Kazuki Nakajima
Kazuki Nakajima (中嶋 一貴, Nakajima Kazuki, born January 11, 1985) is a Japanese professional athlete. He is best known as a Formula One racing driver. He drove for the Williams-Toyota team from 2007 to 2009. Prior to that he had been their test driver. He has also competited in the GP2 Series for the DAMS team. For 2010, Nakajima had signed with Stefan GP. He as to be one of their race drivers. Stefan GP was not accepted as an entrant in the Formula One world championship.[1]
 | |
| Born | 11 January 1985 |
|---|---|
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Active years | 2007-2009 |
| Teams | Williams |
| Entries | 36 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 9 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix |
| 2009 position | 20th (0 points) |
- In this Japanese name, the family name is Nakajima.
Early life
changeNakajima was born in Okazaki, Aichi, Japan.[2] He is the son of the retired Formula One driver Satoru Nakajima.[3] His younger brother, Daisuke, is also a racing driver.[4]
Racing career
changePre-Formula One
changeNakajima started his career in racing in 1996, when he started karting. His father had been backed by Toyota's arch-rivals Honda through his career. Nakajima hoped that by joining Toyota he would shield himself against any claims that his father had promoted his career.[5]
In 2002, Nakajima won a scholarship in Formula Toyota, which he became champion in a year later. He progressed onto Japanese Formula Three in 2004, winning two of the 20 races and finishing fifth in the Drivers' Championship. Nakajima stayed in Japanese Formula Three for 2005, finishing second. He also raced in the Japanese GT300 sports car series, where he ended the year eighth.[5]
Nakajima moved to the Formula Three Euroseries in 2006. He finished seventh with 36 points.
In November 2006, Nakajima was named a Williams test driver for the 2007 season. Nakajima's debut in a Formula One car came at Fuji Speedway during November 2006, where he completed four demonstration laps in wet conditions.[6]
Nakajima raced in the GP2 series in 2007 for the DAMS team. Nakajima also served as Williams' test driver, completing 7,000 km of testing for the team.[7]
Nakajima's first year in GP2 finished with no wins, but five consecutive podiums and ended the year as top rookie.
Formula One
change
It was announced on 9 October 2007 that following the retirement of Alexander Wurz, Nakajima would race for Williams in the season finale in 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix.[8] Nakajima finished tenth in the race. He set the fifth fastest lap – quicker than his team-mate Nico Rosberg, who finished fourth.
On 7 November it was confirmed by Williams that Nakajima would partner Rosberg at the Williams team for the 2008 season.[9] He had a successful start to 2008 at the Australian Grand Prix. He finishing seventh but promoted to sixth after Rubens Barrichello was disqualified. He then finished seventh in the Spanish Grand Prix. Nakajima scored two points at Monaco. He was the first Japanese Formula One driver to scored a point at Monaco.[10] Nakajima scored again at the British Grand Prix. In Singapore, Nakajima made it to the third qualifying round for the first time. He qualifyed 10th and finish eighth and scored a point.
Nakajima was retained by Williams for the 2009 season. At the Australian Grand Prix he crashed into the wall at turn six, putting him out of the race. Nakajima also retired at Bahrain. He crashed two laps from the end of the Monaco Grand Prix whilst running in 10th place. At the British Grand Prix, Nakajima qualifying in an fifth place, hi highest starting spot. Nakajima finished the season without scoring a single point.
Williams signed Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hülkenberg for 2010, leaving Nakajima without a seat. Stefan GP announced on 19 February 2010 that Nakajima was one of the team's drivers.[11] Strefan GP was built from the remains of the Toyota F1 team. Toyota had withdrawn from F1 in late 2009. Stefan GP did not have an entry to the 2010 Formula One season. The FIA ruled that Stefan GP could not be entered for the season at such a late stage. That left Nakajima with no ride in Formula One for 2010.
