# Yuichi Nakayama

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.

## Career
### Karting

Born 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.

### Early career

In 2008, Nakayama graduated to single–seaters into the Formula Challenge Japan mono-series. He finished thirteenth in the series standings, without scoring a podium. He stayed in the series for another season, progressing to fourth position in the standings, collecting six podiums.
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.

### All-Japan Formula Three

In 2011, Nakayama stepped up to the National class of the All-Japan Formula Three Championship with the TOM'S Spirit team. He finished third, taking three class wins.
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. During the season he also appeared in the Macau Grand Prix, finishing 21st.
He continued his collaboration with TOM'S in 2013. 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. He also repeated his effort to win the Macau Grand Prix trophy with TOM'S.

### Super Formula

Nakayama made his début in Super Formula in 2014 with KCMG. 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. 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. Nakayama then return to KCMG for 2 rounds to cover Kamui Kobayashi. Nakayama covers for Sacha Fenestraz at Kondo Racing after Fenestraz unable obtain visa entrance to Japan. Nakayama did not score a point, and competed all but two rounds that season.

### Super GT

Nakayama 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
### Career summary

| 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 |
| 2010 | 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 |
| 2012 | Macau Grand Prix | Petronas Team TOM'S | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 21st |
| 2013 | Japanese Formula 3 Championship | Petronas Team TOM'S | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 146 | 1st |
| 2013 | Macau Grand Prix | Petronas Team TOM'S | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 12th |
| 2013 | Super GT - GT300 | apr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 2014 | Super Formula | KCMG | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18th |
| 2014 | Super Taikyū - ST-1 | KeePer Tomei Sports | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 111‡ | 1st‡ |
| 2014 | Super GT - GT300 | apr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 18th |
| 2015 | Super GT - GT300 | apr | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 69 | 3rd |
| 2015 | Super Formula | KCMG | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 16th |
| 2015 | Super Taikyū - ST-3 | Le Beausset Motorsports | | | | | | 54‡ | 6th‡ |
| 2016 | Super GT - GT300 | apr | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 60 | 2nd |
| 2016 | Super Formula | KCMG | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18th |
| 2016 | Super Taikyū - ST-3 | Le Beausset Motorsports | | 1 | | | 3 | 90.5‡ | 2nd‡ |
| 2016 | Audi R8 LMS Cup China | KCMG | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 16th |
| 2017 | Super GT - GT300 | LM corsa | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 61 | 3rd |
| 2017 | Super Taikyū - ST-3 | Le Beausset Motorsports | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 95‡ | 2nd‡ |
| 2018 | Super GT - GT300 | K-tunes Racing LM corsa | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 45 | 6th |
| 2018 | Super Formula | carrozzeria Team KCMG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21st |
| 2018 | Super Taikyū - ST-4 | TOM'S Spirit | 6 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 159‡ | 1st‡ |
| 2018 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP-Pro | Toyota Gazoo Racing | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | N/A | 1st |
| 2019 | Super GT - GT500 | Lexus Team SARD | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 44 | 5th |
| 2019 | Super Formula | UOMO Sunoco Team LeMans | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22nd |
| 2019 | Super Taikyū - ST-4 | TOM'S Spirit | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 123.5‡ | 2nd‡ |
| 2019 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP-Pro | Toyota Gazoo Racing | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | N/A | 1st |
| 2020 | Super GT - GT500 | TGR Team SARD | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 9th |
| 2020 | Super Formula | carrozzeria Team KCMG | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22nd |
| 2020 | Super Taikyū - ST-X | apr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 79‡ | 5th‡ |
| 2021 | Super GT - GT500 | TGR Team SARD | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 13th |
| 2021 | Super Formula | Kondō Racing | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23rd |
| 2021 | Super Taikyū - ST-X | Porsche Center Okazaki | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 98.5‡ | 3rd‡ |
| 2021 | Super Taikyū - ST-X | apr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64‡ | 5th‡ |
| 2022 | Super GT - GT500 | TGR Team SARD | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33 | 8th |
| 2022 | Super Taikyū - ST-1 | Tracy Sports | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 128‡ | 3rd‡ |
| 2023 | Super GT - GT500 | TGR Team SARD | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 38 | 9th |
| 2023 | Super Taikyū - ST-X | apr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 118‡ | 2nd‡ |
| 2023 | TGR GR86/BRZ Cup | Ibaraki Toyopet Racing Team | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 49 | 5th |
| 2024 | Super GT - GT500 | TGR Team SARD | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 46 | 7th |
| 2024 | Super Taikyu - ST-X | apr | | | | | | | |
| 2024 | Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS | TGR Team Hattori Motorsports | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 71st |
| 2024 | TGR GR86/BRZ Cup | Ibaraki Toyopet Racing Team | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 53 | 5th |
| 2025 | Super Taikyu - ST-Q | GR Team Spirit | | | | | | | |
†– As Nakayama was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points. $^*$ Season still in progress.
‡ Team standings.

