Yuichi Nakayama (中山雄一, Nakayama Yūichi, born 25 July 1991) is a Japanese racing driver for Toyota Gazoo Racing who currently competes in Super GT for TGR Team SARD. He previously competed in Super Formula, primarily for KCMG, and became champion of the All-Japan Formula Three Championship in 2013.
| Yuichi Nakayama | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nationality |  Japanese |
| Born | 25 July 1991 Setagaya City, Tokyo, Japan |
| Super GT career | |
| Debut season | 2021 |
| Current team | TGR Team SARD |
| Racing licence |  FIA Gold |
| Car number | 39 |
| Former teams | apr, LM Corsa |
| Starts | 74 (34 in GT300) |
| Wins | 9 (7 in GT300) |
| Podiums | 16 (11 in GT300) |
| Poles | 4 (4 in GT300) |
| Fastest laps | 1 (1 in GT300) |
| Best finish | 5th in 2019 |
| Super Formula career | |
| Debut season | 2014 |
| Current team | Kondō Racing |
| Car number | 4 |
| Former teams | KCMG, Team LeMans |
| Starts | 36 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
| Best finish | 16th in 2015 |
| Previous series | |
| 2011–13 2010 2008–10 | All-Japan Formula Three Formula BMW Pacific Formula Challenge Japan |
| Championship titles | |
| 2013 2010 | All-Japan Formula Three Formula Challenge Japan |
Career
editKarting
editBorn in the Setagaya Ward of Tokyo, Nakayama began his racing career in karting at the age of six and raced in various local championships, progressing to the KF2 category in 2007, finishing 7th in the Asia-Pacific Championship.[1]
Early career
editIn 2008, Nakayama graduated to single–seaters into the Formula Challenge Japan mono-series. He finished thirteenth in the series standings, without scoring a podium.[2] He stayed in the series for another season, progressing to fourth position in the standings, collecting six podiums.[3]
He stayed in the series for a third successive season in 2010. He dominated the whole season and won ten from twelve races, finishing every race in the podium positions and finally taking the championship title. He also contested the final rounds in Formula BMW Pacific, joining the Asia Racing Team.[4]
All-Japan Formula Three
editIn 2011, Nakayama stepped up to the National class of the All-Japan Formula Three Championship with the TOM'S Spirit team.[5] He finished third, taking three class wins.[6]
In 2012 he switched to the series' Championship class, joining the main TOM'S team. He finished as runner-up to Ryō Hirakawa, winning races at Motegi, Sugo and Fuji.[7] During the season he also appeared in the Macau Grand Prix, finishing 21st.[8]
He continued his collaboration with TOM'S in 2013.[9] This time he dominated the championship, finishing each of the 13 races he contested – 11 wins and a pair of runner-up placings – on the podium, clinching the championship title before the final round of the season, that he was forced to miss.[10] He also repeated his effort to win the Macau Grand Prix trophy with TOM'S.[11]
Super Formula
editNakayama made his début in Super Formula in 2014 with KCMG.[12] He finished in eighteenth position in the championship standings, without scoring a point. Despite this, the team decided to retain him for the 2015 until 2016 season.[13] Nakayama replaced Artem Markelov at the sixth round due to Markelov being called up to race for BWT Arden in the FIA Formula 2 Championship.[14] Nakayama then return to KCMG for 2 rounds to cover Kamui Kobayashi.[15] Nakayama covers for Sacha Fenestraz at Kondo Racing after Fenestraz unable obtain visa entrance to Japan.[16] Nakayama did not score a point, and competed all but two rounds that season.
Super GT
editNakayama made his debut in the series' GT300 Class for apr for one round off in 2013, and 2014. Nakayama joined the team as a full time driver for 2 seasons, as he was paired with Koki Saga. Both pair won 3 times in that 2 seasons,and many podiums. Both managed to clinch third place, and runners up place in each season. Nakayama then move to LM Corsa for 2017 & 2018. Nakayama then steps up to GT500 with SARD Team in 2019. He is already with the team till now where he raced alongside Heiki Kovalainen for 2019 to 2021, then with GT500 Champion Yuhi Sekiguchi from 2022 onwards.
