Nakayama Steps into No. 78 Lexus Lineup at Spa

Photo: Akkodis ASP Team

Yuichi Nakayama will make his FIA World Endurance Championship debut at the third round of the season at Spa-Francorchamps, stepping into the lineup for the No. 78 Akkodis ASP Team Lexus RC F GT3 in place of Ben Barnicoat.

The Japanese driver will team up with Arnold Robin and Finn Gehrsitz at the Ardennes circuit, taking the seat occupied by Esteban Masson at the recent 6 Hours of Imola.

Nakayama is the second driver to have been tapped as a replacement for Barnicoat, who has been sidelined since March after suffering injuries in a mountain biking accident, although he always due to miss the Spa round due to a clash with his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship duties for Lexus.

The 33-year-old is a Toyota factory driver and recently departed the brand’s SUPER GT program after a six-year tenure that included three race victories in the top GT500 class for Team SARD before he was dropped in favor of Sacha Fenestraz.

He has also competed in Super Formula, is a two-time class winner in the Nürburgring 24 and recently made his debut in European GT3 racing with Nordique Racing in GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup.

Nakayama has a successful previous track record with the Lexus RC F GT3 across two seasons in SUPER GT’s GT300 class in 2017 and 2018, winning four races.