Ukyo Katayama (片山 右京, Katayama Ukyō, born 29 May 1963) is a Japanese former racing driver and team manager, most notable for competing for six years in Formula One. He participated in 97 Grands Prix, debuting on 1 March 1992. He scored a total of five championship points, all of them for the Tyrrell team in 1994. He also competed in the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing 2nd overall and 1st in the GTP class. He currently serves as a team representative for the Japanese continental cycling team JCL Team UKYO and has done so since 2012.[1]

Ukyo Katayama
Katayama in 2008
Born (1963-05-29) 29 May 1963 (age 60)
Tokyo, Japan
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityJapan Japanese
Active years19921997
TeamsLarrousse, Tyrrell, Minardi
Entries97 (95 starts)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points5
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1992 South African Grand Prix
Last entry1997 European Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years19981999
TeamsToyota Team Europe
Best finish2nd (1999)
Class wins1 (1999)

Biography edit

Born in Tokyo, Katayama spent three years racing in France before returning home in 1988 to enter the Japanese F3000. He scored three podiums in 1990, and won the championship in 1991 with two wins and three second places.

Formula One edit

His sponsors, Japan Tobacco, arranged a Formula One seat for Katayama in 1992 with Cabin brand, with the Larrousse team. The car was unreliable and a distinct midfielder, with team-mate Bertrand Gachot getting the lion's share of the team's meagre resources. However, Katayama impressed by running in 5th at the Canadian GP until his engine blew, but was eventually left with a brace of 9th places as his best result.

Japan Tobacco managed to arrange a switch to Tyrrell for 1993, but the team were at a nadir, with the interim 020C essentially three years old, and the new 021 proving uncompetitive. 10th place at the Hungarian GP was his best result.

1994 was to see a considerable turnaround for Tyrrell and Katayama. He impressed with the new 022, with three points-scoring finishes, a number of good qualifying performances, and generally being faster than his more experienced and acclaimed team-mate Mark Blundell. He was consistently a top-6 runner, but the car proved to be unreliable, leading him to 12 retirements, including the German GP, in which he was running 3rd before his throttle stuck open. However, in the four races that he did finish, he scored two 5th places, one 6th, and one 7th, good enough for 5 World Championship points.

 
Katayama driving for Tyrrell at the 1995 British Grand Prix.

After his 1994 performance, he was allegedly offered a contract with a top team for the 1995 season, but in Katayama's words, "he couldn't sign it". It would later emerge that in 1994 he had been diagnosed with cancer in his back; while non-threatening, it was painful, and his Grand Prix commitments delayed treatment. Katayama did not announce this until he retired from Formula One, not wanting anyone's sympathy to make excuses for him.

He stayed on with Tyrrell for the next two seasons, but suffered a loss of form, with two 7th places in high-attrition races his best results, thus scoring no points whilst being outpaced by rookie team-mate Mika Salo. At the 1996 Belgian Grand Prix he finished on the lead lap for the single time in his Formula One career.[2] During these years he was highly disadvantaged by the regulation changes which led to higher cockpit sides,[citation needed] a response to the death of Ayrton Senna at the 1994 San Marino GP.

After leaving Tyrrell, his Mild Seven (another brand of Japan Tobacco) backing landed him a seat at Minardi, but they too were at a low ebb, and two 10th places were his best result. At his home Grand Prix, he emotionally announced his retirement from Formula One.

After Formula One edit

As a racing driver edit

 
Katayama's Toyota GT-One for the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Still popular in his homeland, Katayama has since dabbled in sportscars and GT racing, as well as his other love of mountaineering. One of his most notable performances post F1 was at the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans, when during the last hour, as he was lapping traffic and closing up to the leading BMW in his Toyota GT-One, shared with compatriots Keiichi Tsuchiya and Toshio Suzuki, his car suffered a tyre blowout and, while he managed to keep the car on the track, he was forced to slowly make his way around the track to return to the pits for a new set. In the process the GT-One lost the chance to contend with the BMW. The lone GT-One would come home 2nd overall. Still, the GT-One won the GTP class, although it was the only car in that class to actually finish the race.

In 2008, he was one of several retired F1 drivers to compete in the new Speedcar Series.

As a team manager edit

In year 2000, Katayama established Team UKYO. The team originally participated in JGTC in 2001-2002 in the GT500 class in a collaboration with Cerumo, competing as the No. 33 team with Katayama and future team owner Masahiko Kondo as its drivers. The team left the series after the 2002 season before returning in 2011 to lead Goodsmile Racing's GT300 program. Katayama led the team to three GT300 titles in 2011, 2014, and 2017.

The team also took part in the Dakar Rally in 2002-2005 and 2007, as well as participating as a UCI Continental cycling team starting from 2012.