Racing record
editCareer summary
edit| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | FLaps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Formula Challenge Japan | TDP Scholarship FCJ | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 13th |
| 2009 | Formula Challenge Japan | FTRS RAJAS FCJ | 14 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 41 | 4th |
| 2010 | Formula Challenge Japan | TDP Scholarship | 12 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 135 | 1st |
| Formula BMW Pacific | Asia Racing Team | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | NC† | |
| 2011 | Japanese Formula 3 Championship - National | TOM'S Spirit | 14 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 83 | 3rd |
| 2012 | Japanese Formula 3 Championship | Petronas Team TOM'S | 15 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 103 | 2nd |
| Macau Grand Prix | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 21st | ||
| 2013 | Japanese Formula 3 Championship | Petronas Team TOM'S | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 146 | 1st |
| Macau Grand Prix | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 12th | ||
| Super GT | apr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | |
| 2014 | Super Formula | KCMG | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18th |
| Super Taikyū - ST-1 | KeePer Tomei Sports | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 111‡ | 1st‡ | |
| Super GT | apr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 18th | |
| 2015 | Super GT | apr | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 69 | 3rd |
| Super Formula | KCMG | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 16th | |
| Super Taikyū - ST-3 | Le Beausset Motorsports | 54‡ | 6th‡ | ||||||
| 2016 | Super GT | apr | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 60 | 2nd |
| Super Formula | KCMG | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18th | |
| Super Taikyū - ST-3 | Le Beausset Motorsports | 1 | 3 | 90.5‡ | 2nd‡ | ||||
| Audi R8 LMS Cup China | KCMG | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 16th | |
| 2017 | Super GT | LM Corsa | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 61 | 3rd |
| Super Taikyū - ST-3 | Le Beausset Motorsports | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 95‡ | 2nd‡ | |
| 2018 | Super GT | K-Tunes Racing LM Corsa | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 45 | 6th |
| Super Formula | carrozzeria Team KCMG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21st | |
| Super Taikyū - ST-4 | TOM'S Spirit | 6 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 159‡ | 1st‡ | |
| 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP-Pro | Toyota Gazoo Racing | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | N/A | 1st | |
| 2019 | Super GT | Lexus Team SARD | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 44 | 5th |
| Super Formula | UOMO Sunoco Team LeMans | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22nd | |
| Super Taikyū - ST-4 | TOM'S Spirit | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 123.5‡ | 2nd‡ | |
| 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP-Pro | Toyota Gazoo Racing | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | N/A | 1st | |
| 2020 | Super GT | TGR Team SARD | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 9th |
| Super Formula | carrozzeria Team KCMG | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22nd | |
| Super Taikyū - ST-X | apr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 79‡ | 5th‡ | |
| 2021 | Super GT | TGR Team SARD | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 13th |
| Super Formula | Kondō Racing | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23rd | |
| Super Taikyū - ST-X | Porsche Center Okazaki | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 98.5‡ | 3rd‡ | |
| apr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64‡ | 5th‡ | ||
| 2022 | Super GT | TGR Team SARD | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33 | 8th |
| Super Taikyū - ST-1 | Tracy Sports | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 128‡ | 3rd‡ | |
| 2023 | Super GT | TGR Team SARD | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 38 | 9th |
| Super Taikyū - ST-X | apr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 118‡ | 2nd‡ | |
| TGR GR86/BRZ Cup | Ibaraki Toyopet Racing Team | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 49 | 5th | |
| 2024 | Super GT | TGR Team SARD | |||||||
| Super Taikyu - ST-X | apr | ||||||||
| Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS | TGR Team Hattori Motorsports |
†– As Nakayama was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points. * Season still in progress.
‡ Team standings.
Complete Super GT results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | apr | Toyota Prius | GT300 | OKA |
FUJ |
SEP |
SUG |
SUZ 15 |
FUJ |
FUJ |
AUT |
MOT |
NC | 0 |
| 2014 | OKA |
FUJ |
AUT |
SUG |
FUJ |
SUZ 2 |
CHA |
MOT |
18th | 18 | ||||
| 2015 | OKA 1 |
FUJ 4 |
CHA 9 |
FUJ 9 |
SUZ 10 |
SUG 2 |
AUT 13 |
MOT 1 |
3rd | 69 | ||||
| 2016 | OKA 12 |
FUJ 20 |
SUG 1 |
FUJ 25 |
SUZ 2 |
CHA 5 |
MOT 24 |
MOT 2 |
2nd | 60 | ||||
| 2017 | LM Corsa | Lexus RC F GT3 | OKA 8 |
FUJ 1 |
AUT 6 |
SUG 13 |
FUJ 9 |
SUZ 6 |
CHA 1 |
MOT 6 |
3rd | 61 | ||
| 2018 | K-Tunes Racing LM Corsa | OKA 14 |
FUJ 14 |
SUZ 1 |
CHA 10 |
FUJ 10 |
AUT 14 |
SUG 1 |
MOT 10 |
6th | 45 | |||
| 2019 | Lexus Team SARD | Lexus LC 500 | GT500 | OKA 11 |
FUJ 4 |
SUZ 5 |
CHA 5 |
FUJ Ret |
AUT 1 |
SUG 7 |
MOT 11 |
5th | 44 | |
| 2020 | TGR Team SARD | Toyota GR Supra | FUJ 5 |
FUJ 6 |
SUZ 5 |
MOT 9 |
FUJ 1 |
SUZ 11 |
MOT 8 |
FUJ 14 |
9th | 42 | ||
| 2021 | OKA 4 |
FUJ 6 |
SUZ 10 |
MOT 14 |
SUG 5 |
AUT 5 |
MOT 11 |
FUJ 4 |
13th | 34 | ||||
| 2022 | OKA 8 |
FUJ 13 |
SUZ 4 |
FUJ 6 |
SUZ 3 |
SUG 6 |
AUT 10 |
MOT Ret |
8th | 33 | ||||
| 2023 | OKA 8 |
FUJ 8 |
SUZ 15 |
FUJ 9 |
SUZ 2 |
SUG 3 |
AUT 14 |
MOT 7 |
9th | 38 | ||||
| 2024 | OKA |
FUJ |
SUZ |
FUJ |
SUZ |
SUG |
AUT |
MOT |
* Season still in progress.
