Richard Lyons (racing driver)
A Northern Irish speedster who conquered Japan's punishing Super GT series, becoming one of the most successful foreign drivers in its history.
Born 1979 (age 47)·British racing driver·Birthday: August 8·Generation X
Biography
Richard Lyons took the road less traveled and made it his own. Hailing from Holywood, Northern Ireland, he bypassed the traditional European ladder and headed for Japan in the early 2000s, a market known for being insular and difficult for outsiders to crack. Lyons, with his relentless pace and adaptability, didn't just crack it; he dominated. He became a fixture in the Super GT series, Japan's premier sports car championship, renowned for its fierce competition and unique race formats. Piloting for top teams like Hasemi Motor Sport and Nismo, he consistently fought for titles, his success built on a deep understanding of the tires, the circuits, and the demanding culture of Japanese motorsport. For over a decade, he was the benchmark for international talent trying to make it in Japan, a respected champion far from his home turf.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Richard was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Richard Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Richard's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the prestigious Super GT championship in the GT300 class in 2004 and in the top GT500 class in 2011.
- Secured a class victory at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014, driving for the Nissan-powered Greaves Motorsport team.
- Achieved multiple podium finishes in the competitive All-Japan Formula 3 Championship early in his career.
Did You Know?
He is from the same town in Northern Ireland (Holywood) as golf superstar Rory McIlroy.
Lyons holds both British and Irish citizenship.
He has competed in a remarkably wide variety of racing disciplines, including Formula Nippon, Super Formula, and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
“I went to Japan to race, and I stayed to win.”
