Toshio Suzuki (racing driver)

Toshio Suzuki (鈴木 利男, Suzuki Toshio, born March 10, 1955 in Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is a former Japanese racing driver. He is best known for his career in Formula Nippon and the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship (JSPC), as well as for his brief foray into Formula One.

Suzuki started his racing career in the late 1970s, primarily competing in domestic Japanese series. He achieved significant success in Formula Nippon, winning the championship in 1995. He also enjoyed a long and successful career in the JSPC, driving for teams such as Nissan and Toyota. He was a prominent figure in the development of Japanese sports car racing.

Suzuki made his Formula One debut at the age of 38 with the Larrousse team in 1993, replacing Philippe Alliot for the final two races of the season, the Japanese Grand Prix and the Australian Grand Prix. He retired from the Japanese Grand Prix due to an accident. His best result was 12th place in the Australian Grand Prix.

After his Formula One stint, Suzuki continued to race in various categories, including sports car racing and touring cars, often in a development role for Japanese manufacturers. He remained involved in motorsport for many years after his active driving career ended.