Satoru Nakajima: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:21, 2 September 2005

Revision as of 00:51, 12 September 2005

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He started racing after he finished school and got a driver's licence. In [[1973]] he was a rookie the [[Suzuka Circuit]] series, which he won. Five years later, he won his first race in Japanese [[Formula 2]]. In [[1981]] he won his first championship, thus beginning a period of domination in the series. He won five of the next six championships, all of them in a [[Honda]] V6.

Nakajima participated in 80 [[F1]] grands prix, debuting on the [[Brazilian Grand Prix]] on [[April 12]], [[1987]], bringing to the [[Lotus Cars|Lotus]] team not only a very talented driver, but those same [[Honda]] engines. He was 34 years old in his debut race, making him one of the oldest drivers to debut. "Nakajap" impressed many by finishing 6th in his second-ever race at [[Imola]].

[[Honda]] left the Lotus garage after the 1988 season, leaving Satoru and team-mate [[Nelson Piquet]] driving the [[Judd]]-powered 101. The pair had a very up-and-down season, with both failing to qualify in [[Spa-Francorchamps]], the first time in their 30-year history that Lotus had failed to make the grid, heralding the beginning of the end for the legendary British team. A great upside to Nakajap's 1989 was a 4th place and [[fastest lap]] in the rain-soaked [[Australian Grand Prix]], scoring his only points of the year and also equalling his finish in the [[1987 British Grand Prix]] as his best career finish.