Oyu made his motorsport debut in karting in 2007, racing in local championships on his home island of Hokkaido. He would go on to win the All-Japan Junior Kart Championship in 2010, his first year of national-level competition, and would compete in the All-Japan Karting Championship and Suzuka series between 2011 and 2015 against the likes of Ritomo Miyata, Sena Sakaguchi, and Kazuto Kotaka, finishing in third behind the former two in 2013.[3]
Oyu remained with Toda for the 2019 season, taking his first race victory at the fourth round in Sugo and six podiums throughout the season to claim fourth in the standings behind Sacha Fenestraz, Ritomo Miyata and Enaam Ahmed. Oyu gained his first international opportunity in September 2019, standing in for compatriot Yuki Tsunoda at Team Motopark for the Silverstone round of the 2019 Euroformula Open Championship, due to Tsunoda's commitments in the FIA Formula 3 Championship. Oyu went on to stun on his European debut, taking pole position and victory in both races and shattering the track's lap record by over seven tenths.[5] However, despite garnering praise from Motopark boss Timo Rumpfkeil and being assessed for a spot in the Red Bull Junior Team, Oyu ultimately returned to Japan and has not raced internationally since.[6]
Super Formula
2020
In December 2019, amid uncertainties over his future, Oyu received a last-minute call-up from TCS Nakajima Racing to drive in the Super Formula Championship's post-season test at Suzuka. Impressive test results and the departure of incumbent Álex Palou to the IndyCar Series prompted team director and former Formula One driver Satoru Nakajima to sign Oyu for the 2020 season, partnering Formula 2 race winner and former karting rival Tadasuke Makino.[7][8] Oyu impressed on debut at Twin Ring Motegi, going fastest in free practice and qualifying in fourth position - the highest of any Honda-powered driver, but suffered a puncture on the first lap and was relegated to the back of the field.[9] He qualified well again at the next round in Okayama, taking fifth position behind Makino, but locked up his brakes into the race's first corner and crashed into Makino and Kondō Racing's Sacha Fenestraz, dashing the team's hopes of any results.[10] His struggles continued at the third race in Sugo, where his weekend was curtailed by an early crash in qualifying, and at the fourth round in Autopolis, where he scored his first point but suffered clutch problems and a resulting drive-through penalty at the race start.[11]
The season's fifth and sixth rounds were held in a double-header at Suzuka. Oyu qualified in seventh and second for the two races respectively, finishing the second qualifying session two tenths shy of polesitter Nick Cassidy.[12] After finishing eighth in the first race, a sudden engine failure for Cassidy saw Oyu seize the lead. Oyu would go on to hold off Nirei Fukuzumi following a safety car restart to claim a breakthrough maiden victory. His performances continued at the final round at Fuji, where he benefited from other drivers' late-race struggles to go from sixth to second at the flag. Oyu's late-season results ultimately led to a sixth-place finish in the championship.
Oyu remained at Nakajima Racing for the 2022 season alongside Yamamoto.[14]
2023
Despite his strong results in the latter half of 2022, Oyu was dropped by Nakajima at the end of the year and was absent from the Super Formula entry list released by Honda in 2022, with his seat taken by former Red Bull juniorRen Satō, who moved over from Team Goh.[15] In March 2023, Oyu was announced to be remaining in Super Formula, taking the place of Satō at the newly rebranded TGM Grand Prix team and partnering former Formula 2 driver Cem Bölükbaşı.[16]
Prior to the season-ending double-header at Suzuka, Oyu announced that funding issues had curtailed his season prematurely despite his performances.[17] He was replaced by Super GT driver and series debutant Riki Okusa.[18]
2024 and Toyota switch
In December 2023, Oyu partook in the Super Formula post-season test at Suzuka for the Toyota-powered P.mu/CerumoINGING team, prompting surprise from within the paddock.[19] The following month, Oyu's departure from Honda to Toyota was confirmed with the release of Toyota's 2024 motorsport entry list, with Oyu being set to join Vertex Partners Cerumo・INGING for the 2024 season, taking the place of TOM'S-bound Shō Tsuboi alongside former rival Sena Sakaguchi.[20]
Oyu is known in Japan as an online personality and automotive YouTuber, producing videos about his racing career and his personal Honda S2000. He has made numerous appearances on the Hot-Version video series (formerly Best Motoring) alongside racing driver and longtime host Keiichi Tsuchiya, often featuring his own car. He has cited Kimi Räikkönen as his favourite racing driver.[17]
Oyu has one younger brother. His parents own a curry-focused food processing company in Otaru which sponsored him throughout his junior career and sells a themed curry aimed at his fans.[22][23]
^"SRS-Fのスカラシップ決定。大湯都史樹、笹原右京がHFDPへ" [SRS-F scholarship decision: Toshiki Oyu and Ukyo Sasahara to the HFDP]. auto sport web (in Japanese). 17 November 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
^"チャンスが一瞬で消えた1コーナーの大きすぎる代償。ナカジマレーシングの同士討ちに「申し訳ない」と大湯【第2戦岡山】" [A massive price was paid at the first corner where all chances disappeared. Oyu says "I'm sorry" for the rivalry at Nakajima Racing]. auto sport web (in Japanese). 28 September 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
^"大湯都史樹、まさかのスーパーフォーミュラ記載なし「それが事実です。僕もびっくりしました」複雑な心境を吐露" [Toshiki Oyu, unexpectedly not listed for Super Formula, expresses mixed feelings - "That's the truth. I was surprised too"]. auto sport web (in Japanese). 12 December 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
^"[2023年全日本スーパーフォーミュラ選手権] TGM Grand Prix 2023年体制発表" [[2023 All-Japan Super Formula Championship] TGM Grand Prix 2023 roster announcement]. Super Formula Official Site. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
^ ab"大湯都史樹、SF第8戦・第9戦鈴鹿を直前に急遽欠場を発表「非常に難しい状況となった」" [Toshiki Oyu announces his sudden absence just prior to SF Suzuka rounds 8&9 - "It's become a really difficult situation"]. auto sport web (in Japanese). 24 October 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
^"トヨタ陣営から参加の大湯都史樹「こういう機会をいただけるとは思ってもいなかった」" [Toshiki Oyu, a participant from the Toyota camp: "I never thought I'd get an opportunity like this"]. auto sport web (in Japanese). 5 December 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
^"スーパーGT：目指すはダブルタイトル。ARTAがGT500／GT300参戦体制を発表" [Aiming for a double title. ARTA announces GT500/GT300 race participation structure]. auto sport web. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
^"大湯 都史樹 「カペタみたいになりたい。僕もレースをやってみたい」" [Toshiki Oyu: "I want to be like Capeta. I want to race too"]. Super Formula Official Website. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
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