formula143

Grand Prix History in Scale Models

1976, Kojima, Masahiro Hasemi, Provence Moulage

1976 Kojima KE007 Hasemi

Kojima Engineering, Japanese Formula 1 team and constructor, was founded by Matsuhisa Kojima in 1970s. Kojima (born in 1944) has been active in dirt track racing and motocross in the domestic motorcycle scene. In addition to exploring the European Motocross World Championship as Suzuki ‘s work slider, he also trained as a mechanic. After retiring from motorcycle racing in 1968, he established Kojima Engineering in his hometown of Kyoto in 1970 . Initially, Suzuki motorcycles were race-tuned and sold, but soon  Kojima switched to the field of four-wheel racing. In 1971, he entered the junior formula FJ360 / FL500 and won it with Yoshimi Katayama. Kojima team progressed to the All Japan FJ1300 Championship in 1973 and to the All Japan F2000 Championship (equivalent to F3 and F2, respectively ) in 1974. Kojima himself gained experience in making formula cars by purchasing overseas machines such as Surteess and March and replacing the suspension with in-house production. Masahiro Hasemi, a junior of Kojima’s motocross era, won All Japan FJ1300 Championship in 1974 and 1975 in a row.

The following year, in 1976, when  F1 GP visited Japan for the first time, Kojima decided to challenge the highest peak of open-wheel racing with an original machine. The company constructed the KE007 chassis, designed by Masao Ono, and brought in several staff-members from the Maki team. Kojima KE007 was fitted with a Ford Cosworth DFV V8 engine, Hewland FGA400 four-speed gearbox and used Dunlop tyres. The chassis was of an aluminium monocoque design. The KE007 was entered for the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix with Masahiro Hasemi, Kojma factory driver, at the wheel. Hasemi scored a huge stir, posting 4th best time in the first qualifying session. However, he crashed in the second session, and the car had to be rebuilt virtually from scratch. Hasemi started 10th, and ran superbly before tyre trouble led to an eventual 11th place. He was initially credited with fastest lap, but this was a measurement mistake, and, several days later, the circuit issued a press release to correct the fastest lap holder of the race to Jacques Laffite.

SeasonSeriesEvent
1976F1 WCJapanese GP
Driver No.Entrant
Masahiro Hasemi51Kojima Engineering
Scale ManufacturerCollection
1:43Provence Moulage
Cat. No.QualityRarity
K1541

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