Hattori Dies in Road Car Accident

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Former IndyCar driver and NASCAR and sports car racing team owner Shigeaki Hattori has died in a motor vehicle accident at the age of 61.

Hattori was the team owner of Hattori Motorsports, which competes in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge with a Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2.

According to a statement from the Huntersville (N.C.) Police Department, Hattori’s 2025 Toyota Crown crossed the center lane into oncoming traffic, colliding with another vehicle on Saturday morning.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A native of Okayama, Japan, Hattori moved to the U.S. in the 1990s to pursue an open-wheel racing career, having made two starts in the Indianapolis 500 prior to moving into NASCAR Truck Series competition, where he later formed his own team.

Hattori Motorsports has competed in the GT4 ranks in both SRO America and Pilot Challenge competition in recent years.

“Shige was known for his relentless drive, focus and competitive spirit, a statement on the team’s Instagram page read. “Team ownership through HRE and Hattori Motorsports had become both his passion and his life’s work.

“He had a unique gift to constantly inject a light-hearted attitude and one-of-a-kind sense of humor into his race team that will never be forgotten.”

A statement from IMSA read: “The IMSA family is saddened to learn of the passing of Shigeaki Hattori.

“Our paddock knew him as a race-winning team owner in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, but he also had an extraordinary career as a driver and team owner across several different racing disciplines.

“We join our colleagues across the sport in mourning his loss and extend our condolences to his family, friends and associates.”