Racing record
changeCareer summary
change| Season | Series | Team Name | Races | Poles | Wins | Points | Final Placing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Formula Toyota | ? | 10 | 3 | 3 | 134 | 1st |
| 2004 | All-Japan Formula Three | TOM'S | 20 | 2 | 2 | 138 | 5th |
| Macau Grand Prix | TOM'S | 1 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 13th | |
| Bahrain F3 Superprix | TOM'S | 1 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 7th | |
| 2005 | All-Japan Formula Three | TOM'S | 20 | 3 | 2 | 209 | 2nd |
| Macau Grand Prix | TOM'S | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5th | |
| Super GT (GT300) | Kicchouhouzan with apr | 7 | 0 | 1 | 52 | 8th | |
| 2006 | Formula Three Euroseries | Manor Motorsport | 20 | 0 | 1 | 36 | 7th |
| Macau Grand Prix | Manor Motorsport | 1 | 0 | 0 | N/A | NC | |
| Masters of Formula Three | Manor Motorsport | 1 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 26th | |
| 2007 | Formula One | Williams | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22nd |
| GP2 Series | DAMS | 21 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 6th | |
| 2008 | Formula One | Williams | 18 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 15th |
| 2009 | Formula One | Williams | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20th |
Complete GP2 Series results
change(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | DAMS | BHR FEA 17 |
BHR SPR 6 |
ESP FEA 15 |
ESP SPR 7 |
MON FEA 10 |
FRA FEA 17 |
FRA SPR 6 |
GBR FEA 3 |
GBR SPR 3 |
EUR FEA 3 |
EUR SPR 3 |
HUN FEA 2 |
HUN SPR Ret |
TUR FEA 6 |
TUR SPR Ret |
ITA FEA DSQ |
ITA SPR 18 |
BEL FEA Ret |
BEL SPR 9 |
VAL FEA 3 |
VAL SPR 7 |
6th | 42 |
Complete Formula One World Championship results
change(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | AT&T Williams | Williams FW29 | Toyota RVX-07 2.4 L V8 | AUS TD |
MAL TD |
BHR |
ESP |
MON |
CAN TD |
USA TD |
FRA |
GBR |
EUR |
HUN |
TUR |
ITA |
BEL |
JPN |
CHN TD |
BRA 10 |
22nd | 0 | |
| 2008 | AT&T Williams | Williams FW30 | Toyota RVX-08 2.4 L V8 | AUS 6 |
MAL 17 |
BHR 14 |
ESP 7 |
TUR Ret |
MON 7 |
CAN Ret |
FRA 15 |
GBR 8 |
GER 14 |
HUN 13 |
EUR 15 |
BEL 14 |
ITA 12 |
SIN 8 |
JPN 15 |
CHN 12 |
BRA 17 |
15th | 9 |
| 2009 | AT&T Williams | Williams FW31 | Toyota RVX-09 2.4 L V8 | AUS Ret |
MAL 12 |
CHN Ret |
BHR Ret |
ESP 13 |
MON 15 |
TUR 12 |
GBR 11 |
GER 12 |
HUN 9 |
EUR 18 |
BEL 13 |
ITA 10 |
SIN 9 |
JPN 15 |
BRA Ret |
ABU 13 |
20th | 0 |
References
change- ↑ Rencken, Dieter; Elizalde, Pablo (2010-02-19). "Stefan GP fires up Formula 1 car". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2010-02-19.
- ↑ DriverDatabase.com, Kazuki Nakajima; retrieved 2012-7-22.
- ↑ DriverDatabase.com, Satoru; retrieved 2012-7-22.
- ↑ DriverDatabase.com, Daisuke Nakajima; retrieved 2012-7-22.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Meet the rookies: Kazuki Nakajima". F1Fanatic.co.uk. 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
- ↑ "Nakajima makes F1 debut with Williams"[permanent dead link] F1Racing.Net. Retrieved 27 November 2006
- ↑ "Kazuki Nakajima to make F1 race début". F1Fanatic.co.uk. 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
- ↑ "Williams confirm Nakajima for Brazil". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. 2007-10-09. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
- ↑ Benson, Andrew (2007-11-07). "Nakajima secures Williams drive". news.bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
- ↑ "【Ｆ１】一貴"納豆走法"で７位！モナコで日本人初入賞" (in Japanese). Sankei Sports. 2008-05-26. Archived from the original on 2008-05-27. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
- ↑ "Double R sign Daisuke Nakajima". autosport.com. 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
Other websites
change