{{Infobox former F1 team |name = Heros Racing |long_name = Heros Racing Corporation |logo = |base = Japan |founders = |staff = |previous_name = |next_name = |drivers = {{flagicon|JPN}} Kazuyoshi Hoshino |constructors = Tyrrell <br> Kojima |engines = |debut = 1976 Japanese Grand Prix |races = 2 |cons_champ = 0 |drivers_champ = 0 |wins = 0 |podiums = 0 |points = 0 |poles = 0 |fastest_laps = 0 |last_race = 1977 Japanese Grand Prix }}
'''Heros Racing''' (listed in some sources as '''Heroes Racing''') was a Japanese motor racing team which competed briefly in Formula One in the {{f1|1976}} and {{f1|1977}} seasons. The team entered the 1976 and 1977 Japanese Grands Prix, each time with local driver Kazuyoshi Hoshino with a best result of 11th in 1977.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.statsf1.com/en/kazuyoshi-hoshino/grand-prix.aspx|title=Kazuyoshi Hoshino - Grands Prix started • Stats F1|last=|first=|date=|website=www.statsf1.com|publisher=|access-date=21 September 2016}}</ref> The team also competed in two races in the 1978 European Formula Two Championship and in Japanese top formula racing.
==Racing history==
===Formula One=== The team's first F1 race was the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix, where Hoshino qualified 21st using an outdated Tyrrell 007. However, in the race, run in very wet conditions, he placed as high as third at one point before having to pit for replacement tyres. He was forced to retire on lap 28 (of 73), having used all his available tyres.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/december-1976/34/japanese-grand-prix|title=The Japanese Grand Prix|last=Henry|first=Alan|authorlink=Alan Henry|date=December 1976|website=Motor Sport magazine archive|publisher=|page=34|access-date=21 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Small|first=Steve|title=The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who|date=1994|publisher=Guinness|page=191|isbn=0851127029}}</ref>
At the 1977 event, the team entered Hoshino in a Kojima KE009. He qualified 11th ahead of several works entries and also finished 11th, two laps down.<ref>{{cite web|last=Henry|first=Alan|authorlink=Alan Henry|title=The Japanese Grand Prix: Hunt leaves no doubt |url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/december-1977/44/japanese-grand-prix|website=Motor Sport magazine archive|date=December 1977|page=44|accessdate=22 September 2016}}</ref>
===Formula Two=== Heros Racing, with Hoshino driving, competed in two races in the 1978 European Formula Two Championship using a Nova-BMW, but did not score any points.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/teams/2663-heros-racing-corporation|title=Heros Racing Corporation|last=|first=|date=2015|work=Motor Sport magazine database|access-date=21 September 2016}}</ref><ref name=Hoshdb/>
===Japanese Top Formula racing=== The Japanese Top Formula series (also known as the Super Formula Championship) was the premier single-seater domestic series run to various formulae over several years. In 1973, Motoharu Kurosawa, driving a March 722 for Heros Racing, won the inaugural series run to Formula 2000 rules.<ref>{{cite web|title=Motoharu Kurosawa|url=https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/motoharu-kurosawa/|website=driverdb.com|accessdate= 22 September 2016}}</ref> This success was repeated in 1976 with Noritake Takahara driving a Nova-BMW<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.historicracing.com/driver_nation.cfm?countryCode=JP&driverID=5240|title=Noritake Takahara|last=|first=|date=|website=www.historicracing.com|publisher=|access-date=22 September 2016|archive-date=24 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424045710/http://historicracing.com/driver_nation.cfm?countryCode=JP&driverID=5240|url-status=dead}}</ref> and again in 1977 with Hoshino using a Nova. In 1978, the series moved to Formula Two rules and Hoshino again took the title with a Nova-BMW.<ref name=Hoshdb>{{Cite web|url=https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/kazuyoshi-hoshino/|title=Kazuyoshi Hoshino, Racing career profile, Driver Database|last=|first=|date=|website=www.driverdb.com|publisher=|access-date=22 September 2016}}</ref>
In 1984, 1985 and 1986 the team achieved a further hat-trick of title wins with Japanese driver Satoru Nakajima in a March-Honda,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/satoru-nakajima/|title=Satoru Nakajima|website=driverdb.com|access-date=23 September 2016}}</ref> and one further title in 1991 for Ukyo Katayama (Lola-Cosworth DFV) when the series had moved on to Formula 3000 regulations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/ukyo-katayama/|title=Ukyo Katayama|last=|first=|date=|website=www.driverdb.com|publisher=|access-date=23 September 2016}}</ref> {{Clear}}
==Complete Formula One results== (key) {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%" ! Year ! Chassis ! Engine ! Driver ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! WDC ! Points |- | 1976 ! Tyrrell 007 ! Cosworth V8 ! Kazuyoshi Hoshino | BRA | RSA | USW | ESP | BEL | MON | SWE | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | CAN | USA |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| JPN<br /><small>Ret</small> | ! NC ! 0 |- | 1977 ! Kojima KE009 ! Cosworth V8 ! Kazuyoshi Hoshino | ARG | BRA | RSA | USW | ESP | MON | BEL | SWE | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | USA | CAN |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| JPN<br /><small>11</small> ! NC ! 0 |- !colspan="23"|{{center|{{small|Source:<ref>{{cite book|last=Small|first=Steve|title=The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who|date=1994|publisher=Guinness|page=190|isbn=0851127029}}</ref>}}}} |}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/teams/2663-heros-racing-corporation Stats] at ''Motor Sport'' magazine database *[http://www.laberezina.com/ecuries/autres_ecuries/H/heros_racing_corporation.htm Stats at laberezina.com (in French)]
Category:Formula One entrants Category:Japanese auto racing teams Category:Japanese Formula 3 Championship teams