Was involved with US motor racing as Panasonic's ambassador where he was involved in sponsorship and management, including for Roger Yakusawa. However, he now runs the family Matsushita Electric Industrial Company. Hiro also has business interests in real estate. A university graduate and marketing manager at his grandfather's Panasonic firm, Hiro took up racing in 1980, initially in motocross, before moving into rallying. However it was in America, somewhat unusually for a Japanese driver at the time, that Hiro moved to and his career flourished, winning the 1989 North America Formula Atlantic Western Division championship. He also won the Lady Wigram Trophy in New Zealand that year, but 1989 was also the year his grandfather died. Hiro continued in single-seaters until 1998 and sportscars - albeit briefly in 1999 - before retiring. He has also worked as a driver manager since retiring from racing.

Biography last updated 20 Jan 2016