As a mountain climber edit

Katayama is a lover of mountain climbing. He has often been climbing mountains since his F1 era.

In 2001 he climbed the world's sixth-highest mountain, Cho Oyu. On December 1, 2006, it was reported that he had achieved his lifetime ambition of climbing Manaslu, the eighth-highest mountain in the world, after an unsuccessful attempt in 2004.[3]

On December 18, 2009, it was reported that he had been missing whilst climbing Mount Fuji with two friends. Upon calling a police search and rescue team, they informed the police that one of their climbing party had died, and another was presumed to be dying. Eventually, Katayama was found alive while two fellow climbers were found dead.[4]

As of the end of 2010, Katayama had summited six of the Seven Summits: Mont Blanc (climbed in 1996), Kilimanjaro (1998), Elbrus (1998), Denali (2008), Aconcagua (2009), and Vinson Massif (2010)[5]

Other sports edit

He has been participating other sporting events as an official invitee, such as Honolulu Marathon and Honolulu Century Ride. He has also started a cycling team called Team Ukyo.[6]

Media appearances edit

He is now a commentator of Formula One in Japan, for Fuji TV. He also co-hosts the motoring program Samurai Wheels for NHK World. In 1996 he was a guest judge on Iron Chef.

Helmet edit

Katayama's helmet was blue with a red and white stripe crossing the rear area and going in the sides forming an oblique letter T, and a vertical red and white stripe going across the top (until the visor).[7]

Racing record edit

Career summary edit

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
1985 Japanese Formula Three Hasemi Motorsports 7 0 0 ? 0 38 6th
1986 Championnat de France Formule Renault Turbo Autolook Racing 6 0 1 0 1 23 11th
French Formula Three 5 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1987 French Formula Three Autolook RG Project 4 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1988 Japanese Formula 3000 Ba-Tsu Racing Team 8 0 0 0 0 2 11th
24 Hours of Le Mans Courage Compétition 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1989 Japanese Formula 3000 Footwork Formula 7 0 0 0 0 0 NC
International Formula 3000 Footwork 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1990 Japanese Formula 3000 Cabin Racing Team with Heroes 10 0 0 1 3 18 5th
1991 Japanese Formula 3000 Cabin Racing Team with Heroes 10 2 3 2 5 40 1st
1992 Formula One Central Park Venturi Larrousse 14 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of Le Mans Toyota Team Tom's 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1993 Formula One Tyrrell Racing Organisation 16 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1994 Formula One Tyrrell Racing Organisation 16 0 0 0 0 5 17th
1995 Formula One Nokia Tyrrell Yamaha 16 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1996 Formula One Tyrrell Yamaha 16 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1997 Formula One Minardi Team 17 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1998 24 Hours of Le Mans Toyota Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 9th
1999 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship Toyota Castrol Team Tom's 6 0 1 0 2 28 15th
24 Hours of Le Mans Toyota Motorsport 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 2nd
2000 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship Nismo 6 0 0 0 1 31 11th
2001 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship Racing Team Cerumo With Ukyo 6 0 1 0 0 0 NC
2002 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship Racing Team Cerumo 2 0 0 0 0 2 27th
24 Hours of Le Mans Pescarolo Sport 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
2003 24 Hours of Le Mans Kondo Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 13th
2008 Speedcar Series Speedcar Team 10 0 0 0 0 2 15th

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results edit

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1988   Courage Compétition   Paul Belmondo
  François Migault
Courage C22-Porsche C1 66 DNF DNF
1992   Toyota Team Tom's   Geoff Lees
  David Brabham
Toyota TS010 C1 192 DNF DNF
1998   Toyota Motorsports
  Toyota Team Europe
  Toshio Suzuki
  Keiichi Tsuchiya
Toyota GT-One GT1 326 9th 8th
1999   Toyota Motorsports
  Toyota Team Europe
  Keiichi Tsuchiya
  Toshio Suzuki
Toyota GT-One LMGTP 364 2nd 1st
2002   Pescarolo Sport   Éric Hélary
  Stéphane Ortelli
Courage C60-Peugeot LMP900 144 DNF DNF
2003   Kondo Racing   Masahiko Kondo
  Ryo Fukuda
Dome S101-Mugen LMP900 322 13th 8th

