Yuji Ide (井出有治, Ide Yūji) (born 21 January 1975) is a Japanese racing driver. He is the 2005 Formula Nippon runner-up and the 2010 Suzuka 1000km winner. He competed in Formula One with the Super Aguri team in 2006, but was demoted to third driver after four races and subsequently lost his FIA Super Licence.[1]

Yuji Ide
In 2010, as a Super GT driver
Born (1975-01-21) 21 January 1975 (age 49)
Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityJapan Japanese
Active years2006
TeamSuper Aguri
Entries4 (4 starts)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry2006 Bahrain Grand Prix
Last entry2006 San Marino Grand Prix

Early career edit

Ide's 2005 Formula Nippon Lola.

Born in Saitama, Saitama, Ide started his racing career in 1990 with kart racing. In 1991, he won the Kantou National Cup Kart Championship. In 1992 he was second in the Regional Kart Championship East Kantou series A1 Class and also won the Japan Kart Grand Prix SS stock class National GP.[2] The following year he joined the All-Japan Kart Championship Series Formula A Class before progressing to the All-Japan Formula Three Championship.[2]

In 1999 he came second in the All Japan GT Championship GT300 Class Series.[2] He was also the Formula Dream series champion in Japan.[2] In 2002 Ide joined the French Formula Three Championship series and finished in seventh place. The following year, 2003, he joined the All Japan Championship Formula Nippon Series and also finished seventh.[2] In 2004, he claimed third spot before going on to win the Super Endurance Race Class 3 Series. He finished his first stint in Formula Nippon finishing second in the 2005 championship.[2]

Formula One edit

Ide driving the Super Aguri SA05 at the 2006 Australian Grand Prix.

At age 31, Ide became one of Formula One's oldest rookies when he landed a seat at Super Aguri for the 2006 season, in part due to Super Aguri's aspiration of fielding an all-Japanese team.[3] Ide had known Aguri Suzuki for a long time, according to a press release,[4] however Ide's meshing with the team had some issues with his lack of proficient English.[5]

In his debut race in Bahrain, Ide was significantly behind his more experienced teammate Takuma Sato and failed to finish. At the next race in Malaysia, he retired after 33 laps.

During qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix, Ide was blamed for blocking Rubens Barrichello during his qualifying lap, causing the Brazilian to be stuck in the first round of qualifying and start 16th on the grid.[6] Ide finished 13th in the race, two laps down. His weekend in Melbourne was notable for a number of spins, and team principal Aguri Suzuki subsequently suggested Ide's seat was not safe if his performances did not improve.

At Imola, Ide caused a first lap crash with Christijan Albers that put the Dutchman into a series of rolls which ended with Albers's car upside down.[7] Ide was reprimanded by the stewards and warned over future conduct. Aguri Suzuki said "He didn't have enough testing because he doesn't understand how to use the car".[8]

On 4 May 2006, Super Aguri announced that Ide would be dropped from the upcoming European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, following advice from the FIA that he needed more experience.[1] He was replaced by the team's third driver Franck Montagny. Ide was demoted to Montagny's seat as third driver.[9]

On 10 May 2006, the FIA revoked Ide's FIA Super Licence meaning he could no longer compete in F1 during the 2006 season.[10] A statement from Super Aguri said that "Aguri Suzuki and A.Company (Japan) shall continue to seek driving opportunities for Yuji and hopefully a path back into Formula One".[1]

Summary edit

Overall during Ide's four-race F1 career, he finished once – a 13th place at the 2006 Australian Grand Prix.[11]His best qualifying effort was 21st of 22 cars at his debut at Bahrain,[11] where the 22nd starter, Kimi Räikkönen, did not complete a qualifying attempt. Super Aguri team principal Aguri Suzuki revealed that Ide had just 200 kilometres of experience in an F1 car before his debut.[12]

In the November 2009 issue of F1 Racing Magazine, Ide was named as one of the five worst F1 drivers in history. However, in December 2020 The Race noted that he was "a more capable driver than he was made to appear", with his brief F1 spell hampered by little testing, a language barrier and driving "very much the second car" of the new Super Aguri team.[13][12]

