Dai Yoshihara's Crazy Origin Story

By Zack Klapman, Matt Farah

The Smoking Tire

30/08/22·1h 23m

Dai Yoshihara is a professional driver who has competed in Formula D, Time Attack, Road Racing, and Hill Climb. And it all started with a motorcycle. Sort of.

On this episode we find out how Dai got his start in driving, drifting, and the unlikely meeting that led to his first drift event and ultimately, his career. Dai walks us through his car history; the differences between road racing and drifting; why he loves the Pikes Peak Hill Climb; his AE86 builds; and the one race car he would own if he could.

Some of his most notable moments: he won the Formula D championship in 2011, 3rd place in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, 1st overall in the 2019 Global Time Attack Super Lap Battle, and took 1st place in the Unlimited class (and 9th overall) at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb of 2020. He's also been a drift judge, a precision driver, co-hosted a show on Hagerty along with our own Zack Klapman, and has been the face of many brands.

Recorded August 16, 2022

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