Akihiko Nakaya

is a successful racing driver in the Japanese Touring Car Championship and F3000, as well as regular presenter on the Japanese motoring show Best Motoring. Nakaya offered a distinctively analytical approach to reviewing cars on the show, providing detailed analyses of various vehicle components and explaining certain driving styles that were best suited to their characteristics. He was a regular driver of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions during Best Motoring races involving the I, II, III, IV, V, VI (including the Tommi Makinen Edition), VII, and VIII of the car, often recording lap times significantly quicker than other drivers of the same vehicle.

Nakaya's name was applied to a special preface-build of the Mitsubishi FTO, the Nakaya-Tune FTO, which appeared in 1997.

Nakaya was considered for a Formula One ride with Brabham in 1992, but the FIA would not grant him a superlicense on the grounds that Japanese F3000 (today the Super Formula Championship) was, at the time, not considered a stepping stone to F1. The ride eventually went to Giovanna Amati, who was more known for her gender than talent and was replaced three races into the season by future World Champion Damon Hill.

Career results Complete World Touring Car Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Points 1987 Ralliart Australia Mitsubishi Starion Turbo MNZ JAR DIJ NUR SPA BNO SIL BATovr:5cls:4 CLDovr:9cls:5 WEL NC 0 STP Mitsubishi Ralliart FJIovr:10cls:5 Not eligible for series points Complete Japanese Formula 3 results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DC Pts 1987 Le Garage Cox Racing Team VW SUZ TSU FUJ SUZ SUG SEN MIN TSU SUZ SUZ 5th 70 1988 Le Garage Cox Racing Team Mugen SUZ TSU FUJ SUZ SUG TSU SEN SUZ MIN SUZ 1st 46

Japanese Formula 3000 Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete Japanese Touring Car Championship (-1993) results

Complete Japanese Touring Car Championship (1994-) results

Complete All-Japan GT Championship results (key)

Complete Bathurst 1000 results Year Car# Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 1986 53 Mitsubishi Ralliart Brad Jones Mitsubishi Starion Turbo B 61 DNF DNF 1987 16 Ralliart Australia Gary Scott John French Mitsubishi Starion Turbo 1 154 5th 4th

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps 1989 Brun Motorsport From-A Racing Harald Grohs Sarel van der Merwe Porsche 962C C1 78 DNF DNF 1997 Team Lark McLaren Gary Ayles Keiichi Tsuchiya McLaren F1 GTR LMGT1 88 DNF DNF 1999 Team Goh Hiroki Katoh Hiro Matsushita BMW V12 LM LMP 223 DNF DNF