Return to Japan edit

In July 2006 it was announced that Ide would be racing for Team Dandelion Racing in the final six rounds of the Formula Nippon championship, with the aim of increasing his racing experience.[14] Ide contested the International Pokka 1000km round of the 2006 Super GT Series at Suzuka with Nismo in the No. 23 Nissan. During the race, he was penalized after making contact with the No. 55 car of Hidetoshi Mitsusada; Ide ignored the black flag, resulting in his team's disqualification from the race.[15]

In 2007, he remained in Formula Nippon with the Autobacs Racing Team Aguri (ARTA) team,[16] which is owned by Aguri Suzuki.[17] His best finish of the season was a third place, scored in round five at Suzuka.[18] Ide also raced as a third driver for ARTA in the 2007 International Pokka 1000km, where the team finished second overall, despite a large success ballast weight handicap.[19]

Ide raced as a full-time driver in Super GT for Team Kunimitsu in 2008 and 2009, and then for ARTA in 2010. He notably won the 2010 Pokka GT Summer Special and finished second at the 2008 event.[19] He also raced full-time in Formula Nippon in 2008 and 2010, but scored points just three times.

Racing record edit

Career summary edit

SeasonSeriesTeam NameRacesWinsPolesPointsPosition
1994All-Japan Formula 3 ChampionshipActive6000NC
Asada Racing000
1996All-Japan GT Championship - GT300Hoshino Racing1000NC
1997All-Japan Formula 3 ChampionshipAsada Racing2000NC
1998All-Japan Formula 3 ChampionshipNow Motorsports7000NC
1999All-Japan GT Championship - GT300ARTA - NISMO634722nd
Formula Dream5ZIGEN ARTA?1??1st
2000All-Japan Formula 3 ChampionshipMugen Dome Project1021352nd
Macau Grand PrixSkill Speed100N/A24th
Korea Super Prix100N/A13th
All-Japan GT ChampionshipNISMO100622nd
2001All-Japan Formula 3 ChampionshipThree Bond Racing18001005th
All-Japan GT Championship - GT300Hasemi Motorsport700534th
Macau Grand PrixSignature Team100N/A5th
Korea Super Prix100N/A12th
2002French Formula 3 ChampionshipAutobacs Racing Team Aguri1410847th
European Formula 3 Cup100N/A6th
Macau Grand Prix100N/ANC
Masters of Formula 3100N/A25th
Korea Super Prix100N/A10th
2003Formula NipponRacing Team Cerumo1000197th
All-Japan GT ChampionshipTeam Impul820647th
2004Formula NipponTeam Impul911323rd
All-Japan GT ChampionshipTeam Impul7113511th
2005Formula NipponTeam Impul921392nd
Super GTTeam Impul8013511th
2006Formula OneSuper Aguri400025th
Formula NipponTeam Dandelion Racing6000NC
Super GTNISMO1000NC
2007Formula NipponAutobacs Racing Team Aguri900613th
Super GTAutobacs Racing Team Aguri1001518th
2008Formula NipponAutobacs Racing Team Aguri1100219th
Super GTTeam Kunimitsu9004111th
2009Super GTTeam Kunimitsu9002913th
2010Formula NipponMotul Team800114th
Super GTAutobacs Racing Team Aguri7102911th
2013Super GT - GT300Bonds Racing100622nd
2015Super GT - GT300Team Up Garage with Bandoh600225th
2017Super GT - GT300EIcars Bentley TTO6000NC
Superrace Championship - Super 6000Ecsta Racing Team8451272nd
2018Super GT - GT300EIcars Bentley7000NC
Superrace Championship - Super 6000Ecsta Racing Team9101163rd
2020Super Taikyu - ST-TCRFloral Racing with Uematsu521194‡1st‡
2021Super Taikyu - ST-XFloral Racing with ABSSA401108.5‡2nd‡
2022Super GT - GT300Busou Drago Corse30012.520th

‡ Team standings.

