Masao Suenaga

Masao Suenaga
Nationality	Japan
Born	(1978-02-13) 13 February 1978 (age 46) Kagoshima
Related to	Naoto Suenaga
D1 Grand Prix career
Debut season	2002
Current team	NANKANG TIRE DRIFT TEAM D-MAX
Wins	3
Best finish	2 in 2005 & 2014
Previous series
2006-2007	D1 Street Legal

Masao Suenaga (末永正雄, Suenaga Masao, 13 February 1978, Kagoshima) is a Japanese professional drifting driver, currently competing in the D1 Grand Prix series for D-MAX. He is the younger brother of Naoto who both were taught by Nobushige Kumakubo.

He began his motorsport career racing minibikes in the Kyūshū area, later winning a title. Following this, his motorcycle racing career ended at the age of 20 caused by injuries. As Naoto was involved in the 'Tono Club' hashiriya group (which one of the members included Katsuhiro Ueo), he also became involved which he was taught how to drift by Naoto. Masao later joined the 'Gowasu?' hashiriya group.^[1]

He has been competing in the D1 Grand Prix series since 2002. In 2002 and 2003 he was the youngest driver to compete in the top 16 and he was soon picked up by RE Amemiya a renowned tuner of rotary powered cars. So he switched from his Nissan Silvia to a Mazda RX-7 (FD3S) went from strength to strength. The Silvia would be driven by Naoto until he became one of the Kumakubo led Team Orange drivers. Masao took his first win in 2005 and went on to place second overall. He had a slight lull in his performance in 2006, but was back on form in 2007 winning twice and finishing the season in third.^{[citation needed]}

He is one of the few D1GP drivers to compete the spinoff D1 Street Legal series in his own FD RX-7 winning the first two rounds of the inaugural season.^{[citation needed]}

Suenaga competed in the M150 20B-Powered FD3S RX-7 in the inaugural Formula Drift: Asia at Fuji Speedway Japan where he would take first place against Masashi Yokoi.^{[citation needed]}

He had been with RE Amemiya for years, but left in 2016. In 2017, he was picked up by Toyo Tires GLION TRUST RACING and became teammate of Masato Kawabata. He drove Nissan GT-R (R35).^{[citation needed]}

From 2020, he belongs to D-MAX and works with Masashi Yokoi.^{[citation needed]}

• When driver's position are highlighted in blue, this indicates either the driver earned 100pt or 100pt tansou (solo run) bonus has been awarded, with the latter being in use for Pre-2005.

• D1 Grand Prix

• (in Japanese)Gowasu?のホームページ - Official page
• (in Japanese)D1 Supporter profile
• (in Japanese)D1 Supporter profile (D1SL)