Q&A: Kazuki Nakajima - EXCLUSIVE.

by Russell Atkins

Kazuki Nakajima has a proud heritage to uphold as he makes his Formula 1 bow as a Williams test-driver in 2007, but he is confident he will not let the family name down.

The 22-year-old's father Satoru raced for Tyrrell and Lotus in the top flight at the latter end of the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s, achieving a best finish of fourth place and memorably setting fastest lap in the 1989 Australian Grand Prix. With his son seemingly having been born from the same competitive mould, and planning to dovetail his testing duties with a maiden season of GP2 this year, it seems history could just be set to repeat itself as the name Nakajima blazes up the racing ladder once again...

Q:
Kazuki, how are you looking forward to the year ahead?

Kazuki Nakajima:
This is my first year of being involved in Formula 1, and I'm feeling very excited about it. As a test-driver I will aim to do my best in testing, and if I can help the team out on the development side that will be great. I'm also racing in GP2 this year, and of course the main target there will be to win. This year I need to learn, but good results are definitely the target.

Q:
You had your first laps in a Formula 1 car before Christmas. How did that feel?

KN:
Actually I was surprised. I already had some experience of a GP2 car, but even from that it was a big jump. I was especially surprised by the braking and the high-speed corners. It was fun though.

Q:
How long did it take you to settle into the Formula 1 car?

KN:
Maybe half a day or so, but it's getting easier and easier the more I drive it. Every time is a good experience for me.

Q:
Your father raced in Formula 1 almost 20 years ago. Has he had any advice or tips to give you?

KN:
Yes, but the cars are totally different now and so is the Formula 1 environment. He just gave me some advice on how to get used to the team.

Q:
There's obviously racing in the family genes then..?

KN:
Yeah. Both my father and I have been racing drivers, but there's no extra pressure on me because of that. I'm just enjoying it.

Q:
You competed in the F3 Euroseries last season, finishing seventh in the drivers' standings. How pleased were you with that?

KN:
I had a good year with Manor Motorsport and I really enjoyed it. I had some wins and some great races, which have allowed me to be here with Williams, so for that it was a great year.

Q:
As you mentioned, you will also be racing in GP2 in 2007 with DAMS, a very experienced and championship-winning team, with a very experienced and quick driver alongside you in Nicolas Lapierre. How are you looking forward to that?

KN:
It's really great to be in a good, experienced team like DAMS with a good, experienced team-mate like Nicolas and I'm really looking forward to racing with them. I've had some testing already which was quite good, so I think we can get good results together.

Q:
How much of a step-up is the GP2 car from the F3 machine you've been used to?

KN:
It was a big jump initially, especially power-wise. It wasn't easy to adapt, but I think the F3 car is a very good one to learn in.

Q:
So are you essentially seeing 2007 as a learning year in GP2? What are your aims for the season?

KN:
It will be a learning year for me, because it's my first year and I do need to learn a lot. Whenever I take part in anything, though, my target is always to win races and win the championship.