Complete Japanese Formula 3 results edit

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

YearTeamEngineClass12345678910111213141516171819DCPts
1994ActiveToyotaSUZ
14
FUJ
Ret
TSU
17
SUZ
Ret
SEN
20
TOKMINTAISUGNC0
Asada RacingMugenSUZ
10
1995Asada RacingMugenJSUZ
12
TSU
12
MINSUZ
Ret
TAI
Ret
SUGFUJ
14
SUZ
10
SEN
11
4th22
1997Asada RacingMugenSUZ
Ret
TSU
Ret
MINFUJSUZSUGSENMOTFUJSUZNC0
1998Now MotorsportsToyotaSUZ
9
TSU
10
MIN
16
FUJ
16
MOT
Ret
SUZ
19
SUG
13
TAISENSUGNC0
2000Mugen × Dome ProjectMugenSUZ
Ret
TSU
1
FUJ
6
MIN
3
TAI
6
SUZ
2
SUG
5
MOT
3
SEN
6
SUZ
1
2nd35
2001Three Bond RacingThree BondSUZ
1

Ret
SUZ
2

4
TSU
1

7
TSU
2

7
FUJ
1

5
FUJ
2

Ret
MIN
1

4
MIN
2

3
MOT
1

Ret
MOT
2

5
SUZ
5
SUG
1

5
SUG
2

5
SEN
1

6
SEN
2

6
TAI
1

5
TAI
2

8
MOT
1

8
MOT
2

8
5th100

Complete Formula Nippon results edit

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

YearEntrant1234567891011DCPoints
2003Team CerumoSUZ
4
FUJ
7
MIN
3
MOT
2
SUZ
7
SUG
10
FUJ
Ret
MIN
3
MOT
12
SUZ
5
7th19
2004Team ImpulSUZ
12
SUG
2
MOT
2
SUZ
3
SUG
7
MIN
7
SEP
10
MOT
1
SUZ
2
3rd32
2005Team ImpulMOT
2
SUZ
1
SUG
5
FUJ
7
SUZ
8
MIN
1
FUJ
3
MOT
4
SUZ
3
2nd39
2006Dandelion RacingFUJSUZMOTSUZ
12
AUT
12
FUJ
11
SUG
Ret
MOT
Ret
SUZ
10
21st0
2007Autobacs Racing Team AguriFUJ
14
SUZ
10
MOT
16
OKA
Ret
SUZ
3
FUJ
16
SUG
Ret
MOT
Ret
SUZ
9
13th6
2008Autobacs Racing Team AguriFUJ
9
SUZ
18
MOT
15
OKA
Ret
SUZ
15
SUZ
Ret
MOT
12
MOT
Ret
FUJ
Ret
FUJ
19
SUG
17
19th2
2010Motul Team MugenSUZ
9
MOT
9
FUJ
10
MOT
9
SUG
9
AUT
DNS
SUZ
8
SUZ
8
14th1

