Sho Tsuboi
NationalityJapanese
Birth date21 May 1995 (age 31)
Birth placeKawagoe, Saitama, Japan
Racing licence FIA Platinum
Current seriesSuper GT - GT500
First year2019
Current teamTGR Team au TOM'S
Car number1
Former teamsRookie Racing, Racing Project Bandoh, SARD
Starts63
Wins12
Podiums22
Poles3
Fastest laps5
Best finish1st
Year

2021, 2023, 2024, 2025

Sho Tsuboi
Current seriesSuper Formula
First year2019
Current teamVantelin Team TOM'S
Car number36
Former teamsCerumo・INGING
Starts62
Podiums21
Wins7
Poles4
Fastest laps5
Best finish1st
Year2024
Prev seriesSuper GT - GT300
Japanese Formula Three
F4 Japanese Championship
Formula Challenge Japan
Prev series years2017-18
2016-18
2015
2012-13
TitlesSuper Formula
Super GT - GT500
Japanese Formula 3 Championship
F4 Japanese Championship
Title years2024
2021, 23-25
2018
2015

Sho Tsuboi (坪井 翔, Tsuboi Shō, born 21 May 1995) is a Japanese racing driver for Toyota Gazoo Racing and TOM'S Racing, who currently competes in the Super GT Series GT500 class and Super Formula Championship.[1]

Tsuboi is a four-time Super GT GT500 champion in 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025, sharing the all-time GT500 championships record with Ronnie Quintarelli.[2] He won the Super Formula Championship in 2024, as well as the title in the 2015 F4 Japanese Championship and 2018 Japanese Formula 3 Championship.

Career

Early career

Tsuboi began his single-seater racing career in 2012 and drove for two years in Formula Challenge Japan. He finished seventh in the standings in 2012, and fifth in 2013, with two race victories.[1]

Following the closure of Formula Challenge Japan, Tsuboi raced in the 2014 JAF Formula 4 regional championship series, finishing second in the FC class championship. That same year, he officially joined the Toyota Young Driver Program (TDP).

In 2015, Tsuboi made his debut in the inaugural FIA F4 Japanese Championship with the TOM'S Spirit team. He won seven races, and won the championship by just three points ahead of Tadasuke Makino.[1]

Formula 3

In 2016, Tsuboi entered the Japanese Formula 3 Championship with TOM'S.[3] Despite not winning a race, he finished third in the championship with 15 podiums in 17 races.

In 2017, Tsuboi won his first race, and won eight of the last ten races to finish second in the championship.

Tsuboi won the championship title in 2018, his third season. Tsuboi set a Japanese F3 record with 17 victories in 19 races, finishing second in the other two races that he did not win.[1][4][5]

Tsuboi made three starts in the Macau Grand Prix FIA Formula 3 World Cup between 2016 and 2018. He finished 16th in 2016, and 14th in 2017.

In the 2018 race, Tsuboi and German racing driver Sophia Flörsch were involved in a serious accident. Tsuboi escaped serious injury after Flörsch's car became airborne from contact with Jehan Daruvala. Tsuboi and Flörsch were hospitalized.[6]

Super GT

GT300 (2017-2018)

Tsuboi drove in the GT300 class of the Japanese Super GT Series from 2017 to 2018. He made his debut for JMS P.mu LM Corsa, driving a Lexus RC F GT3. He finished third in the 2017 GT300 standings, winning the Fuji 500 km and the overseas race at Chang International Circuit. In 2018, he drove for Tsuchiya Engineering in their Toyota 86 MC, and finished seventh in the championship with two podiums.[1][7]

GT500 (2018-)

Tsuboi made a one-off GT500 debut for Lexus Team SARD in the 2018 Fuji 500 km, finishing second in his first race aboard the Lexus LC 500.[8] In 2019, Tsuboi secured his full-time GT500 debut with Lexus Team WedsSport Bandoh.[9] Tsuboi and Yuji Kunimoto finished eleventh in the championship, scoring a third place podium finish at Chang International Circuit.[10]

In 2020, Tsuboi moved to the brand new ROOKIE Racing team (TGR Team Wako's ROOKIE), driving the new Toyota GR Supra GT500. Alongside reigning GT500 champion Kazuya Oshima, Tsuboi scored back to back podium finishes to open the 2020 season. They finished the year seventh in the championship, recording a best finish of second at the fifth round at Fuji Speedway.

