is a Japanese former racing driver. Sakurai raced under Filipino license in Formula BMW Pacific and in the GP3 Series.
Sakurai began his racing career in karting at the age of nine and raced in Japan and Australia.
In 2010, Sakurai graduated to singleâÂÂseaters into the Formula BMW Pacific series in Asia, joining Eurasia Motorsport and racing under a Filipino racing licence. He scored a podium in the second race of the opening round at Sepang and achieved seven more point-scoring finishes on his way to eighth in the championship.
Sakurai participated in the Toyota Racing Series in early 2011 with M2 Competition, finishing fourteenth in the championship, the lowest-placed of the International Trophy drivers to contest the series.
In 2011, Sakurai decided to race in Europe, taking part in the rebranded Rookie Class of the British Formula 3 Championship with Hitech Racing. Bart Hylkema was his only class rival in the first half of the championship, before he graduated to the International Class, allowing Sakurai to take the championship title. During the season, he also appeared in the Brands Hatch round of the European F3 Open Championship.
Sakurai raced in the GP3 Series in 2012 with Status Grand Prix.
() (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)