toda in the Macau Grand Prix, finishing sixteenth.{{fact|date=October 2024}}

Oyu remained with Toda for the 2019 season, taking his first race victory at the fourth round in Sugo and six podiums throughout the season to claim fourth in the standings behind Sacha Fenestraz, Ritomo Miyata and Enaam Ahmed. Oyu gained his first international opportunity in September 2019, standing in for compatriot Yuki Tsunoda at Team Motopark for the Silverstone round of the 2019 Euroformula Open Championship, due to Tsunoda's commitments in the FIA Formula 3 Championship. Oyu went on to stun on his European debut, taking pole position and victory in both races and shattering the track's lap record by over seven tenths.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=8 September 2019 |title=Toshiki Oyu breaks Silverstone record again in EF Open qualifying |url=https://formulascout.com/toshiki-oyu-second-ef-open-pole/54184 |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=Formula Scout}} However, despite garnering praise from Motopark boss Timo Rumpfkeil and being assessed for a spot in the Red Bull Junior Team, Oyu ultimately returned to Japan and has not raced internationally since.{{Cite web |last=Simmons |first=Marcus |date=11 September 2019 |title=Honda junior Oyu tipped for 2020 European programme with Red Bull |url=https://www.autosport.com/fia-f3/news/honda-junior-oyu-tipped-for-2020-european-programme-with-red-bull-4988867/4988867/ |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=Autosport}}

In December 2019, amid uncertainties over his future, Oyu received a last-minute call-up from TCS Nakajima Racing to drive in the Super Formula Championship's post-season test at Suzuka. Impressive test results and the departure of incumbent Álex Palou to the IndyCar Series prompted team director and former Formula One driver Satoru Nakajima to sign Oyu for the 2020 season, partnering Formula 2 race winner and former karting rival Tadasuke Makino.{{Cite web |date=10 January 2020 |title=スーパーフォーミュラ：ホンダが2020年体制発表。ThreeBond DragoがF2参戦の女性ドライバー、タチアナ・カルデロンを起用 |trans-title=Super Formula: Honda announces 2020 setups. ThreeBond Drago signs female F2 driver Tatiana Calderon |url=https://www.as-web.jp/super-formula/556484?all |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=auto sport web |language=ja}}{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=9 December 2020 |title=How "worried" Nakajima had his faith in Oyu rewarded |url=https://formulascout.com/how-worried-nakajima-had-his-faith-in-oyu-rewarded/72204 |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=Formula Scout}} Oyu impressed on debut at Twin Ring Motegi, going fastest in free practice and qualifying in fourth position - the highest of any Honda-powered driver, but suffered a puncture on the first lap and was relegated to the back of the field.{{Cite web |date=31 August 2020 |title=TCS NAKAJIMA RACING 2020スーパーフォーミュラ第1戦もてぎ レースレポート |trans-title=TCS NAKAJIMA RACING 2020 Super Formula Round 1 Motegi Race Report |url=https://www.as-web.jp/super-formula/619214 |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=auto sport web |language=ja}} He qualified well again at the next round in Okayama, taking fifth position behind Makino, but locked up his brakes into the race's first corner and crashed into Makino and Kondō Racing's Sacha Fenestraz, dashing the team's hopes of any results.{{Cite web |date=28 September 2020 |title=チャンスが一瞬で消えた1コーナーの大きすぎる代償。ナカジマレーシングの同士討ちに「申し訳ない」と大湯【第2戦岡山】 |trans-title=A massive price was paid at the first corner where all chances disappeared. Oyu says "I'm sorry" for the rivalry at Nakajima Racing |url=https://www.as-web.jp/super-formula/629953?all |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=auto sport web |language=ja}} His struggles continued at the third race in Sugo, where his weekend was curtailed by an early crash in qualifying, and at the fourth round in Autopolis, where he scored his first point but suffered clutch problems and a resulting drive-through penalty at the race start.{{Cite web |date=16 November 2020 |title=TCS NAKAJIMA RACING 2020スーパーフォーミュラ第4戦オートポリス レースレポート |url=https://www.as-web.jp/super-formula/646209 |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=auto sport web |language=ja}}