Tsuboi changed teams once again in 2021, joining TGR Team au TOM'S, alongside Yuhi Sekiguchi.[11] Tsuboi finished second in the opening round at Okayama International Circuit, battling Kenta Yamashita for the lead for several laps.[12][13] Heading into the final round at Fuji Speedway, Tsuboi and Sekiguchi trailed championship leader Naoki Yamamoto by 16 points.[14] Tsuboi went on to win the race for his first career GT500 class victory.[15] Yamamoto was taken out from a championship-clinching position after GT300 driver Ren Sato crashed into his car with 15 laps remaining, which ultimately secured the championship for Tsuboi and Sekiguchi.[16][17]

For 2022, Sekiguchi was replaced by GT500 newcomer Giuliano Alesi, but the new combination of Tsuboi and Alesi only recorded one podium finish. In 2023, Ritomo Miyata transferred from the number 37 TOM'S team to join Tsuboi. The pair won the Golden Week Fuji 450 km race, finished second in the spring race at Suzuka, then reeled off back-to-back wins at Autopolis and Mobility Resort Motegi to clinch the championship by a whopping 29-point final margin.[18][19]

Tsuboi raced with his sixth different co-driver in as many seasons in 2024 after Kenta Yamashita replaced Miyata for 2024.[20] He became the first driver in GT500 history to win three consecutive championship races after winning the first round at Okayama.[21] He won again the GT500 title along with Super Formula title would make him the sixth driver to win both series.[2] Both Tsuboi and Yamashita stayed as both raced with the no. 1 car.

In 2025, with his record-tying fourth Super GT championship win and second place Super Formula win, Tsuboi was ranked #19 in Autosport Magazine's Top 50 drivers of 2025.[22]

Super Formula

After his record-setting 2018 Japanese F3 campaign, Tsuboi made the step up to the Super Formula Championship in 2019, joining JMS P.mu/Cerumo-INGING.[23] He recorded a best finish of second in a wet race at Fuji Speedway. Tsuboi finished 12th in the championship, and was third in the Rookie of the Year cup behind Álex Palou.

Tsuboi improved to third in the championship in 2020. He won his first race in the second round at Okayama, and then went on to win the final race of the season at Fuji.[24] He finished the season with 50 points, just twelve points behind eventual series champion Naoki Yamamoto.

However, Tsuboi slumped to 15th in the standings in 2021, only managing to score six points with a best finish of seventh at Suzuka.[25]

After five seasons at Cerumo-INGING, Tsuboi moved to Vantelin Team TOM'S in 2024 to replace his former Super GT co-driver Ritomo Miyata.[20] Tsuboi won his first Super Formula driver's championship, with three race wins and seven podiums to his name as he beat both Tadasuke Makino and former champion Tomoki Nojiri.[26]

Tsuboi stayed with TOM'S for 2025 and raced under the No. 1 car as the defending champion.[27] He finished as the championship runner-up with two race wins and three podium finishes.

Formula One

In August 2025, Tsuboi would drive a Formula One car for the first time at the Fuji Speedway with the Haas F1 Team, driving the Haas VF-23 as part of the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme.[28][29]

