Keiichi Tsuchiya is a Japanese-born professional racing car driver. He was born in the year 1956 in Tomi, Nagano, Japan. He is famously known as the Drift king by his fans. It is expected that the Famous drift king has a net worth of 30 million dollars.
Keiichi Tsuchiya has managed to incorporate drifting as motorsport. And most importantly, he is known for tongue and mountain pass driving. He is known best for driving the famous sports car Toyota AE85 sprinter Trueno car. The drift king is also famously portrayed in one of the top class comic books Manga initial D. The character who has managed to represent himself as Keiichi is Takumi Fuji ware.
From 1994 to 2000, he contested in 24 hours of Le Mans, and he stood second in place. He has also managed to compete in the following shows, Toyota Team Europe, Kunimistu Honda, and Team Lark. His racing career started in the year 1977 where he decided to get enrolled in the freshman series.
Not only had this, but he also managed to play roles in famous Hollywood movies Such as The Fast and The Furious-Tokyo Drift. He is a well-known figure among the fans in Japan, and he holds a great place in the states too.
Early Life
Keiichi Tsuchiya, from day one, has been practicing drifting, but unfortunately, he belonged to a poor family, which is why he was never able to endowment his passion. Therefore during the early days, he took part in street touge where he did his best to show off his skills to the street fellows. And in the year 1970, he somehow managed to show off his skills to his emerging fans.
Kenichi managed to race his car or perform drifting over the snow-covered mountains of Japan. These mountains give Keiichi plenty of opportunity to perform and run his skills over these mountains. The reason why Keiichi was so much interested in drifting is that he was inspired by its Japanese hero, the famous Kunimistu Honda.
Keiichi pushed himself a bit too far while being on the car racing track as he would use his skills and tactics to perform a little too well. When slowly and gradually he gained popularity, he took his over bullock slide on the racing track, and guess what, things got a lot more interesting. Though his violent, aggressive acts made the authority suspend his license, there was no stopping him. He finally was known to be the Drift king by his followers.
However, his career started accelerating, and in the year 1987, he played a role in AE86. The video was known as Pulpsy and became a real classic lover among fans. In other words, he managed to keep his fans hooked all the time.
Even up till the drift king has managed to contest in major drifting events such as king of Europe, Pro series, and Swiss of the circuit. Though he has retired back in the years still there is no stopping the king back.
Career life
Tsuchiya initially emerged into the drifting career in the year 1977 in the freshman series. Unfortunately, Keiichi had less money, and he was unable to fund his career; thus, he started driving for street lovers.
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Racing career-National championship
After emerging from his shell, he took part in the Japanese Three Formula Championship, Japanese car touring Championship JTCC, and after these two championships, he performed in Cosmo oil Sierra and Drove the Nissan Skyline Nisar in Group A. Later he took part in Honda civic on super touring car championship. And he managed to succeed in all these championships.
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Le Mans
He went to nick a class win, and in the year 1844, he stood 8th place in Le Mans in a Honda NXS. During the year 1999, he again took part in the same game Le Mans and drove a Tokyo GT one and when the race is about to end, the co-driver Ukyo was managing to build his stride and lead to BMW V12, where he was forced to move towards the grass and his tire blowout. But both still managed to gain pace and stood second in place.
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Nascar
The Nascar exhibition racing show was one ultimate game in which he raced too. He drove Suzuki thunder 100 and twin ring Motegi. He raced both in 1998 and 1999.
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Drifting career
With a drifting career, as stated above, he started while driving in street circuits, but unfortunately, due to illegal and violent car moves, his license was suspended. Later he played a role in the movie SHOUTO where he advised every racer not to indulge in aggressive car moves if they want to call themselves professional. And these words were a major hit in these SHOUTO series, and his fans went crazy.
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After his retirement
Even after retirement, he hasn’t stopped racing; in fact, after leaving D1, he is the Drift muscle judge and also served as the director in GT500 class of ARTA. He has his own office. But he sold it in 2005 to purchase DG-5. The jacket he wears has a shade of green color, and his helmet represents the company logo and design.
He also hosted Best magazine motoring, which involves cars for checking purposes. He also represents himself as the guest in a video magazine similar to the hot version. He also serves as an editor in chief of initial D and manga midnight. The main character of initial D depicts a life role similar to him. It explains how he earned money to pursue his passion.
After the year 1995, he appeared as a guest in formula one commentator displayed over Fuji TV. In 2006, he played a role in fast and too furious. There he acted as a stunt advisor.
In the year 2014, he joined the king of Europe series to create Asia’s ProSeries king. He also served as the judge in many kings of Europe ProSeries and as a guest representative.
Keiichi Tsuchiya Net Worth
Although there is not much evidence about his net worth, he has an estimated net worth of 30 million dollars. And he receives his primary income from automobile car racing.
House life and wife
Yet again, no information is available over the family life of the Drift king. But rumors are that he has a wife and two kids, gender not being revealed. As per family and household, Keiichi has managed to keep a low profile in terms of his family life and his household options. Though it is stated he has a huge car collection, he still drives his AE86 economy car because he has a special affection for it.
Achievements
His present year was from 1994 to 2000.
His teams are Team Kunimitsu Honda, team lark McLean, Toyota team Europe and tv Asahi team dragon. His best finish was 2nd in the year 1999, and his best class wins were two in both 1998 and 1999.
He also played editor in chief for his initial D series, and in the year 2006, he played a fisherman role in fast and furious.
Final words
Keiichi Tsuchiya, aka drift king, is the master of drifting tactics and car driving. He has managed to succeed in his life with his motor skills.
Latest Update: January 1, 2024