### Complete Super GT results

(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 | apr | Toyota Prius | GT300 | OKA | FUJ | AUT | SUG | FUJ | SUZ 2 | CHA | MOT | | 18th | 18 |
| 2015 | apr | Toyota Prius | GT300 | OKA 1 | FUJ 4 | CHA 9 | FUJ 9 | SUZ 10 | SUG 2 | AUT 13 | MOT 1 | | 3rd | 69 |
| 2016 | apr | Toyota Prius | GT300 | 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 | GT300 | OKA 8 | FUJ 1 | AUT 6 | SUG 13 | FUJ 9 | SUZ 6 | CHA 1 | MOT 6 | | 3rd | 61 |
| 2018 | K-tunes Racing LM corsa | Lexus RC F GT3 | GT300 | 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 | GT500 | FUJ 5 | FUJ 6 | SUZ 5 | MOT 9 | FUJ 1 | SUZ 11 | MOT 8 | FUJ 14 | | 9th | 42 |
| 2021 | TGR Team SARD | Toyota GR Supra | GT500 | OKA 4 | FUJ 6 | SUZ 10 | MOT 14 | SUG 5 | AUT 5 | MOT 11 | FUJ 4 | | 13th | 34 |
| 2022 | TGR Team SARD | Toyota GR Supra | GT500 | OKA 8 | FUJ 13 | SUZ 4 | FUJ 6 | SUZ 3 | SUG 6 | AUT 10 | MOT Ret | | 8th | 33 |
| 2023 | TGR Team SARD | Toyota GR Supra | GT500 | OKA 8 | FUJ 8 | SUZ 15 | FUJ 9 | SUZ 2 | SUG 3 | AUT 14 | MOT 7 | | 9th | 38 |
| 2024 | TGR Team SARD | Toyota GR Supra | GT500 | OKA 2$^2$ | FUJ 9 | SUZ 11 | FUJ 15 | SUG 1 | AUT 5 | MOT 10 | SUZ 11 | | 7th | 46 |
$^*$ Season still in progress.

### Complete Super Formula results

(Races in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | DC | Points |
| 2014 | KCMG | Toyota | SUZ Ret | FUJ1 13 | FUJ2 16 | FUJ 10 | MOT Ret | AUT 16 | SUG 13 | SUZ1 Ret | SUZ2 18 | 18th | 0 |
| 2015 | KCMG | Toyota | SUZ 13 | OKA Ret | FUJ 15 | MOT 16 | AUT 19 | SUG 10 | SUZ Ret | SUZ 6 | | 16th | 1.5 |
| 2016 | KCMG | Toyota | SUZ 13 | OKA 10 | FUJ 9 | MOT 15 | OKA 17 | OKA 13 | SUG Ret | SUZ 14 | SUZ 11 | 18th | 0 |
| 2018 | carrozzeria Team KCMG | Toyota | SUZ | AUT | SUG | FUJ | MOT 13 | OKA | SUZ | | | 21st | 0 |
| 2019 | UOMO Sunoco Team LeMans | Toyota | SUZ | AUT | SUG | FUJ | MOT | OKA 15 | SUZ 16 | | | 22nd | 0 |
| 2020 | carrozzeria Team KCMG | Toyota | MOT | OKA 11 | SUG | AUT 18 | SUZ | SUZ | FUJ | | | 22nd | 0 |
| 2021 | Kondō Racing | Toyota | FUJ 14 | SUZ 14 | AUT 15 | SUG Ret | MOT 13 | OKA | SUZ | | | 23rd | 0 |
$^*$ Season still in progress.