Satoru Nakajima
Satoru Nakajima (Japanese中 嶋 悟, Satoru Nakajima, born February 23, 1953 in Okazaki ) is a former Japanese racing driver who drove from 1987 to 1991 for the teams Lotus and Tyrrell in Formula 1. He was 34 years, one of the oldest Formula 1 debutant of all time and the first Japanese Formula 1 driver, who managed to retract championship points.
Career
Before he came into F1, he was from 1981 to 1986 the dominant driver in the Japanese Formula 2 He won the championship five times in those years, all on a Honda V6.
Nakajima was reported at 80 Grand Prix races and started 74 times. Five times he failed to qualify because he was not able to be among the fastest 26 drivers. At the Grand Prix of Portugal in 1990 he went, though qualified, not at the start. His best finish was fourth place, which he achieved at the Grand Prix of Great Britain in the 1987 season and the rainy Grand Prix of Australia 1989. His best starting position was the sixth on the grid. Once, at the Grand Prix of Australia 1989, Nakajima drove the fastest lap.
He was considered a " condition" of the motor manufacturer Honda. The Japanese engine manufacturer wanted to have a Japanese driver in Formula 1. Although he was regarded as extremely talented in front of his Formula 1 debut, Nakajima section of the driving performance from mediocre. So he had a chance against any of his teammates.
After the end of his Formula 1 career, he founded the Nakajima Racing team, which was able to win the championship in Formula Nippon with Tom Coronel 1999 Toranosuke Takagi 2000 and Ralph Firman in 2002.
His sons Kazuki and Daisuke are also racers. Kazuki was from 2007 to 2009 also in Formula 1 is active.