The season's fifth and sixth rounds were held in a double-header at Suzuka. Oyu qualified in seventh and second for the two races respectively, finishing the second qualifying session two tenths shy of polesitter Nick Cassidy.{{Cite web |date=6 December 2020 |title=【順位結果】2020スーパーフォーミュラ第6戦鈴鹿 公式予選 |trans-title=2020 Super Formula Round 6 Suzuka Qualifying Results |url=https://www.as-web.jp/super-formula/652445?all |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=auto sport web}} After finishing eighth in the first race, a sudden engine failure for Cassidy saw Oyu seize the lead. Oyu would go on to hold off Nirei Fukuzumi following a safety car restart to claim a breakthrough maiden victory. His performances continued at the final round at Fuji, where he benefited from other drivers' late-race struggles to go from sixth to second at the flag. Oyu's late-season results ultimately led to a sixth-place finish in the championship.

Oyu remained with Nakajima Racing for the 2021 season, and was joined by reigning champion Naoki Yamamoto, who switched seats with Tadasuke Makino at docomo Team Dandelion Racing.{{Cite web |date=15 January 2021 |title=2021年Hondaモータースポーツ活動計画 |trans-title=2021 Honda Motorsports Activity Structure |url=https://global.honda/jp/news/2021/c210115.html |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=Honda Global |language=ja}}

Oyu remained at Nakajima Racing for the 2022 season alongside Yamamoto.{{Cite web |title=2022年Hondaモータースポーツ活動計画 |trans-title=2022 Honda Motorsports Activity Structure |url=https://global.honda/jp/news/2022/c220114.html |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=Honda Global |language=ja}}

Despite his strong results in the latter half of 2022, Oyu was dropped by Nakajima at the end of the year and was absent from the Super Formula entry list released by Honda in 2022, with his seat taken by former Red Bull junior Ren Satō, who moved over from Team Goh.{{Cite web |date=12 December 2024 |title=大湯都史樹、まさかのスーパーフォーミュラ記載なし「それが事実です。僕もびっくりしました」複雑な心境を吐露 |trans-title=Toshiki Oyu, unexpectedly not listed for Super Formula, expresses mixed feelings - "That's the truth. I was surprised too" |url=https://www.as-web.jp/super-formula/890592?all |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=auto sport web |language=ja}} In March 2023, Oyu was announced to be remaining in Super Formula, taking the place of Satō at the newly rebranded TGM Grand Prix team and partnering former Formula 2 driver Cem Bölükbaşı.{{Cite web |date=3 March 2023 |title=[2023年全日本スーパーフォーミュラ選手権] TGM Grand Prix 2023年体制発表 |trans-title=[2023 All-Japan Super Formula Championship] TGM Grand Prix 2023 roster announcement |url=https://superformula.net/sf3/release/3336/ |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=Super Formula Official Site}}

Prior to the season-ending double-header at Suzuka, Oyu announced that funding issues had curtailed his season prematurely despite his performances.{{Cite web |date=24 October 2023 |title=大湯都史樹、SF第8戦・第9戦鈴鹿を直前に急遽欠場を発表「非常に難しい状況となった」 |trans-title=Toshiki Oyu announces his sudden absence just prior to SF Suzuka rounds 8&9 - "It's become a really difficult situation" |url=https://www.as-web.jp/super-formula/1005333?all |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=auto sport web |language=ja}} He was replaced by Super GT driver and series debutant Riki Okusa.{{Cite web |date=25 October 2023 |title=TGM Grand Prixがスーパーフォーミュラ第8戦・第9戦鈴鹿の53号車のドライバーとして大草りきを抜擢 |trans-title=TGM Grand Prix selects Riki Okusa as the driver of the No. 53 car for Super Formula rounds 8&9 |url=https://www.as-web.jp/super-formula/1005651?all |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=auto sport web}}

File:Toshiki Oyu 2024 SF Motegi FP1.jpg at Mobility Resort Motegi]]

