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Kunimitsu Takahashi Died Of Cancer Illness – He was a former professional motorcycle road racer and racing driver from Japan. He passed away at the age of 82 after an unsuccessful battle with cancer sickness.
Kunimitsu Takahashi is the current owner and team manager of Team Kunimitsu in Super GT. He was a former professional motorcycle road racer, racing driver, and current owner and team manager of Team Kunimitsu in Super GT.
Takahashi was known as the “Father of Drifting” and was affectionately known as “Kuni-san.” He raced in motorsports from 1958 to 1999. He competed on motorcycles between 1958 and 1963, becoming the first Japanese rider to win a World Grand Prix and winning four world championships in total.
His racing team, Team Kunimitsu, has won numerous Super GT championships. He was the chairman of the GT Association, which organizes the Super GT competition, from 1993 to 2007.
Is Kunimitsu Takahashi Still Alive? Death Cause And Obituary Details
No, he’s dead. Kunimitsu Takahashi, a former professional road racer and racing driver who also served as the owner and team manager of Team Kunimitsu in Super GT, passed away. He died at the age of 82 after a long battle with cancer.
Takahashi has won 71 races in 489 events, including two- and four-wheeled wheels. In 1960, he joined Honda as a working slider and made his debut at the Two-Wheeled World Grand Prix the following year. He won the West German Grand Prix for the first time the following year.
Farewell to Kunimitsu Takahashi, the first Japanese rider to win a motorcycle Grand Prix riding a 250cc Honda to victory at Hockenheim, a 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner and the ‘father of drifting’.
A Honda legend, we send our deepest condolences to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/OzkLoL8CKj
— Honda Racing Global (@HondaRacingGLB) March 16, 2022
Following that, Kuniko, who switched to four-wheel racing and competed in various categories in Japan, finished tenth in the 1977 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix.
The family will announce the obituary, funeral arrangements, and visitation information of Kunimitsu Takahashi, and his family members and loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers.
Kunimitsu Takahashi Died Of Cancer Illness – Here’s What Happened To Him
“Today, we’ve lost a true legend. I learned deeply regret Kunimitsu Takahashi’s death this afternoon after a long fight with cancer, he was 82 years old when he died. I had the good fortune to meet him while working for Honda Malaysia and being a member of the HMRT.” said his follower.
We’ve lost a true legend today.
With great sadness I learnt of the passing of Kunimitsu Takahashi, who died this afternoon after a battle with cancer. He was 82 years old.
I was luck enough to have met him while I was an employee of Honda Malaysia and a member of HMRT. pic.twitter.com/FwbV25iAy3
— 𝕹𝕴𝕮𝕶 (@Nicholas_Gomez) March 16, 2022
Since 2000, he has dedicated himself to his coach for “Team Kuniko” and has competed in domestic GT races with the NSX-GT and HSV-010 GT. He won series titles in the SUPER GT Series GT500 class in 2018 and 2020.
He received the “Sports Merit Award” in 2020 for his great contribution to motorsports development in Japan over the years. Kunimitsu received an award from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology on July 27.
How Did Kunimitsu Takahashi Die?
According to Honda, Kunimitsu Takahashi, a Japanese racing veteran and renowned team owner, died due to cancer at the age of 82.
Sad to hear about the legend Kunimitsu Takahashi passing. Was the 1st Japanese rider to ride in @motogp and was the 1st to win for @HondaJP_Live in Hockenheim 250cc race in 1961 pic.twitter.com/wJDmceyQZc
— Tammy Gorali (@tammygorali) March 16, 2022
Takahashi was a pioneer for Japanese riders in Grand Prix motorcycle racing before moving on to a successful career on four wheels, winning races in single-seaters, sports prototypes, and touring cars over a five-decade career.
Drifting originated in Japan. Kunimitsu, the first Japanese Grand Prix winner, was wounded at the Isle of Man TT in 1962 and opted to switch to racing automobiles in 1965.