A spotlight on Kazuki Nakajima

Photo:  Toyota-Motorsport

The FIA World Endurance Championship is fortunate to have four top-line Japanese drivers on its entry list for the 6 Hours of Fuji – a mark of the high level and prestige of the championship, in just its first year.

To introduce these honourable gentlemen, and lady, to you and tell you a little more about them, this is the first in a short series of 'spotlight' features on Keiko Ihara, Kazuki Nakajima, Shinji Nakano and Takuma Sato.   

Spotlight on Toyota Racing’s Kazuki Nakajima

It is safe to say that 27-year-old Kazuki Nakajima is from a racing family, being the son of retired Formula One driver Satoru Nakajima, and having a younger brother, Daisuke, who also competes – ironically, against Kazuki in the 2012 Formula Nippon series. 

The Tokyo-resident followed a traditional path from karting through single-seaters to fulfil his dream of racing in Formula 1.  A champion or front runner in every category he’s competed in, he made his debut in a Williams F1 car doing demonstration runs at Fuji Speedway at the end of 2006, the circuit being one of his favourites.  He became a test driver for the team the following year, combining it with a season as Nicolas Lapierre’s team mate in GP2 and racing against Karun Chandhok amongst others. 

Kazuki stayed behind the wheel of a Toyota-engined Williams for a further two years, having taken the place of his current Toyota Racing team mate Alex Wurz.  When Formula One’s doors closed to him, he moved back to the Japanese racing scene by competing in Formula Nippon for 2011 and 2012 as team mate at Team TOM'S to none other than his Audi rival, André Lotterer!   It’s no wonder he feels right at home in the FIA World Endurance Championship with so many friends and familiar faces around him.

Away from the track, Kazuki is a keen football and baseball fan, with Spain’s FC Barcelona being a favourite team. The current 2012 Formula Nippon championship leader cites his best achievement to date as being the first Japanese F1 driver to score points in the Monaco Grand Prix (2008).  And, in the 6 Hours of Fuji, he’ll be hoping to become the first Japanese driver to win in the FIA WEC.

Fiona Miller

Photo:  Toyota Racing's Kazuki Nakajima who will drive the No.7 Toyota TS030 HYBRID with Alex Wurz and Nicolas Lapierre in the 6 Hours of Fuji on 14th October.