Racing record

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition
2012Formula Challenge JapanFTRS TMC12000077th
2013Formula Challenge JapanFTRS TMC FCJ122013365th
2014JAF Formula 4 – West Series FCBijin&LTV Field FTRS6123585style="background:#DFDFDF| 2nd
JAF Formula 4 – East Series FC50112435th
2015F4 Japanese ChampionshipTOM'S Spirit14743101951st
2016Japanese Formula 3 ChampionshipTeam TOM'S170011587style="background:#FFDF9F| 3rd
Macau Grand Prix10000N/A16th
2017Japanese Formula 3 ChampionshipTeam TOM'S2098415140style="background:#DFDFDF| 2nd
Macau Grand Prix10000N/A14th
Super GT - GT300LM corsa7200261style="background:#FFDF9F| 3rd
Super Taikyu - ST-4TOM'S Spirit55435135‡style="background:#FFFFBF| 1st‡
2018Japanese Formula 3 ChampionshipTeam TOM'S1917141619214style="background:#FFFFBF| 1st
Macau Grand Prix10000N/A16th
Super GT - GT500Team SARD100011516th
Super GT - GT300Tsuchiya Engineering70212397th
Super Taikyu - ST-4TOM'S Spirit64525159‡style="background:#FFFFBF| 1st‡
2019Super FormulaJMS P.mu/cerumo・INGING700011211th
Super GT - GT500Team WedsSport Bandoh8020127.511th
Super Taikyu - ST-4TOM'S Spirit62514123.5‡style="background:#DFDFDF| 2nd‡
2020Super FormulaJMS P.mu/cerumo・INGING7200250style="background:#FFDF9F| 3rd
Super GT - GT500TGR Team Wako's ROOKIE80203477th
Super Taikyu - ST-4C.S.I Racing53334129‡style="background:#FFFFBF| 1st‡
2021Super FormulaP.mu/cerumo・INGING70000615th
Super GT - GT500TGR Team au TOM'S8101364style="background:#FFFFBF| 1st
Super Taikyu - ST-4C.S.I Racing62545129.5‡style="background:#DFDFDF|2nd‡
2022Super FormulaP.mu/cerumo・INGING1000013011th
Super GT - GT500TGR Team au TOM'S8001129.510th
Super Taikyu - ST-ZCorolla Shin-Ibaraki CSIRacing51112107‡rowspan="2" style="background:#FFDF9F|3rd‡
My Cars CSIRacing20002
2023Super FormulaP.mu/cerumo・INGING90113594th
Super GT - GT500TGR Team au TOM'S83114891st
Super Taikyu - ST-4TOM'S Spirit61065100.5‡3rd‡
TGR GR86/BRZ CupSpread20000819th
2024Super FormulaVantelin Team TOM'S93127117.51st
Super GT - GT500TGR Team au TOM'S83213971st
Super Taikyu - ST-QORC ROOKIE Racing50101N/A‡NC‡
2025Super GT - GT500TGR Team au TOM'S8301480.51st
Super FormulaVantelin Team TOM'S122135119.52nd
Super Taikyu - ST-QToyota Gazoo Rookie RacingN/A‡NC‡
Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - SP8TKCMG
2026Super GT - GT500TGR Team au TOM'S22002401st*
Super FormulaVantelin Team TOM'S40011186th*
Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - SP9KCMG
Super Taikyu - ST-QGR Team ORC Field

* Season still in progress. ‡ Team standings.

Complete Formula Challenge Japan results

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

YearTeam123456789101112DCPts
2012FTRS ScholarshipFUJ1
1
11		FUJ1
2
7		MOT
1
12		MOT
2
12		FUJ2
1
13		FUJ2
2
5		FUJ2
3
10		SUZ1
1
13		SUZ1
2
Ret		SUZ2
1
5		SUZ2
2
4		SUZ2
3
18		7th7
2013FTRS ScholarshipFUJ1
1
1		FUJ1
2
7		MOT
1
6		MOT
2
7		FUJ2
1
6		FUJ2
2
7		FUJ2
3
5		FUJ3
1
3		FUJ3
2
1		SUZ
1
4		SUZ
2
6		SUZ
3
5		5th36

Complete F4 Japanese Championship results

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

YearTeam1234567891011121314DCPts
2015TOM'S SpiritOKA
1
2		OKA
2
2		FUJ1
1
1		FUJ1
2
9		FUJ2
1
4		FUJ2
2
1		SUZ
1
1		SUZ
2
1		SUG
1
1		SUG
2
1		AUT
1
1		AUT
2
17		MOT
1
5		MOT
2
2		1st195

