Kerai Kyota

Kyota at the MMS S4 Bahrain Grand Prix

Kerai Kyota is an active motorsport driver who is competing in MMS F1 Season 5 in his second season in F1, driving for Minardi-Ford, he is the first ever person from Palau to compete in the highest level in motorsport. The Palauan has previously raced for Coloni-Ford in MMS Season 4 when in 10 races, he scored 3 points during his time in the Italian team.

## Early life and education

Kerai Kyota was born in Ngerulmud, Palau. His father Paul Ngiraingas disappeared during his childhood years after fishing outside the main island, since the age of 2, Kerai was looked after by his mother, Uduch Kyota, after his surname changed, he remained solely dedicated towards the people of Palau, however his passion for racing started at the age of 5 when racing in cardboard boxes. His immense talents saw him leave on occasion to other countries like Fuji and Nauru. He remained educated in his native country, Koror Elementary School and Belau Modekngei High School is where he was educated, due to the limits of Palau Education, only Palauese was taught and as a result, his English is completely non existent, with a few Japanese phrases he understand from his cousin.

## Junior racing career

His first ever proper experience in racing cars came at the age of 8 when he drove cars around the unmaintained Palau streets, his racing passion expanded his position towards Fuji which had a bigger racing scene, he started in go karts here he finished at one if the fastest drivers on the local courses in Fuji, due to Palau’s connections with Japan, his racing career truly kicked off in Japan, competing in Japanese Formula 4, Japanese 3000s and Formula Nippon, at the age of 16, Kerai scored in Formula Nippon at a best finish ever with the last season before entering F1 at 5th. Outscoring other supposed Japanese talent in the field.

Kerai Kyota in Twin Ring Motegi, 1985Kerai Kyota before the Suzuka race, 1986Kerai Kyota working as an brief intern for Lotus in Suzuka 1987Kerai Kyota racing in the wet at Fuji 1987, his last full season in Japanese Formula 3000
## Formula One Career

### Coloni-Ford

#### Season 4

In a shock surprise of events, Scuderia Coloni has signed the Palauan driver at the start of season, despite much more eager drivers wanting to work with them, Kerai made his racing debut in the F1 car in Bahrain for Round 1 of the MMS F1 Season 4, he was competing for points after a lackluster qualifying position however, a collision at turn one involving multiple cars, a slow pitstop and a engine blowout put a end to one of the most disastrous debuts in MMS history, since then, Kerai had experienced a whole string of failures to score points, with the closest being P17, he would always find the wrong end of situations and his seat is reportedly under threat from the newly hired test driver from Portugal, he currently heads into Round 6 with two below P20 positions to his name, the driver will turn 18 next year and has a lot of potential unfilled, critics say however so time will tell what will happen to him.

With continued chances, Kerai Kyota finally got his breakthrough in the Swedish Grand Prix where he finished in P14 after a hectic race which saw Coloni score their only points of the season, followed by other performances where he continuously finished within and out of the Top 20. His 3 points he scored in Sweden made him the first driver from Palau to score points. His impressive and improved form gained him a lovable reputation in Italy, thanks to his performance, he was signed by Minardi, keeping Kyota in the MMS F1 Series for another season

Kerai Kyota after his first run in the FC188 in Mugello, MMS Season 3Kerai Kyota flying through a corner in Round 5, Germany. Kerai would finish in P17Kerai Kyota before starting the race in Portugal, he would finish in P23Kerai Kyota at the start/finish straight in Imola at Round 3 of MMS F1 Season 4, he finished in P18Kerai Kyota exiting out of the Kemmel Straight in Belgium for the 9th round, he finished in P19.Kerai Kyota appearing in an advertisement for Hugo Boss, he took the pose after Silverstone.
### Minardi-Ford

#### Season 5

He joined Minardi at the end of the F1 season, this will be the first time that Kerai has a teammate with him in F1 as he will be partnered with Conan McGuinness during his time at Minardi, at the start of the season with the reintroduction towards the pre-qualiyfying rule, Kerai failed to qualify for the first time in his career as he finished in P33, he continued to failed to qualify for the grid during his second season, while his teammate managed to qualify but failed to score points. At the Italian Grand Prix, the MMS Governing Body have announced that all 42 cars will be allowed to qualify and be on the grid for that race, which resulted in a masterclass drive from Kerai to finish in P13 to achieve Minardi’s first double point finish of the season along with McGuinness’ 9th place and allowed Kerai to score 4 points in the process.

Kyota wearing the Minardi overalls for the first time during Pre-Season Testing in Estonia
## Racing Record

### Complete MMS Formula One results

(Races in **bold** indicate pole position; races in *italics* indicate fastest lap)

DNF
P26
P18
P23
P17
P31
P15
P27
P19
P30