# Taito Kato

Taito Kato (加藤大翔, Katō Taito, born 25 November 2007) is a Japanese racing driver who is set to compete in the Formula Regional European Championship for ART Grand Prix. He is the 2024 French F4 champion.
Kato is a member of the Honda Formula Dream Project.

## Career
### Karting

Kato mainly karted in Japan, but made his debut overseas in 2022 by competing in a single round of the FFSA Karting Championship as a guest driver. He finished second in the finale but was not classified in the overall standings. Kato also competed in the South Garda Winter Cup in 2023, finishing 12th in the finale of the OK category.

### Formula 4

In 2024, Kato appeared on the entry list of the 2024 French F4 Championship, under the wing of the Honda Formula Dream Project. He scored two podiums from two races on his debut weekend at Nogaro, establishing himself as a title contender. In the following weekend at Lédenon, Kato secured his first victory after starting race three from pole position. Kato then scored his second win and finished all three races on the podium in round three at Spa-Francorchamps. Kato continued to fight for the championship, and with three more victories following suit Kato was crowned French F4 champion after a controversial conclusion to the 2024 season. Despite this intense battle for the title, Kato commented that himself and fellow title contender Yani Stevenheydens "respected each other" during the championship fight.

### Formula Regional

In 2024, after his successes in Formula 4, Kato was announced to be competing in the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship and 2025 Formula Regional Middle East Championship with ART Grand Prix.

## Karting record
### Karting career summary

| Season | Series | Team | Position |
| 2015 | SL Biwako Series - KID'S | HIGUCHI RT | 1st |
| 2016 | SL Rainbow Series - Cadets | HKC | 3rd |
| 2017 | SL Biwako Series - Cadets | HKC | 1st |
| 2018 | All-Japan Junior Karting Championship - FP-Jr Cadets | FA-KART RT+HKC | 5th |
| 2018 | Suzuka Championship Series - FP-Jr Cadets | FA-KART RT+HKC | 1st |
| 2019 | JAF Junior Karting Championship - FP-Jr | FA-KART RT+HKC | 3rd |
| 2020 | Suzuka Championship Series - Junior Max | SRS Kotira Racing | 3rd |
| 2020 | ROTAX Max Series - Junior Max | HRS JAPAN | 25th |
| 2020 | EXGEL NEXT CUP | HRS JAPAN | |
| 2021 | All-Japan Karting Championship - FS-125 | HRS JAPAN | 2nd |
| 2022 | EXGEL OK CHAMP Series | HRS JAPAN | 1st |
| 2022 | All-Japan Karting Championship - OK | PONOS HIROTEX RACING | 7th |
| 2022 | FFSA Karting Championship - Junior | | NC† |
| 2023 | South Garda Winter Cup - OK | Ward Racing | 12th |
| Sources: ||||

## Racing record
### Racing career summary

| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
| 2024 | French F4 Championship | FFSA Academy | 20 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 280 | 1st |
| 2025 | Formula Regional Middle East Championship | ART Grand Prix | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 75 | 12th |
| 2025 | Formula Regional European Championship | ART Grand Prix | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | TBD |

### Complete French F4 Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | DC | Points |
| 2024 | NOG 1 2 | NOG 2 C | NOG 3 3 | LÉD 1 2 | LÉD 2 5 | LÉD 3 1 | SPA 1 2 | SPA 2 1 | SPA 3 3 | NÜR 1 8 | NÜR 2 4 | NÜR 3 4 | MAG 1 3 | MAG 2 8 | MAG 3 2 | DIJ 1 1 | DIJ 2 11 | DIJ 3 1 | LEC 1 1 | LEC 2 5 | LEC 3 9 | 1st | 280 |

### Complete Formula Regional Middle East Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | DC | Points |
| 2025 | ART Grand Prix | YMC1 1 6 | YMC1 2 14 | YMC1 3 7 | YMC2 1 3 | YMC2 2 22 | YMC2 3 18 | DUB 1 9 | DUB 2 12 | DUB 3 10 | YMC3 1 11 | YMC3 2 12 | YMC3 3 6 | LUS 1 7 | LUS 2 6 | LUS 3 13 | 12th | 75 |

### Complete Formula Regional European Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Points |
| 2025 | ART Grand Prix | MIS 1 | MIS 2 | SPA 1 | SPA 2 | ZAN 1 | ZAN 2 | HUN 1 | HUN 2 | LEC 1 | LEC 2 | IMO 1 | IMO 2 | RBR 1 | RBR 2 | CAT 1 | CAT 2 | HOC 1 | HOC 2 | MNZ 1 | MNZ 2 | TBD | 0 |