Teppei Natori

Teppei Natori (名取鉄平, Natori Teppei, born 11 September 2000) is a Japanese racing driver who currently competes in Super GT for Kondo Racing in the GT300 class. He is best known for becoming Super Formula Lights champion in 2021.

Career

Karting

Natori started karting in 2014 when he was fourteen. He finished sixth in the ROK Cup International Final.^{[citation needed]}

Japanese F4

In 2017, Natori made his single seater debut with Buzz International in the Japanese F4 series.^[1] He finished three of the four races he competed at in the points, gaining him fourteen points and 13th in the standings.^{[citation needed]} In 2018, Natori got a full-time drive with the Honda Formula Dream Project, where he would finish on the podium eleven times, three of those times being wins. Natori finished runner up to teammate and Red Bull Junior driver Yuki Tsunoda.^{[citation needed]}

European Racing

Following his Japanese F4 success, Natori re-joined Carlin Buzz for the 2019 FIA F3 season.^[2] Natori finished the season with one point after an eighth place at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Natori also drove for Carlin in the Euroformula Open Championship. He finished on the podium three times and at the second race in Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya Natori took pole, fastest lap and the race win. The only other driver to do this that season was the champion, Marino Sato.^{[citation needed]}

Super Formula & Super Formula Lights

In 2020, Natori returned to his native Japan to contest the inaugural season of the newly rebranded Super Formula Lights championship with Toda Racing,^[3] and he claimed fourth. The next season, Natori's season was in doubt after being dropped by Honda works Factory. But he managed to get the necessary funding after settled a fundraiser. He competed with B-Max Racing for 2021 season, and he won the title off from Giuliano Alesi.

Natori also had one cameo race in 2020 in Super Formula with B-Max Racing, but unfortunately Natori could not compete due to medical reason.^{[citation needed]}

Racing record

Career summary

‡ Team standings ^* Season still in progress.

Complete F4 Japanese Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)

Complete Euroformula Open Championship results

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

Complete FIA Formula 3 Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)

^† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

Complete Super Formula Lights results

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

Complete Super Formula results

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

Complete Super GT results

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

^† Driver did not finish, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance. ^(Number) Driver did not take part in this sprint race, points are still awarded for the teammate's result. ^* Season still in progress.

References

1. ^ "2017 FIA-F4 Championship 5th / 6th Autopolis Round entry list". fiaf4.jp. F4 Japanese Championship. 8 May 2017. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
2. ^ "Carlin announce title partner 'Buzz' and Natori in 2019 FIA Formula 3". carlin.co.uk. Carlin Motorsport. 11 January 2019. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
3. ^ Klein, Jamie (August 26, 2020). "Super Formula Lights attracts 12-car entry for opener". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved August 26, 2020.