Complete Japanese Formula 3000 results edit

(key)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Points
1988 Ba-Tsu Racing Team SUZ
11
FUJ
Ret
MIN
Ret
SUZ
7
SUG
5
FUJ
8
SUZ
12
SUZ
Ret
11th 2
1989 Footwork Formula SUZ
9
FUJ
Ret
MIN SUZ
Ret
SUG
Ret
FUJ
15
SUZ
18
SUZ
7
NC 0
1990 Cabin Racing Team with Heroes SUZ
Ret
FUJ
3
MIN
5
SUZ
Ret
SUG
12
FUJ
5
FUJ
2
SUZ
3
FUJ
Ret
SUZ
DSQ
5th 18
1991 Cabin Racing Team with Heroes SUZ
1
AUT
4
FUJ
9
MIN
Ret
SUZ
1
SUG
6
FUJ
2
SUZ
2
FUJ
C
SUZ
10
FUJ
2
1st 40

Complete International Formula 3000 results edit

(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 DC Points
1989 Footwork SIL
DNQ
VAL
Ret
PAU
DNQ
JER
18
PER BRH BIR SPA BUG DIJ NC 0

Complete Formula One results edit

(key)

Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 WDC Points
1992 Central Park Venturi Larrousse Venturi Larrousse LC92 Lamborghini V12 RSA
12
MEX
12
BRA
9
ESP
DNQ
SMR
Ret
MON
DNPQ
CAN
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
Ret
HUN
Ret
BEL
17
ITA
9
POR
Ret
JPN
11
AUS
Ret
NC 0
1993 Tyrrell Racing Organisation Tyrrell 020C Yamaha V10 RSA
Ret
BRA
Ret
EUR
Ret
SMR
Ret
ESP
Ret
MON
Ret
CAN
17
FRA
Ret
GBR
13
NC 0
Tyrrell 021 Yamaha V10 GER
Ret
HUN
10
BEL
15
ITA
14
POR
Ret
JPN
Ret
AUS
Ret
1994 Tyrrell Racing Organisation Tyrrell 022 Yamaha V10 BRA
5
PAC
Ret
SMR
5
MON
Ret
ESP
Ret
CAN
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
6
GER
Ret
HUN
Ret
BEL
Ret
ITA
Ret
POR
Ret
EUR
7
JPN
Ret
AUS
Ret
17th 5
1995 Nokia Tyrrell Yamaha Tyrrell 023 Yamaha V10 BRA
Ret
ARG
8
SMR
Ret
ESP
Ret
MON
Ret
CAN
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
7
HUN
Ret
BEL
Ret
ITA
10
POR
Ret
EUR PAC
14
JPN
Ret
AUS
Ret
NC 0
1996 Tyrrell Yamaha Tyrrell 024 Yamaha V10 AUS
11
BRA
9
ARG
Ret
EUR
DSQ
SMR
Ret
MON
Ret
ESP
Ret
CAN
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
Ret
HUN
7
BEL
8
ITA
10
POR
12
JPN
Ret
NC 0
1997 Minardi Team Minardi M197 Hart V8 AUS
Ret
BRA
18†
ARG
Ret
SMR
11
MON
10
ESP
Ret
CAN
Ret
FRA
11
GBR
Ret
GER
Ret
HUN
10
BEL
14
ITA
Ret
AUT
11
LUX
Ret
JPN
Ret
EUR
17
NC 0

† Katayama did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed more than 90% of the race distance.

Complete JGTC results edit

(key)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DC Pts
1999 Toyota Castrol Team Tom's Toyota Supra GT500 SUZ
3
FUJ SUG
11
MIN
2
FUJ
15
TAI
15
MOT
10
15th 28
2000 Nismo Nissan Skyline GT-R GT500 MOT FUJ
2
SUG
11
FUJ
6
TAI
11
MIN
Ret
SUZ
4
11th 31
2001 Racing Team Cerumo With Ukyo Toyota Supra GT500 TAI
12
FUJ
14
SUG
13
FUJ
14
MOT SUZ
Ret
MIN
13
NC 0
2002 Racing Team Cerumo Toyota Supra GT500 TAI
15
FUJ SUG
9
SEP FUJ MOT MIN SUZ 27th 2

References edit

  1. ^ "Staff page for Ukyo Katayama". Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  2. ^ Celebrating Winless Wonders: 20 F1 Drivers with the Most Starts without a Win - Mike Pryson, Autoweek, 9 June 2020
  3. ^ "Katayama scales Mt. Manaslu". Autosport.com. 2006-12-01. Retrieved 2006-12-01.
  4. ^ "Former F1 driver Katayama says fellow climbers died on Mount Fuji". Mainichi Shimbun. 2009-12-19. Archived from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
  5. ^ "ビンソンマシフ登頂成功". Ukyo Katayama official website. 2010-12-27. Archived from the original on 2010-12-30. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  6. ^ Tsuji, Kei (3 November 2012). "Doi Yukihiro ga Chīmu Ukyo e no iseki". Cyclowired. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  7. ^ Helmet picture

External links edit

Sporting positions
Preceded by Japanese Formula 3000
Champion

1991
Succeeded by