Hitoshi Ogawa

was a Japanese racing car driver. ^[1] Ogawa won the 1989 All Japan Formula 3000 Championship and finished 2nd in the same championship the following year.

Death

Ogawa was killed in a horrific accident on lap 27 of a round held at Suzuka in 1992. Ogawa tried to overtake Andrew Gilbert-Scott's car on a straight, but Gilbert-Scott held his position. Ogawa moved to the side of Gilbert-Scott's car but hit the rear-left wheel of the British driver's car. The front wheel of Ogawa's car climbed over the aforementioned wheel and became lodged in front of it. The two of them travelled down the straight at speed and off into the gravel trap. Gilbert-Scott's car spun while Ogawa's car went in nose-first. Gilbert-Scott's car hit the tyre wall and flipped, landing upside down. However, Ogawa hit a mound and went over the tyre barrier, hitting a high-fence supporting pole with violent force. Both cars were completely destroyed in the accident and the race was immediately stopped. One cameraman, several photographers, and Gilbert-Scott were all injured. Ogawa was freed from his wrecked Team Cerumo Lola, but had suffered severe leg, head and neck injuries during the crash. He died on the way to a hospital.

References

* [http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=182 Motorsport Memorial]
* [http://t-toru.hp.infoseek.co.jp/hitoshi.html]