Kazuki Nakajima joins Williams as a test driver

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Ed
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Kazuki Nakajima joins Williams as a test driver

Post by Ed » Wed Nov 08, 2006 10:42 pm

The Williams F1 team announced today that Formula 3 Euro Series driver Kazuki Nakajima will join the team in the role of test driver working alongside Narain Karthikeyan.

Frank Williams said:
Kazuki has consistently demonstrated his potential through karting and other junior Formulae. Having assessed both his potential in the car and his aptitude out of it, we believe he has the necessary ingredients to graduate to Formula One in a testing role.
Kazuki Nakajima said:
For anyone with an interest in motor racing, Formula One is the ultimate objective and I am delighted that Williams, one of the senior names in the sport and a team that exists solely to race, has given me this great chance. I look forward to helping as much as I can with the team?s transition to Toyota power for 2007. It will be a great honour to be the first TDP driver to graduate to Formula One.
Yoshiaki Kinoshita, General Manager, Motorsport Division, Toyota Motor Corporation said:
We are extremely delighted that Williams has chosen one of the drivers from the Toyota Young Drivers Program as an official team test driver. It will be certainly a big opportunity for Kazuki and we hope that Kazuki will make a contribution to Williams' test program and their fight back in the championship.
Kazuki Nakajima is the son of Formula One driver Satoru Nakajima, who raced for Lotus and Tyrrell in the mid-80?s and early 1990?s. His best result was 4th in the 1987 British GP and the 1989 Australian GP.

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Post by Snowy » Wed Nov 08, 2006 10:56 pm

Toyota stooge 8) How many test drivers do they have at Williams? I sure there are at least half a dozen. :shock:
Lewis Hamilton & Jenson Button World Champions :)

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Post by gkaytaz » Thu Nov 09, 2006 12:33 am

Snowy wrote:Toyota stooge 8) How many test drivers do they have at Williams? I sure there are at least half a dozen. :shock:
Japanese takeover... :shock:
In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. - Douglas Adams (1952-2001)

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Post by JayVee » Thu Nov 09, 2006 12:24 pm

Snowy wrote:Toyota stooge 8) How many test drivers do they have at Williams? I sure there are at least half a dozen. :shock:
Hmmm..... does that make Lewis Hamilton a McLaren stooge :shock: :!: :maths:
I'm back and yes supporting Alonso "The Cute" in the Ferrari!

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Post by JayVee » Thu Nov 09, 2006 12:30 pm

Karthikeyan and Nakajima lack the techincal expertise needed from test drivers to develop the car. Seems that Alex Wurz will double as a race driver and a test driver :shock: :shock:
I'm back and yes supporting Alonso "The Cute" in the Ferrari!

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Post by <T-K> » Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:26 pm

Kazuki who? :shock:

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Post by gkaytaz » Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:30 pm

<T-K> wrote:Kazuki who? :shock:
The next Sato-wannabe :)
In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. - Douglas Adams (1952-2001)

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Post by Julian Mayo » Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:42 pm

<T-K> wrote:Kazuki who? :shock:
What he said :shock:
The Mountain is a savage Mistress.

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Post by <T-K> » Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:24 am

gkaytaz wrote:
<T-K> wrote:Kazuki who? :shock:
The next Sato-wannabe :)
Flak Jackets on!!!

I shall be up in the pessna out of harms way!!!

:shock:

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Post by gkaytaz » Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:35 am

<T-K> wrote:
gkaytaz wrote:
<T-K> wrote:Kazuki who? :shock:
The next Sato-wannabe :)
Flak Jackets on!!!

I shall be up in the pessna out of harms way!!!

:shock:
I think he'll be harmless :lol: First of all he lacks the experience to catch the others and crash into them. Sato and Monteiro can accomplish that during testing. Secondly, he needs to prove himself against Karthikeyan. Surely Nakajima has potential (otherwise FW wouldn't have signed him) but being 21, he has a few years in front of him before he can accomplish a big feat.
In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. - Douglas Adams (1952-2001)

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Post by <T-K> » Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:46 am

gkaytaz wrote:
I think he'll be harmless :lol:

We said that about Yuji :lol:

But then again he is only testing....you can only do so much... 8)

nah, It is good for him....at least he can gain experience in a well established team....these will be a valuable next few years...

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Post by Julian Mayo » Fri Nov 10, 2006 7:20 am

I still think it was a minor condition of the Toyota/Williams marriage 8)
The Mountain is a savage Mistress.

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