Complete Super GT results edit

YearTeamCarClass123456789DCPoints
1999ARTA-NISMONissan SilviaGT300SUZ
9
FUJ
Ret
SUG
1
MIN
1
FUJ
Ret
TAI
1
MOT
4
2nd72
2000NISMONissan Skyline GT-RGT500MOT
6
FUJSUGFUJTAIMINSUZ22nd6
2001Hasemi MotorsportNissan SilviaGT300TAI
6
FUJ
2
SUG
12
FUJ
2
MOT
9
SUZ
2
MIN
12
4th53
2003ImpulNissan Skyline GT-RGT500TAI
12
FUJ
2
SUG
Ret
FUJ
1
FUJ
16
MOT
6
AUT
11
SUZ
1
4th64
2004ImpulNissan ZGT500TAI
8
SUG
10
SEP
Ret
TOK
11
MOT
Ret
AUT
5
SUZ
1
11th35
2005ImpulNissan ZGT500OKA
Ret
FUJ
15
SEP
8
SUG
5
MOT
3
FUJ
13
AUT
4
SUZ
9
11th35
2006NISMONissan ZGT500SUZOKAFUJSEPSUGSUZ
DSQ
MOTAUTFUJNC0
2007Autobacs Racing Team AguriHonda NSXGT500SUZOKAFUJSEPSUGSUZ
2
MOTAUTFUJ18th15
2008Team KunimitsuHonda NSXGT500SUZ
13
OKA
9
FUJ
4
SEP
5
SUG
5
SUZ
2
MOT
16
AUT
9
FUJ
Ret
11th41
2009Team KunimitsuHonda NSXGT500OKA
8
SUZ
12
FUJ
11
SEP
4
SUG
4
SUZ
9
FUJ
12
AUT
6
MOT
8
13th29
2010Autobacs Racing Team AguriHonda HSV-010 GTGT500SUZ
Ret
OKA
6
FUJ
11
SEP
11
SUG
12
SUZ
1
FUJ
C
MOT
7
11th29
2013Bonds RacingNissan GT-R GT3GT300OKAFUJ
5
SEPSUGSUZFUJFUJAUTMOT22nd6
2015Team Up Garage with BandohToyota 86GT300OKA
19
FUJ
Ret
CHA
Ret
FUJ
Ret
SUZSUGAUT
9
MOT
Ret
25th2
2017EIcars Bentley TTOBentley Continental GT3GT300OKA
20
FUJ
16
AUT
19
SUGFUJ
18
SUZ
Ret
CHAMOT
22
NC0
2018EIcars BentleyBentley Continental GT3GT300OKA
21
FUJ
22
SUZ
18
CHAFUJ
13
SUG
15
AUT
18
MOT
19
NC0
2022BUSOU Drago CorseNissan GT-R Nismo GT3GT300OKA
11
FUJ
2‡
SUZ
6
FUJSUZSUGAUTMOT20th12.5

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

Complete Formula One results edit

(key)

YearEntrantChassisEngine123456789101112131415161718WDCPoints
2006Super Aguri F1 TeamSuper Aguri SA05Honda RA806E 2.4 V8BHR
Ret
MAL
Ret
AUS
13
SMR
Ret
EUR
*
ESPMONGBRCANUSAFRAGERHUNTURITACHNJPNBRA25th0

* Ide was entered as third driver but did not take part in the race weekend.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Ide loses super license". motorsport.com. 11 May 2006. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Super Aguri F1 team driver profiles". Super Aguri F1 team driver profiles. 2006. Archived from the original on 24 March 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
  3. ^ "Sato to become Aguri's first driver". GPUpdate.net. 27 January 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  4. ^ "Ide hoping for good season". GPUpdate.net. 27 February 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  5. ^ "Q & A with Aguri Suzuki". GPUpdate.net. 26 April 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  6. ^ "Australian GP — Saturday — Qualifying Session 1 Report". GrandPrix.com. 2006. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
  7. ^ "San Marino 2006: Schumacher's Imola role reversal". Autocourse. 23 April 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2007.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Yuji Ide not out (yet)". GPUpdate.net. 24 April 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  9. ^ "Rookie Ide axed for European GP". news.bbc.co.uk. 4 May 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
  10. ^ "Ide's Superlicence revoked". pitpass.com. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
  11. ^ a b All race entries, by Yuji Ide.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ a b "Ide lacked experience and English | F1 News | Autosport". Autosport.com. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  13. ^ "Every Japanese Formula 1 driver ranked". The Race. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Ide makes racing return". F1 ITV. 6 July 2006. Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
  15. ^ "The perfect win". supergt.net. 20 August 2006. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012.
  16. ^ Super Aguri Company
  17. ^ "Key Personnel Info". Super Aguri F1 Team. Archived from the original on 30 May 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  18. ^ "Yuji Ide Point Standing". Formula Nippon. Archived from the original on 23 June 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  19. ^ a b O'Connell, R. J. (20 August 2017). "International Suzuka 1000km: Hall of Fame – 1999-2017". Super GT World. Retrieved 31 May 2020.

External links edit