2010 Formula BMW Pacific - Rnd 13 & 14 – Okayama, JAPAN
Asia Racing Team’s Yuichi Nakayama finished 3rd in the Race 2 of the Formula BMW Pacific inOkayama, after setting the Pole-Position time and being stripped of Race 1 victory, while histeammate Ryo Hirakawa debuted in the series with an impressive 4th position in Race 2.
Asia Racing Team's analysis after the turbulent penultimate event of the Formula BMW Pacific 2010had two sides. While the team wasn't satisfied with the exclusion of the Race 1 winner car due to anunintentional differential assembly mistake, which in this case doesn’t offer any advantage, the cars'performance compared to the pace displayed at earlier Formula BMW Pacific races this year, gaveeveryone reason for optimism ahead of the home race at Macau.
Making his Formula BMW Pacific first appearance at his home race at the 3.7 km OkayamaInternational Circuit, Nakayama earned his maiden pole position for Saturday’s Round 13 in supportof the FIA World Touring Car Championship. With six minutes on the clock, Nakayama, recentlycrowned Formula Challenge Japan champion, put in his fastest lap of the session which could not bebettered. Hirakawa was on top form on Saturday’s morning too, and set the 6th quickest time.
Race 1 saw Nakayama come up with a superlative effort as he cruised to a very comfortable win, butthe Japanese driver was subsequently excluded due to a technical infringement. Starting from thepitlane, after an impressive 6th best time on qualifying, Hirakawa finished 11th. The 16 years olddriver from Hiroshima railed seven positions from the back of the field until one opponent had forcedhim off the track.
Race 2 saw another strong performance of Asia Racing Team’s Japanese duo. Nakayama lost his thirdspot in the grid at the start but the 19 years old driver from Tokyo never gives up. He captured 3rdand embarked on a fierce and fair battle for the second place with 2010 Formula BMW Pacificchampion Richard Bradley. Nakayama also registered the best lap in the race. Showing his greatpotential Hirakawa climbed two positions up during the 30 minutes race, from 6th to 4th at thecheckered flag.
Speaking about his race weekend, Nakayama said, “I was here [at Okayama] two years ago todo some testing, but this is both the first time I’ve raced here and been a part of FormulaBMW Pacific. I’ve only seen Formula BMW before on video games and my performance thisweekend was much better than expected. I’m really happy to have been the quickest inqualifying. It was quite a shame to be disqualified from Saturday’s race, but on Sunday’srace I switched on again and I told myself that today would be a good practice for Macau.This was a motivation for me. I’ve really enjoyed my experience and I look forward tocontinuing to see what I can achieve, hopefully a podium in Macau.”
Teammate Hirakawa added, “It was the first time I drove a Formula BMW, a different car tohandle compared to the Formula Challenge Japan car that I am used to drive. This race wasa preparation for Macau Grand Prix and I’m happy with my overall result. On Race 1 JamesBirch pushed me out of the track when I was climbing positions from a pitlane start. InRace 2 I was able to show my speed and finished much better than expected in thebeginning of the weekend. This race was a good training for Macau .”
Round 15, the final Formula BMW Pacific race, will be run at the 57th Macau Grand Prix fromNovember 18-21, Asia Racing Team home ground.
