Seiji Ara (荒 聖治; Ara Seiji) (born May 5, 1974 in Chiba, Japan) is a Japanese race car driver.
Ara was the winner of the 24-hour Le Mans race in 2004, driving an Audi R8. In the same year, he also raced in the Le Mans Endurance Series and Japanese GT Championship.
In earlier years, Ara had competed in Formula Nippon (2001–2002), Japanese Formula 3 (1997–2000) and the Barber Dodge Pro Series (1995).
Ara made his World Touring Car Championship debut with Wiechers-Sport at the 2009 FIA WTCC Race of Japan.
Racing record
24 Hours of Le Mans results
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
|-
! Year
! Team
! Co-Drivers
! Car
! Class
! Laps
!
!
|-
! 2001
|align="left"| Viper Team Oreca
|align="left"| Masahiko Kondo<br> Ni Amorim
|align="left"| Chrysler LMP
| LMP900
| 243
| DNF
| DNF
|-
! 2002
|align="left"| Audi Sport Japan Team Goh
|align="left"| Hiroki Katoh<br> Yannick Dalmas
|align="left"| Audi R8
| LMP900
| 358
| 7th
| 6th
|-
! 2003
|align="left"| Audi Sport Japan Team Goh
|align="left"| Jan Magnussen<br> Marco Werner
|align="left"| Audi R8
| LMP900
| 370
| 4th
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2nd
|-
! 2004
|align="left"| Audi Sport Japan Team Goh
|align="left"| Rinaldo Capello<br> Tom Kristensen
|align="left"| Audi R8
| LMP900
| 379
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st
|-
! 2005
|align="left"| Jim Gainer International
|align="left"| Ryo Michigami<br> Katsutomo Kaneishi
|align="left"| Dome S101Hb-Mugen
| LMP1
| 193
| DNF
| DNF
|-
! 2009
|align="left"| Navi Team Goh
|align="left"| Keisuke Kunimoto<br> Sascha Maassen
|align="left"| Porsche RS Spyder Evo
| LMP2
| 339
| DNF
| DNF
|-
! 2012
|align="left"| Pescarolo Team
|align="left"| Nicolas Minassian<br> Sébastien Bourdais
|align="left"| Dome S102.5-Judd
| LMP1
| 203
| NC
| NC
|}
Complete GT1 World Championship results
{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"
|-
! Year
! Team
! Car
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! 12
! 13
! 14
! 15
! 16
! 17
! 18
! 19
! 20
! Pos
! Points
|-
| 2010
! Swiss Racing Team
! Nissan
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ABU<br>QR<br><small>12<br></small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ABU<br>CR<br><small>Ret<br></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SIL<br>QR<br><small>14<br></small>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL<br>CR<br><small>9<br></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BRN<br>QR<br><small>15<br></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BRN<br>CR<br><small>14<br></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| PRI<br>QR<br><small>12<br></small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| PRI<br>CR<br><small>Ret<br></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA<br>QR<br><small>17<br></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA<br>CR<br><small>16<br></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| NÜR<br>QR<br><small>17<br></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| NÜR<br>CR<br><small>21<br></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ALG<br>QR<br><small>11<br></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ALG<br>CR<br><small>18<br></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| NAV<br>QR<br><small>13<br></small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NAV<br>CR<br><small>Ret<br></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| INT<br>QR<br><small>13<br></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| INT<br>CR<br><small>16<br></small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SAN<br>QR<br><small>Ret<br></small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SAN<br>CR<br><small>13<br></small>
! 42nd
! 2
|}
Complete JGTC/Super GT results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
|-
! Year
! Team
! Car
! Class
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! DC
! Pts
|-
| 2000
!TOM'S
!Toyota Supra
!GT500
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MOT<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|TAI<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MIN<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|SUZ<br>
|
|
!21st
!7
|-
| 2001
!Tsuchiya Engineering
!Toyota Supra
!GT500
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|TAI<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MOT<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUZ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MIN<br>
|
|
!19th
!11
|-
| 2002
!Tsuchiya Engineering
!Toyota Supra
!GT500
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|TAI<br>
|FUJ
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|SEP<br>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MOT<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MIN<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUZ<br>
|
!16th
!32
|-
| 2003
!Tsuchiya Racing
!Toyota Supra
!GT500
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|TAI<br>
|FUJ
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|MOT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|AUT<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|SUZ<br>
|
!13th
!26
|-
| 2004
!Team Cerumo
!Toyota Supra
!GT500
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|TAI<br>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SEP<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|TOK<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MOT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|AUT<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUZ<br>
|
|
!5th
!45
|-
| 2005
!Kraft
!Toyota Supra
!GT500
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|OKA<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|SEP<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|MOT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|AUT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|SUZ<br>
|
!19th
!4
|-
| 2006
!Kondo Racing
!Nissan Z
!GT500
|SUZ
|OKA
|FUJ
|SEP
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUZ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MOT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|AUT<br>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|FUJ<br>
!16th
!28
|-
| 2007
!Kondo Racing
!Nissan Z
!GT500
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|SUZ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|OKA<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"|SEP<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUZ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MOT<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|AUT<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|FUJ<br>
!10th
!34
|-
| 2008
!Kondo Racing
!Nissan GT-R
!GT500
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUZ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|OKA<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"|SEP<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUZ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|MOT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|AUT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|FUJ<br>
!14th
!34
|-
| 2009
!Kondo Racing
!Nissan GT-R
!GT500
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"|OKA<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUZ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SEP<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|SUZ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|AUT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|MOT<br>
!8th
!48
|-
| 2011
!Lexus Team WedsSport BANDOH
!Lexus SC430
!GT500
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|OKA<br>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|SEP<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|SUZ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|AUT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|MOT<br>
|
!13th
!18
|-
| 2012
!Lexus Team WedsSport BANDOH
!Lexus SC430
!GT500
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|OKA<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SEP<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUZ<br>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|AUT<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MOT<br>
|
!9th
!36
|-
| 2013
!Lexus Team WedsSport BANDOH
!Lexus SC430
!GT500
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|OKA<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|FUJ<br />
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|SEP<br />
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUG<br />
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUZ<br />
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|FUJ<br />
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|AUT<br />
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MOT<br />
|
!14th
!9
|-
| 2014
! BMW Sports Trophy Team Studie
!BMW Z4 GT3
!GT300
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"|OKA<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|AUT<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUZ<br>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"|BUR<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MOT<br>
|
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|3rd
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|62
