Kanato Le

Kanato Le (リー海夏澄, Rī Kanato; born 4 July 2007) is a Japanese racing driver who currently competes in the Formula Regional European Championship with ART Grand Prix and part-time in the GB3 Championship with Hillspeed, He most recently competed in the former series in 2024 for G4 Racing, and previously raced in the 2023 F4 British Championship, placing seventh in the standings.

Le had a consistent karting career where he finished in the top 10 in most championships he was in. His career was highlighted by winning the 2021 IAME Euro Series and coming second in the 2021 IAME Winter Series in the X30 Junior class. He was the IAME Euro Series Junior Champion in 2021.^[2]

In 2022, he made his foray into car racing in the 2022 Ginetta Junior Championship with Elite Motorsport, where drivers as young as 14 can start their motorsport career and hone their craft. Le was no exception, as he got two wins, one pole position and five podiums, and came seventh in the championship.^[3] He was the second highest rookie, behind 2023 F4 British Championship runner-up, William Macintyre.^[4]

In late 2022, he made his debut in the trophy round of the 2023 Formula 4 UAE Championship for Hitech Pulse-Eight, with fellow 2023 F4 British Championship competitors, James Piszcyk, William Macintyre and 2023 GB3 Championship driver Alex Dunne.^[5] He finished 5th and 2nd in the races.^[6]

Le also drove in the 2023 Formula 4 UAE Championship with his teammates in the trophy round, barring the exception of Dunne, who would be replaced by Red Bull Junior Team member Arvid Lindblad.^[7] After coming up pointless in the first round, he scored his first points at the Kuwait Motor Town and had a inconsistent season, but came home with 22 points and finished 17th place in the championship.^[8]

Alongside his Formula 4 UAE campaign, he was announced to be driving in the 2023 F4 British Championship with Hitech Pulse-Eight.^[9] He was rejoined by Formula 4 UAE teammates Macintyre, Piszcyk and newcomer Gabriel Stilp.

Le kicked off his season with two points finishes at Donington Park, before taking his first win during the first race of the second round at Brands Hatch.^[10] A podium followed at the next round in Snetterton, before securing his second win at Oulton Park.^[11] He took his last podium of the series at the third-to-last round at Knockhill.^[12] Le finished the championship in seventh place, with 195 points.^[13]

Le made his debut in the 2024 GB3 Championship with Chris Dittmann Racing at Spa-Francorchamps. His best result was a fifth place after making up nine positions at the third round, and he came 23rd in the drivers championship with 46 points.^[8]

Le continued in GB3 in 2025 for selected rounds with Hillspeed, in line with his main FRECA campaign.^[14] He took his maiden win in the series in race two at Spa-Francorchamps, a weekend where he finished on the podium for all three races.^[15]

Le was announced to be a part of the R-ace GP lineup for the 2024 Formula Regional Middle East Championship, alongside experienced drivers Tuukka Taponen, Martinius Stenshorne, Zachary David and Jesse Carrasquedo Jr.^[16] He drove in the final two rounds and scored a lone point in his campaign at the second to last race at the Dubai Autodrome. Le finished 22nd in the overall standings.

Le drove in the Formula Regional European Championship for his main campaign with G4 Racing, alongside FRMEC teammate Carrasquedo, and French F4 driver Romain Andriolo.^[17] He had a difficult year, with his first points finish being a third place finish in the twelfth race at Le Castellet. After that he only got two more points finishes at the final two rounds of the season. Le came 18th in the drivers' championship with 27 points, the team's highest-placed driver.^[18]

For 2025, Le signed with ART Grand Prix to compete in the 2025 Formula Regional Middle East Championship and the Formula Regional European Championship with them alongside Evan Giltaire and Taito Kato.^[19] In the Middle East, he took his first win in Formula Regional during the second race of the opening round.^[20] He did not finish on the podium again, but consistent points finishes saw him finish eighth overall.^[18]

In the European season, after failing to score in the opening round, he took a best finish of fourth in race two at Spa.^[18]

Le took part in the 2024 Macau Grand Prix with ART Grand Prix.^[21] He did not finish the race due to an accident on lap 1.^[22]

^* Season still in progress.

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Kanato Le career summary at DriverDB.com