In December 2023, Oyu partook in the Super Formula post-season test at Suzuka for the Toyota-powered P.mu/Cerumo INGING team, prompting surprise from within the paddock.{{Cite web |date=5 December 2023 |title=トヨタ陣営から参加の大湯都史樹「こういう機会をいただけるとは思ってもいなかった」 |trans-title=Toshiki Oyu, a participant from the Toyota camp: "I never thought I'd get an opportunity like this" |url=https://www.as-web.jp/super-formula/1022674?all |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=auto sport web |language=ja}} The following month, Oyu's departure from Honda to Toyota was confirmed with the release of Toyota's 2024 motorsport entry list, with Oyu being set to join Vertex Partners Cerumo・INGING for the 2024 season, taking the place of TOM'S-bound Shō Tsuboi alongside former rival Sena Sakaguchi.{{Cite web |date=12 December 2023 |title=TOYOTA GAZOO Racing、2024年の国内参戦体制を発表 |trans-title=TOYOTA GAZOO Racing announces its 2024 domestic participation structure |url=https://global.toyota/jp/newsroom/corporate/40208584.html |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=Toyota Global}}

Oyu made his debut in Super GT in 2020, racing for ARTA in a Honda NSX GT300 alongside veteran and two-time series champion Shinichi Takagi.{{Cite web |date=10 January 2020 |title=スーパーGT：目指すはダブルタイトル。ARTAがGT500／GT300参戦体制を発表 |trans-title=Aiming for a double title. ARTA announces GT500/GT300 race participation structure |url=https://www.as-web.jp/supergt/556634?all |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=auto sport web}} The team was later joined by Formula 2 graduate Nobuharu Matsushita for the final two rounds.

Oyu moved up to the top-flight GT500 class for the 2021 season, partnering Ukyō Sasahara at Red Bull Team Mugen.

Following his switch to Toyota at the end of 2023, Oyu joined Team KeePer Cerumo for the 2024 Super GT season, partnering longtime Cerumo driver Hiroaki Ishiura.

Oyu is known in Japan as an online personality and automotive YouTuber, producing videos about his racing career and his personal Honda S2000. He has made numerous appearances on the Hot-Version video series (formerly Best Motoring) alongside racing driver and longtime host Keiichi Tsuchiya, often featuring his own car. He has cited Kimi Räikkönen as his favourite racing driver.

Oyu has one younger brother. His parents own a curry-focused food processing company in Otaru which sponsored him throughout his junior career and sells a themed curry aimed at his fans.{{Cite web |title=大湯 都史樹 「カペタみたいになりたい。僕もレースをやってみたい」 |trans-title=Toshiki Oyu: "I want to be like Capeta. I want to race too" |url=https://superformula.net/sf2/headline/25703 |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=Super Formula Official Website}}{{Cite web |title=大湯くん家のカレーRound.1 |url=https://tanzen.base.shop/items/69194266 |access-date=2 February 2024 |website=TANZEN Official Store}}

^* Season still in progress.

‡ Team standings

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

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

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

|style="background:#;"| SEP
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| FUJ
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| SUZ
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| SUG
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| AUT
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| MOT
{{small|}}

! NC*

! 0

|}

^‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.

^* Season still in progress.

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

|style="background:#;"| FUJ
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| FUJ
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| SUG
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| FUJ
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| FUJ
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| SUZ
{{small|}}

|style="background:#;"| SUZ
{{small|}}

! 12th*

! 8

|}

* Season still in progress.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://toshiki-oyu.com/wp/}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/@racingworld6575 大湯都史樹 Racing World] on YouTube
• {{DriverDB driver|toshiki-oyu}}

{{S-start}}

{{S-sports}}

{{succession box

|title = Super Formula
Rookie Champion

| years = 2020

| before = Álex Palou

| after = Hiroki Otsu}}

{{S-end}}

{{Super Formula teams}}

{{Portal bar|Biography|Japan|Sports}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oyu, Toshiki}}

Category:1998 births

Category:Living people

Category:Japanese racing drivers

Category:Super Formula drivers

Category:21st-century Japanese sportsmen

Category:Super GT drivers

Category:Japanese Formula 3 Championship drivers

Category:Euroformula Open Championship drivers

Category:Motopark Academy drivers

Category:Nakajima Racing drivers

Category:Mugen Motorsports drivers

Category:Team Aguri drivers

Category:Japanese F4 Championship drivers

Category:Sportspeople from Sapporo

Category:Toyota Gazoo Racing drivers

Category:Japanese YouTubers

Category:Team Goh Motorsports drivers