Complete Super Formula results
edit(Races in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | KCMG | SUZ Ret |
FUJ1 13 |
FUJ2 16 |
FUJ 10 |
MOT Ret |
AUT 16 |
SUG 13 |
SUZ1 Ret |
SUZ2 18 |
18th | 0 |
| 2015 | SUZ 13 |
OKA Ret |
FUJ 15 |
MOT 16 |
AUT 19 |
SUG 10 |
SUZ Ret |
SUZ 6 |
16th | 1.5 | ||
| 2016 | SUZ 13 |
OKA 10 |
FUJ 9 |
MOT 15 |
OKA 17 |
OKA 13 |
SUG Ret |
SUZ 14 |
SUZ 11 |
18th | 0 | |
| 2018 | carrozzeria Team KCMG | SUZ | AUT | SUG | FUJ | MOT 13 |
OKA | SUZ | 21st | 0 | ||
| 2019 | UOMO Sunoco Team LeMans | SUZ | AUT | SUG | FUJ | MOT | OKA 15 |
SUZ 16 |
22nd | 0 | ||
| 2020 | carrozzeria Team KCMG | MOT | OKA 11 |
SUG | AUT 18 |
SUZ | SUZ | FUJ | 22nd | 0 | ||
| 2021 | Kondō Racing | FUJ 14 |
SUZ 14 |
AUT 15 |
SUG Ret |
MOT 13 |
OKA |
SUZ |
23rd | 0 |
* Season still in progress.
References
edit- ^ "Asia-Pacific Championship — KF2 2007". drivedb.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
- ^ "Formula Challenge Japan 2008". Driver Database. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
- ^ "Formula Challenge Japan 2009". Driver Database. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
- ^ "Formula BMW Pacific 2010". DriverDB.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
- ^ 開幕ラウンド占有走行 [Travel round the opening possession]. All-Japan Formula Three Championship (in Japanese). Japanese Formula 3 Association. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
- ^ "2011 Japanese Formula 3 Championship — National Class". driverdb.coim. Driver Database. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
- ^ "Japanese Formula 3 Championship — Championship class 2012 standings". driverdb.com. Driver Database. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
- ^ "Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix Provisional Entry List". macau.grandprix.gov.mo. Macau Grand Prix. 13 February 2015. Archived from the original on 18 November 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ^ "TMC Outlines Motor-sports Activities for 2013". Toyota Motor Corporation. Toyota Motor Corporation. 25 February 2013. Archived from the original on 26 May 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
- ^ Khorounzhiy, Valentin (13 February 2015). "Roundup: Magnussen confirms title with Catalunya double". Paddock Scout. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
- ^ "Star River‧Windsor Arch Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix". Macau Grand Prix. Macau Grand Prix Committee. 30 October 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ "KCMG announces Yuichi Nakayama for Super Formula 2014". BAM Motorsport Promotions. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
- ^ "KCMG CONFIRMS YUICHI NAKAYAMA FOR SUPER FORMULA SEAT IN 2015". KCMG. KC Motorgroup Ltd. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
- ^ Thukral, Rachit (24 September 2019). "Markelov's replacement for Okayama announced". Motorsport.com.
- ^ Wood, Elliot (23 September 2020). "Yuichi Nakayama replaces quarantined Kobayashi in Super Formula". Formula Scout. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- ^ Wood, Elliot (23 September 2020). "Yuichi Nakayama replaces quarantined Kobayashi in Super Formula". Formula Scout. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
External links
edit- Yuichi Nakayama on Twitter (in Japanese)
- Yuichi Nakayama career summary at DriverDB.com