Masaki Kano (加納 政樹) is a Japanese auto racing driver who currently races in the Super GT racing series. He is best known for having competed in the World Touring Car Championship. Kano won the GT World Challenge Asia GT4 class championship in 2023 racing for YZ Racing with BMW Team Studie.

Career

Kano competed in karting between 1991 and 1994. He then attended the Winfield Racing School in France in 1995. Kano finished ninth in the Japanese Super Taikyu Series in 2006, and later third in 2007.

Asian Touring Car Series

From 2007 to 2008, Kano competed in the Asian Touring Car Series. He was runner-up to Fariqe Hairuman in the 2007 Asian Touring Car Championship, driving a BMW 320i for Engstler Motorsport, winning the Division 2 category. The following year he finished third in the 2008 Asian Touring Car Championship.

World Touring Car Championship

He made his World Touring Car Championship debut for Engstler at the 2008 FIA WTCC Race of Japan; he also raced at the subsequent Race of Macau. He returned to the WTCC for Engstler in the Asian rounds of the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons. He joined Engstler Motorsport once again for the 2012 FIA WTCC Race of Japan. For the 2013 FIA WTCC Race of Japan he replaced team boss Franz Engstler, who was unable to race due to illness.

Super GT

Kano made his debut in the Super GT racing series in the GT300 class in 2012, racing for JLOC. From 2013 to 2022, Kano raced for Arnage Racing. He scored 19 points in 2013 with one podium finish. In 2023, Kano joined R'Qs Motor Sports.

GT World Challenge Asia

In 2023, Kano participated in the GT World Challenge Asia championship series, driving a BMW M4 GT4 for the YZ Racing with Studie Team alongside Manabu Orido. Kano and the team scored 6 race wins in the 2023 championship in the GT4 class. Kano and the YZ Racing with Studie team went on to win the 2023 GT4 class championship, as well as the Japan Cup title for the 2023 season.

Racing record

Complete World Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete Super GT results

• Season still in progress.