Nakayama Motivated By LMGT3 Chance After GT500 Exit “Shock”

Photo: Javier Jimenez/DPPI

Toyota driver Yuichi Nakayama says that the chance to prove himself in the FIA World Endurance Championship this weekend at Spa allowed him to change his mindset after the initial shock of losing his seat in SUPER GT’s top GT500 class.

Nakayama has been chosen to drive the No. 78 Akkodis ASP Lexus RC F GT3 at the Belgian circuit in place of Ben Barnicoat, who was unavailable both due to injury and a clash with his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship duties for Lexus.

The Japanese driver was a part of the SARD team in SUPER GT from 2019 until the end of last year, winning three races in that time, before his space on the Toyota GT500 roster was taken over this year by Sacha Fenestraz.

Nakayama described the news as a “shock” but says he is now embracing his new challenge on the European stage, which also includes drives in GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup and the Nürburgring Endurance Series.

“When I discussed this year’s plan with Toyota, and they told me I couldn’t drive in GT500 anymore, at first I was surprised and quite sad,” Nakayama told Sportscar365.

“But after that, when Toyota told me there would be a chance to build my experience overseas, my feelings quickly turned to happiness.

“Even though I was nervous about many things – I didn’t know any of the circuits, and I knew I had to race as part of a team full of international people that I didn’t know – I spent the off-season really looking forward to this new challenge.”

Nakayama first drove the LMGT3-spec RC F GT3 in a two-day test at Spa in late March, which followed immediately on from the opening round of his Nürburgring Endurance Series program in a Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 with Ring Racing.

“The good thing was that the Spa test came right after the opening round of the NLS,” recalled Nakayama. “That meant I was coming into the test having just driven on an even tougher circuit, and with a car that produces less downforce.

“I was coming to Spa knowing I’d be driving a more stable car, and even though Eau Rouge is a bit scary, Spa is a track that doesn’t have quite as many scary places as the Nürburgring! That was really good for my confidence.”

Communicating with an international team has been one of the biggest challenges faced so far by Nakayama, who is still in the process of learning English, although he has two-time SUPER GT champion Michael Krumm on hand for extra support.

The 33-year-old said that spending time with the Jerome Policand-led ASP team during the previous WEC round at Imola last month was helpful for his integration.

“When I did the first test for the team, nobody knew me and I felt very much like an outsider, but then I spent race week at Imola with the team, and gradually I was able to start improving my communication with the team members,” said Nakayama.

“It was much better than it had been at the start. Talking about racing in English is a little bit easier than just making general conversation, and although there are still times when I have to use Google Translate, I have to do the best with my current ability.

“I am sure the longer I spend in Europe getting used to things, the easier it will become, but it’s already at a reasonable level and the atmosphere is good.”

Nakayama added that his full focus is now on making the most of the chance to race in Europe, and recognizes that a strong showing at Spa will be important.

“Now I have been given the chance to race in WEC and GT World Challenge Europe, the two biggest categories worldwide featuring GT3 cars, now I can easily imagine myself being a full-time Gold-rated driver here,” he said.

“For that to become a reality I need to prove myself this weekend and get good results.”

Asked about the prospect of driving the next-generation Toyota/Lexus GT3 car that is expected to race in the WEC next year, Nakayama replied: “Of course I want to drive it!

“It looks similar to the Mercedes-AMG, which I am driving in GTWC Europe, so I think I would be able to drive it well and give good feedback.

“It’s also quite different from the RC F GT3, so I am gaining a lot of experience in GT3 cars, so I think they may give me the chance to drive it soon!”