|-
| 2015
! BMW Sports Trophy Team Studie
!BMW Z4 GT3
!GT300
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|OKA<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|CHA<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"|SUZ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|AUT<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MOT<br>
|
!7th
!47
|-
| 2016
! BMW Team Studie
! BMW M6 GT3
!GT300
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|OKA<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#FFFFFF;"|SUZ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|CHA<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|MOT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|MOT<br>
|
!15th
!17
|-
| 2017
! BMW Team Studie
! BMW M6 GT3
!GT300
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|OKA<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|AUT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|SUZ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|FUJ<br>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"|BUR<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|MOT<br>
|
!15th
!18
|-
| 2019
! McLaren Customer Racing Japan
! McLaren 720S GT3
! GT300
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| OKA<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FUJ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUZ<br>
|style="background:#;"| CHA
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| FUJ<br>
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| AUT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUG<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MOT<br>
|
! 15th
! 20
|-
| 2020
! BMW Team Studie × CSL
! BMW M6 GT3
! GT300
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| OKA<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FUJ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUZ<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CHA<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SEP<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SUG<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| AUT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MOT<br>
|
! 26th
! 5
|-
| 2021
! BMW Team Studie × CSL
! BMW M6 GT3
! GT300
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| OKA<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FUJ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUZ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MOT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|SUG<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|AUT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|MOT<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| FUJ<br>
|
! NC
! 0
|-
| 2022
! BMW Team Studie × CSL
! BMW M4 GT3
! GT300
| bgcolor="#CFCFFF" |OKA<br /><small>24</small>
| bgcolor="#EFCFFF" |FSW<br /><small>Ret</small>
| bgcolor="#FFFFBF" |SUZ<br /><small>1</small>
| bgcolor="#CFCFFF" |FSW<br /><small>21</small>
| bgcolor="#CFCFFF" |SUZ<br /><small>12</small>
| bgcolor="#DFFFDF" |SUG<br /><small>5</small>
| bgcolor="#CFCFFF" |AUT<br /><small>12</small>
| bgcolor="#DFFFDF" |TRM<br /><small>9</small>
|
! 11th
! 29
|-
| 2023
! BMW M Team Studie x CRS
! BMW M4 GT3
!GT300
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| OKA<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FUJ<br />
|style="background:#ffffbf;"| SUZ<br />
|style="background:#DFDFDF"| FUJ<br />
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUZ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUG<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| AUT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MOT<br />
|
! 6th
! 43
|-
| 2024
! BMW M Team Studie x CRS
! BMW M4 GT3
!GT300
|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| OKA<br>
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| FUJ<br>
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| SUZ<br>
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| FUJ<br>
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| SUG<br>
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| AUT<br>
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| MOT<br>
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| SUZ<br>
|
! 5th
! 43
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Season still in progress.
Complete Formula Nippon results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Year
! Entrant
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! DC
! Points
|-
| 2001
! Cosmo Oil Racing Team Cerumo
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| SUZ<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MOT<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MIN<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| FUJ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUZ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUG<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FUJ<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MIN<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MOT<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SUZ<br>
|
! 12th
! 4
|-
| 2002
! Olympic Kondo Racing Team
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUZ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| FUJ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MIN<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUZ<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MOT<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SUG<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| FUJ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MIN<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MOT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUZ<br>
|
! 11th
! 3
|-
| 2006
! Kondo Racing Team
| FUJ
| SUZ
| MOT
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUZ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| AUT<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FUJ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUG<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MOT<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SUZ<br>
|
|
! NC
! 0
|-
| 2007
! TOM'S
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FUJ<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SUZ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MOT<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| OKA<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUZ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| FUJ<br>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SUG<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MOT<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SUZ<br>
|
|
! 11th
! 11
|-
| 2008
! TOM'S
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| FUJ<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUZ<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MOT<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| OKA<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUZ1<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUZ2<br>
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MOT1<br>
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MOT2<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FUJ1<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FUJ2<br>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUG<br>
! 15th
! 9
|}
Complete Japanese Formula 3 results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
|-
! Year
! Team
! engine
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! DC
! Pts
|-
| 1998
! Team G.R.P
! Toyota
| SUZ
| TSU
| MIN
| FUJ
| MOT
| SUZ
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUG<br />
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| TAI<br />
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SEN<br />
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SUG<br />
! NC
! 0
|-
| 1999
! TOM'S
! Toyota
| style="background:#FFFFBF;" | SUZ<br />
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TSU<br />
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| FUJ<br />
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MIN<br />
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| FUJ<br />
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUZ<br />
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SUG<br />
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| TAI<br />
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MOT<br />
| SUZ
! 6th
! 20
|-
| 2000
! Toda Racing
! Mugen
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SUZ<br />
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| TSU<br />
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| FUJ<br />
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MIN<br />
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| TAI<br />
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SUZ<br />
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| SUG<br />
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|MOT<br />
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| SEN<br />
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| SUZ<br />
!style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd
!style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 30
|}