Hiroya Minowa

At just 16 years old, Hiroya Minowa from Tokyo, Japan is already rewriting the record books in the sport he was practically born into. Growing up with both of his parents active in competitive drifting, he was surrounded by the culture, cars, and community from a very young age. By the time he was 7 he was behind the wheel of a car, and his first real drift experience came soon after at Ebisu Circuit, laying the foundation for a meteoric rise that few could have predicted.

Minowa’s early years in the sport were marked by rapid progression, local competition wins, and a natural affinity for high-speed drifting. That talent propelled him into professional competition in Formula Drift at just 14 years old, making him one of the youngest drivers ever to compete in the series.

In his rookie season, Hiroya shocked the drifting world by becoming the youngest driver in Formula Drift history to achieve a podium finish, earning multiple second-place results against seasoned veterans. In 2025, Minowa made history once again by capturing his first Formula Drift PRO Championship win at Orlando Speed World, becoming the youngest winner ever in the series’ 22-year history.

Behind the wheel, he competes in a purpose-built Jerry Yang Racing Toyota GT86.