Satoru Nakajima

Nakajima during his Lotus tenure

**Satoru Nakajima** (中嶋 悟, *Nakajima Satoru*, born 23 February 1953) is a Japanese racing driver, currently competing for Tyrrell in Formula One. He is the first full-time Japanese Formula One driver, and accordingly, he is responsible for several firsts for Japanese drivers in the sport.

## Early Life and Career

Nakajima was born into a farming family living just outside Okazaki, Japan. He began driving cars in his early teens in the family's garden with his older brother giving him tips, careful that their father didn't catch them. He felt exhilaration behind the wheel of a car, and from then on knew what he wanted to do.

He started racing after he finished school and passed his driver's licence. In 1973 he was a rookie in the Suzuka Circuit series, which he won. Five years later, he won his first race in Japanese Formula Two. In 1981 he won his first championship, thus beginning a period of domination in the series. He won five of the next six championships, all of them equipped with a Honda V6 engine.

## Formula One

### Lotus (1987-1989)

Nakajima would gain a permanent race seat at Lotus for 1987 as part of an agreement that saw him bring Honda engines to the team. Nakajima would partner the future World Champion, Ayrton Senna for the 1987 season and his performances, while credible, would pale in comparison to his Brazilian team mate. While Ayrton would finish 4th in the standings, with 53 points and 2 wins, Nakajima would fail to score the entire season, his best finish coming at the season finale at the Australian Grand Prix, where he would finish 8th. It was not all bad news and it is to his credit that he would see the chequered flag in all but three of the races that year.

Hopes were high that results would come in the 1988 season and things got off to a good start, securing his first points finish with 6th at the season opening Brazilian Grand Prix. This success was slightly dampened by the fact his new team mate, Nelson Piquet, would win the race, but it was hoped that better results would come. Unfortunately they did not and he would fail to score another point that year, even failing to finish 7 of the remaining 15 races that year. Nakajima came close to scoring again at the Portuguese Grand Prix, finishing 7th, just behind Piquet in 6th. The season concluded with Nakajima classified 14th in the standings, with 1 point; while Piquet finishing 4th in the standings, with 37 points and 1 win.

For the 1989 season Lotus would lose works Honda engines opting for the under-powered Judd; but despite this they would retain Nakajima's services at the behest of team mate Piquet. This season would see improved reliability for Nakajima, only failing to see the chequered flag at two races in 1989. However, none of these races would see Nakajima finish in the points and in fact he would fail to get into the top ten all season. This time his team mate didn't fair much better, and while Piquet would have better results, he too would fail to score all season and it would be the first season in the history of the Lotus team that they had failed to score. After another disappointing season Nakajima was let go for 1990.

### Tyrrell (1990–present)

Thanks to his sponsorships and Japanese connections Nakajima would be signed by Tyrrell, who were eager to secure Honda engines for 1991. This season he would be partnered by the young French prospect, Jean Alesi. Again Nakajima did not appear to have improved his performance, but he would finally score points for Tyrrell with 4th at the Canadian Grand Prix, a race that admittedly have a high rate of attrition. There would be no more points finishes that year for Nakajima, though he did continue to have some solid race performances and just missed out on scoring on a number of occasions. Unfortunately Nakajima did not match the performance of Alesi, who scored points on 4 occasions. Nakajima would finish the 1991 season in 14th in the championship, with 3 points, 2 less than Alesi.

Tyrrell would secure the vaunted Honda engines for 1991 and Nakajima would have a new team mate in Stefano Modena. The season would be more successful for Tyrrell with Modena securing 3rd place at the season opening USA Grand Prix, but it would take time for Nakajima to find form, but scored his first points of the season with 5th at round 3 at the San Marino Grand Prix. He would finish 5th again at the next race at the Monaco Grand Prix, securing his first back-to-back points finishes. Another points finish would come at the British Grand Prix finishing 6th, before he would secure his first podium at the next race at the German Grand Prix. Nakajima would finish 3rd, behind Alain Prost in 2nd and Ayrton Senna in 1st. Nakajima would continue to put in some solid performances that year, but he would not score any further points. Still, he had his most successful season to date, finishing 10th in the championship, with 9 points and one podium finish; this was 1 more than team mate Modena.

Despite their success in 1991 Honda would quit the sport for 1992, leaving Tyrrell without a works engine deal, having to use Mugen-Honda power for the season. Nakajima would not have the same success as in previous seasons, and while there were good performances no points would come. He would even suffer the ignominy of failing to qualify for the 1992 Monaco Grand Prix, but this may have been the result of technical issues. Nakajima and Modena would both fail to score in 1992, leaving Tyrrell pointless for the first time since 1988.

## Personal Life

Little is known about Nakajima's private life, but he is known to have two young sons, Kazuki Nakajima (8 years old) and Daisuke Nakajima (4 years old).

## Formula One Statistical Overview

### Formula One Record

Notes

* \* – Season still in progress.

### Complete Formula One results

(key)

Notes

* \* – Season still in progress.