Here’s the first of a Series of 2021 ‘Goodbyes’ to some of the drivers, cars and programmes that have entertained us, in some cases for well over a decade! The series will carry on into the early New Year.
After nineteen years as a professional racing driver, Kazuki Nakajima retired from racing at the end of the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship. Though his driving days are now over, Nakajima will remain an integral member of Toyota Gazoo Racing for the forseeable future – as Vice Chairman of Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe.
Nakajima was a member of Toyota’s WEC endeavours since the launch of their TS030 Hybrid at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans, and experienced the full range of emotions as a top-class driver: From the devastation of the infamous last lap retirement from the lead of the 2016 Le Mans 24h, to the triumph when he, and Toyota, finally won the race for the first time in 2018.
He is part of an elite group of drivers that have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three or more times overall, recording a hat trick of victories in 2018, 2019, and 2020, to become the most successful Japanese driver in the history of the Grand Prix d’Endurance. In the 2018-19 “Super Season,” Nakajima also made history by winning a share of the FIA World Endurance Drivers’ Championship – making him the first Japanese driver to win an FIAWorld Championship for circuit racing.
In total, Nakajima won 17 times across 60 starts in the WEC, capturing his first win at home in the 2012 6 Hours of Fuji, and his last in the 2021 8 Hours of Bahrain.
During the height of his WEC success, Nakajima was also an integral part of Toyota’s racing activities in Super GT and Super Formula. He won races in both classes of Super GT, GT500 and GT300, including overall victories in the Suzuka 1000km and Fuji 500km with TOM’s Racing. He was a two-time Super Formula Champion, winning the title in 2012 and 2014 with TOM’s.
He also raced for two-plus seasons in Formula 1 with the Williams F1 Team, opposite future World Champion team mate Nico Rosberg from 2007 to 2009.
Kazuki Nakajima – Notable Achievements
2005 Autobacs Super GT Series, GT300 class winner at Sportsland Sugo (first sports car racing victory)
2012 FIA WEC 6 Hours of Fuji overall winner (first WEC victory)
2013 Autobacs Super GT Series, Fuji 500km winner and third in GT500 Drivers’ Championship (with James Rossiter)
2014 24 Hours of Le Mans, pole position (first Japanese driver to win overall pole at Le Mans)
2014 Autobacs Super GT Series, Suzuka 1000km overall winner
2016 24 Hours of Le Mans, the finish
2017 FIA WEC World Endurance Drivers’ Championship runner-up
2018 24 Hours of Le Mans overall winner (third overall winner from Japan, first overall win for Toyota)
2019 24 Hours of Le Mans overall winner (first Japanese driver with multiple overall wins)
2018-19 FIA World Endurance LMP Drivers’ Champion (first circuit racing World Champion from Japan)
2020 24 Hours of Le Mans, overall winner
2021 FIA WEC 8 Hours of Bahrain overall winner (17th and final victory)
Outside of sports cars – 2003 Esso Formula Toyota champion
Formula 3 (2nd in 2005 All-Japan F3, 7th in 2006 F3 Euro Series
2007 GP2 Series
2007-2009 Formula 1 World Championship, Williams F1 Team
Super Formula Championship, 2012 and 2014 Drivers’ Champion