Complete Japanese Formula 3 Championship results

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

YearTeamEngine123456789101112131415161718192021DCPts
2016Team TOM'SToyotaSUZ
1
3		SUZ
2
2		FUJ
1
3		FUJ
2
3		OKA
1
2		OKA
2
3		SUZ
1
2		SUZ
2
DNS		FUJ
1
2		FUJ
2
3		MOT
1
3		MOT
2
3		OKA
1
3		OKA
2
4		SUG
1
3		SUG
2
3		SUG
3
3		3rd87
2017Team TOM'SToyotaOKA
1
2		OKA
2
9		OKA
3
5		SUZ
1
3		SUZ
2
9		FUJ
1
7		FUJ
2
2		OKA
1
3		OKA
2
3		SUZ
1
1		SUZ
2
1		FUJ
1
Ret		FUJ
2
1		MOT
1
1		MOT
2
1		MOT
3
1		AUT
1
1		AUT
2
1		SUG
1
1		SUG
2
2		2nd140
2018Team TOM'SToyotaSUZ
1
1		SUZ
2
1		SUG
1
1		SUG
2
1		FUJ
1
1		FUJ
2
2		OKA
1
2		OKA
2
1		OKA
3
C		MOT
1
1		MOT
2
1		MOT
3
1		OKA
1
1		OKA
2
1		OKA
3
C		SUG
1
1		SUG
2
1		SUG
3
1		SUG
4
1		FUJ
1
1		FUJ
2
1		1st214

Complete Super GT results

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

YearTeamCarClass123456789DCPoints
2017LM corsaLexus RC F GT3GT300OKA
8		FUJ
1		AUT
6		SUG
13		FUJ
9		SUZ
6		CHA
1		MOT
6		3rd61
2018Tsuchiya EngineeringToyota 86 MCGT300OKA
3		SUZ
2		CHA
19		FUJ
5		SUG
24		AUT
24		MOT
8		7th39
Lexus Team SARDLexus LC 500GT500FUJ
2		16th15
2019Lexus Team WedsSport BandohLexus LC 500GT500OKA
6‡		FUJ
13		SUZ
7		CHA
3		FUJ
9		AUT
8		SUG
13		MOT
7		11th27.5
2020TGR Team Wako's ROOKIEToyota GR SupraGT500FUJ
3		FUJ
3		SUZ
9		MOT
4		FUJ
2		SUZ
12		MOT
12		FUJ
Ret		7th47
2021TGR Team au TOM'SToyota GR SupraGT500OKA
2		FUJ
13		MOT
3		SUZ
5		SUG
4		AUT
10		MOT
8		FUJ
1		1st64
2022TGR Team au TOM'SToyota GR SupraGT500OKA
6		FUJ
2‡		SUZ
10		FUJ
4		SUZ
9		SUG
10		AUT
8		MOT
9		10th29.5
2023TGR Team au TOM'SToyota GR SupraGT500OKA
15		FUJ
1		SUZ
2		FUJ
4		SUZ
10		SUG
7		AUT
1		MOT
1		1st89
2024TGR Team au TOM'SToyota GR SupraGT500OKA
1		FUJ
4		SUZ
5		FUJ
7		SUG
4		AUT
7		MOT
13		SUZ
1		1st97
2025TGR Team au TOM'SToyota GR Supra GT500GT500OKA
1		FUJ
2		SEP
7		FS1
1		FS2
(2)		SUZ
9		SUG
9		AUT
13†		MOT
1		1st80.5
2026TGR Team au TOM'SToyota GR Supra GT500GT500OKA
1		FUJ
1		FUJ
SUZ
SUG
AUT
MOT
1st*40*

‡ 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. † Driver did not finish, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance. * Season still in progress.

Complete Super Formula results

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

YearTeamEngine123456789101112DCPoints
2019JMS P.mu/cerumo・INGINGToyotaSUZ
5		AUT
12		SUG
Ret		FUJ
2		MOT
17		OKA
11		SUZ
10		11th12
2020JMS P.mu/cerumo・INGINGToyotaMOT
Ret		OKA
1		SUG
13		AUT
Ret		SUZ
Ret		SUZ
4		FUJ
12		3rd50
2021P.mu/cerumo・INGINGToyotaFUJ
Ret		SUZ
7		AUT
Ret		SUG
15		MOT
9		MOT
Ret		SUZ
16		15th6
2022P.mu/cerumo・INGINGToyotaFUJ
8		FUJ
12		SUZ
20		AUT
13		SUG
11		FUJ
22		MOT
5		MOT
10		SUZ
8		SUZ
12		11th30
2023P.mu/cerumo・INGINGToyotaFUJ
Ret		FUJ
2		SUZ
22		AUT
31		SUG
7		FUJ
11		MOT
Ret		SUZ
5‡		SUZ
5		4th59
2024Vantelin Team TOM'SToyotaSUZ
11		AUT
3		SUG
3‡3		FUJ
1		MOT
5		FUJ
1		FUJ
11		SUZ
2		SUZ
23		1st117.5
2025Vantelin Team TOM'SToyotaSUZ
4		SUZ
2		MOT
4		MOT
Ret		AUT
1		FUJ
12		FUJ
31		SUG
4		FUJ
23‡		SUZ
4		SUZ
7		SUZ
8		2nd119.5
2026Vantelin Team TOM'SToyotaMOT
9‡		MOT
14		SUZ
3		SUZ
5		FUJ
FUJ
FUJ
SUG
FUJ
FUJ
SUZ
SUZ
6th*18*

‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.
* Season still in progress.

