An engine control method of controlling driving of an engine, the engine being a four-stroke engine, wherein the status of the engine transitions through an intake stroke, a compression stroke, a combustion stroke and an exhaust stroke, wherein a motor is connected to a crankshaft of the engine in such a manner that the motor can apply a torque to the crankshaft and receive a torque from the crankshaft, the motor functioning as both an electric motor and an electric generator; the method comprising: a first step of determining whether or not the engine is stopped after that the fuel injection has been cut; once the engine has been determined as being stopped, a second step (S2, S4) of determining whether or not a crank angle of the engine lies in a first section between a first angle in the compression stroke and the top dead center of said compression stroke, the first angle being shifted from said top dead center such that, when the crank angle lies in the first section, air in the cylinder is compressed to have an increased repulsive force to run the engine in a reverse direction into a second section in the combustion stroke if the motor enters a load free state; and when the crank angle of the engine does not lie in the first section, a third step of running the engine in a forward direction by driving the motor, until it is determined that the crank angle of the engine lies in the first section; and when the crank angle of the engine lies in the first section, a fourth step of removing any load from the motor, so that the engine runs in the reverse direction by action of the repulsive force, until it is determined in a fifth step that the crank angle of the engine lies in a second section between the top dead center of the preceding compression stroke and a second angle in the combustion stroke, the second angle being shifted from the top dead center such that, when the crank angle lies in the second section, the engine can be more easily started because of inertial force stored by the engine; when it is determined in the fifth step that the crank angle of the engine lies in the second section, a sixth step of braking the motor, until it is determined in a seventh step whether or not there is a request for restart of the engine; and when there is a request for restarting the engine, an eighth step of running the engine in the forward direction by driving the motor in the forward direction. a first step of determining whether or not the engine is stopped after that the fuel injection has been cut; once the engine has been determined as being stopped, a second step (S2, S4) of determining whether or not a crank angle of the engine lies in a first section between a first angle in the compression stroke and the top dead center of said compression stroke, the first angle being shifted from said top dead center such that, when the crank angle lies in the first section, air in the cylinder is compressed to have an increased repulsive force to run the engine in a reverse direction into a second section in the combustion stroke if the motor enters a load free state; and when the crank angle of the engine does not lie in the first section, a third step of running the engine in a forward direction by driving the motor, until it is determined that the crank angle of the engine lies in the first section; and when the crank angle of the engine lies in the first section, a fourth step of removing any load from the motor, so that the engine runs in the reverse direction by action of the repulsive force, until it is determined in a fifth step that the crank angle of the engine lies in a second section between the top dead center of the preceding compression stroke and a second angle in the combustion stroke, the second angle being shifted from the top dead center such that, when the crank angle lies in the second section, the engine can be more easily started because of inertial force stored by the engine; when it is determined in the fifth step that the crank angle of the engine lies in the second section, a sixth step of braking the motor, until it is determined in a seventh step whether or not there is a request for restart of the engine; and when there is a request for restarting the engine, an eighth step of running the engine in the forward direction by driving the motor in the forward direction.