Satoru Nakajima facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Satoru Nakajima
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| 中嶋 悟 | |
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Nakajima in 2008
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| Born | 23 February 1953 Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
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| Children |
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| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  Japanese |
| Active years | 1987–1991 |
| Teams | Lotus, Tyrrell |
| Entries | 80 (74 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 16 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
| First entry | 1987 Brazilian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1991 Australian Grand Prix |
| Previous series | |
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| Championship titles | |
| 1981–1982, 1984–1986 |
Japanese Formula Two |
Satoru Nakajima (Japanese: 中嶋 悟, Hepburn: Nakajima Satoru, born 23 February 1953) is a famous Japanese former racing driver. He also worked as a motorsport executive. He competed in Formula One, the highest class of auto racing, from 1987 to 1991.
Born and raised in Okazaki, Aichi, Japan, Nakajima started his racing journey in 1973. He became a big star in Japanese Formula Two. He won a record five titles between 1981 and 1986. He also had 21 victories in 10 seasons.
After racing in other series, Nakajima joined the Lotus Formula One team in 1987. He was the first Japanese driver to race full-time in Formula One. He scored his first points in his second race. He achieved his best finish, fourth place, at the 1987 British Grand Prix.
Contents
Early Life and First Races
Satoru Nakajima was born on February 23, 1953. He grew up on a farm near Okazaki, Aichi, Japan. As a young teenager, he learned to drive cars in his family's garden. His older brother gave him tips. He felt very excited behind the wheel. From then on, he knew he wanted to be a racing driver.
After finishing school and getting his driver's license, Nakajima began racing. In 1973, he was a new driver in the Suzuka Circuit series. He won the championship that year.
Rising Star in Japan
Five years later, in 1978, Nakajima won his first race in Japanese Formula Two. This was the start of his amazing success. In 1981, he won his first championship in the series. He then dominated, winning five of the next six championships. All his winning cars used powerful Honda V6 engines.
Formula One Journey Begins
Nakajima competed in 80 Formula One races. His first race was the 1987 Brazilian Grand Prix on April 12, 1987. He joined the Lotus team, which used Honda engines. He was 34 years old when he started, making him one of the older new drivers in modern F1.
He earned his first point in just his second race, the 1987 San Marino Grand Prix, by finishing sixth. His teammate at Lotus was the legendary Ayrton Senna. Many people wondered if Nakajima was good enough for F1. They thought he was only there because of Honda's support.
Honda had wanted Nakajima to join the Williams team earlier. But Williams' owner, Frank Williams, wanted to keep his experienced drivers. Lotus then agreed to take Nakajima as part of a new engine deal with Honda.
The 1988 season was tough for Nakajima and Lotus. Even with the same Honda V6 engines that helped McLaren win many races, Nakajima only scored one point. He finished sixth in the first race in Brazil. He also failed to qualify for two races. This was unusual for a car with a Honda turbo engine.
Despite these struggles, Nakajima sometimes pushed his teammate, Nelson Piquet. Piquet was a World Champion who had replaced Senna. At the 1988 Japanese Grand Prix, Nakajima showed incredible strength. He learned his mother had died just before practice. Yet, he still matched Piquet's qualifying time. This effort earned him much respect.
Challenges and Triumphs in F1
Lotus kept Nakajima for the 1989 season. Honda stopped supplying engines to Lotus that year. So, Nakajima and Piquet raced with Judd V8 engines. They had a mixed season. Both failed to qualify for the 1989 Belgian Grand Prix. This was a rare event for Lotus.
A highlight for Nakajima in 1989 was the rainy 1989 Australian Grand Prix. He finished fourth and set the fastest lap of the race. This equaled his best career finish. He started last after a spin but climbed through the field. Even critics like former World Champion James Hunt praised his drive.
In 1990, Nakajima moved to the Tyrrell team. He raced for them for two years. In 1990, his teammate, Jean Alesi, scored more points. In 1991, Tyrrell used Honda V10 engines. Nakajima scored his last points by finishing fifth in the first race of the season. He left Formula One at the end of 1991.
After retiring from racing, Nakajima helped Honda develop a new F1 car. He tested the Honda RC100 and other models until 1994. Honda then decided not to enter F1 with their own team at that time.
Life After Racing
After his racing career, Nakajima focused on his own team, Nakajima Racing. He had started this team in 1984. His team won three championships in Japanese Formula Two Championship before 1986.
Nakajima Racing continued to be successful. They won four Formula Nippon Teams' Championship titles between 1999 and 2009. His team still competes in the Super Formula Championship and the Super GT Series.
Family and Legacy
Nakajima still lives in his family home near Okazaki. His sons, Kazuki and Daisuke, also became racing drivers. Kazuki even raced in Formula One for the Williams team from 2007 to 2009.
Daisuke competed in the British Formula 3 Championship. Both sons later moved to sports car racing. Kazuki raced for Toyota Gazoo Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Daisuke raced in Super GT. Both have now retired from racing. Kazuki took on a management role with Toyota Gazoo Racing.
His Racing Helmet
Nakajima's helmet was white. It had two red lines that formed a circle near the chin. There was also a wide line at the back of the helmet with "NAKAJIMA" written on it. His son, Kazuki Nakajima, uses a similar helmet design.
Video Games Featuring Satoru Nakajima
From 1988 to 1994, Satoru Nakajima endorsed many Formula One video games. These games were released for consoles like Family Computer, Sega Mega Drive, Game Boy, and Super Famicom. Most of these games were only released in Japan. However, one game he endorsed for the Mega Drive was released worldwide as Ferrari Grand Prix Challenge. He also appeared as a playable driver in the game F1 2013.
Images for kids
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Nakajima in 2008
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Nakajima driving a Lotus 101, originally used during the 1989 Formula One season, at the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix.
See also
In Spanish: Satoru Nakajima para niños