References

  1. ^ DriverDB Internetseite: "Shou Tsuboi". Auf: www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
  2. ^ O’Connell, R. J. (2025-11-02). "TOM’S Dynasty Secured In Motegi: Tsuboi and Yamashita Win GT500 Championship". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  3. ^ Allen, Peter (2016-02-06). "F4 champion Tsuboi joins Yamashita at TOM'S in Japanese F3". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  4. ^ Wood, Ida (2018-08-20). "Sho Tsuboi triple at Motegi in Japanese F3". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  5. ^ Wood, Ida (2018-09-30). "Sho Tsuboi wins Japanese F3 crown with SUGO quadruple". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  6. ^ Welt Internetseite: "Warum der Fahrer vor Sophia Flörsch auf die Bremse trat". Auf: www.welt.de. 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
  7. ^ Goodwin, Graham (2018-02-14). "Super GT GT300 News Notebook: The Grid Nears Completion". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  8. ^ DriverDB Internetseite: "Autobacs Super GT Series - GT500 2018 standings". Auf: www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
  9. ^ CORPORATION, TOYOTA MOTOR. "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Outlines 2019 Motorsports Activities | Corporate | Global Newsroom". Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  10. ^ "1-2 WIN FOR LEXUS LC 500 IN THE 2019 SUPER GT CHAMPIONSHIP". 1-2 WIN FOR LEXUS LC 500 IN THE 2019 SUPER GT CHAMPIONSHIP. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  11. ^ O’Connell, R. J. (2021-01-22). "Toyota Gazoo Racing Announces 2021 Super GT Programmes". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  12. ^ "Okayama Super GT: Yamashita beats Tsuboi in opener". Archived 2024-08-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  13. ^ "Yamashita Resists Tsuboi Challenge for Okayama Win – Sportscar365". 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  14. ^ "Yamamoto drama gives it to TOM’S pair". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  15. ^ O’Connell, R. J. (2021-11-28). "Victory And GT500 Championship Glory For TGR Team au TOM’s at Fuji". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
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  17. ^ Cipolloni, Mark (2021-11-28). "Super GT: Toyota steals title from Honda". AutoRacing1.com. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  18. ^ "2023 AUTOBACS SUPER GT シリーズチャンピオン会見 | SUPER GT OFFICIAL WEBSITE". supergt.net. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  19. ^ "Why Tsuboi's second SUPER GT title felt different to his first". www.motorsport.com. 2026-01-14. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  20. ^ "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Presents its 2024 motorsport team setups in Japan". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  21. ^ O'Connell, RJ (14 April 2024). "TGR Team au TOM’S Claims History-Making Win In Okayama". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #19 Sho Tsuboi". www.autosport.com. 2026-01-14. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  23. ^ Wood, Ida (2019-02-08). "Artem Markelov and Sho Tsuboi secure Super Formula seats". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  24. ^ Lumb, Tim (2020-09-27). "Sho Tsuboi gets maiden Super Formula victory at Okayama". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  25. ^ "Tsuboi has "lost some confidence" after bruising 2021 season". motorsport.com. November 3, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  26. ^ Klein, Jamie (10 November 2024). "Super Formula Suzuka: Tsuboi crowned champion, Ota wins finale". motorsport.com. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  27. ^ "TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Presents its 2025 motorsport team setups in Japan". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 25 December 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
  28. ^ Klein, Jamie (14 July 2025). "Haas to run Fuji F1 test with Sho Tsuboi and Ryo Hirakawa". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  29. ^ Klein, Jamie. "Super Formula champion Tsuboi targets F1 test "dream" thanks to Haas' Toyota links". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2026-01-14.