Hiroki Arai (新井大輝, Arai Hiroki, born 2 August 1993) is a Japanese rally driver.

Hiroki Arai
Hiroki Arai at the 2019 Rally Poland
Born (1993-08-02) 2 August 1993 (age 31)
Related toToshi Arai (father)
World Rally Championship record
Active years20162018, 2021–present
Rallies15
Championships0
Rally wins0
Podiums0
Stage wins0
First rally2016 Rally Finland

Biography

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Hiroki Arai is the son of former Japanese rally driver Toshi Arai.[1] In 2015, He was selected by Toyota Gazoo Racing to join their Rally Challenge Program, alongside Takamoto Katsuta, and made his WRC debut in 2016.[2] After over two years of absence in WRC, he returned at the 2021 Croatia Rally.[3] In November 2023, Akai scored his first point in the WRC, after finishing 10th at the 2023 Rally Japan in a Peugeot 208 Rally4.[4]

Rally results

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WRC results

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Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 WDC Points
2016 Tommi Mäkinen Racing Ford Fiesta R5 MON SWE MEX ARG POR ITA POL
42
FIN
Ret
GER CHN
C
FRA ESP GBR AUS NC 0
2017 Tommi Mäkinen Racing Ford Fiesta R5 MON SWE
19
MEX FRA ARG POR
Ret
ITA
Ret
POL FIN
Ret
GER ESP GBR AUS NC 0
2018 Tommi Mäkinen Racing Ford Fiesta R5 MON SWE
20
MEX FRA
55
ARG POR
12
ITA
Ret
FIN
23
GER TUR GBR ESP AUS NC 0
2021 Hiroki Arai Ford Fiesta Rally2 MON ARC CRO
Ret
POR ITA KEN EST BEL GRE FIN ESP MNZ NC 0
2022 Ahead Japan Racing Team Peugeot 208 Rally4 MON SWE CRO POR ITA KEN EST FIN BEL GRE NZL ESP JPN
15
NC 0
2023 Ahead Japan Racing Team Peugeot 208 Rally4 MON SWE MEX CRO POR ITA KEN EST FIN GRE CHL EUR JPN
10
28th 1

* Season still in progress.

References

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  1. ^ "Hiroki Arai". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  2. ^ "ポルトガルの国内戦で新井大輝と勝田貴元が1-2フィニッシュ". rallyplus.net (in Japanese). 10 May 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  3. ^ Lindroos, Pontus (8 April 2023). "Hiroki Arai Returns to WRC with Stohl Racing". thecheckeredflag.co.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  4. ^ Barry, Luke (2023-11-19). "Evans wins Rally Japan in Toyota 1-2-3". DirtFish. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
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