Ryuji Yamamoto Records Fastest Lap for Second Time This Season at Formula Renault UK Championship

May 28, 2008 -- 17-18 May, Thruxton Circuit, England Rounds 7 and 8 of the Formula Renault UK Championship were held at Thruxton circuit (3.7916km/lap), approximately 100km southwest of London.

19 years old Ryuji Yamamoto, entered in Formula Renault through a scholarship from NISSAN Motor Co., Ltd.(Nissan) and NISSAN Motor Sports International Co., Ltd. (NISMO), finished a little off-form in the qualifying sessions, seventh and eighth due to engine failure, but came 5th in the first race. He also recorded the fastest lap time for the second time this season, and there was much to gain from this round. In the second race however, he collided with a young driver, the car toppling violently onto its side, resulting in retirement for Yamamoto.

After an accident in the previous race, a new monocoque had to be used this time round. Saturday the 17th dawned under cloudy skies, the temperature a chilly 12C when qualifying for the first race got underway at 9:25. Yamamoto finished the session in 7th, unable to get the most out of the car. A time just one-tenth faster would have put him in fourth so he was expected to finish in the top 5 in the race. Qualifying for the second race began at 15:10. Yamamoto’s lap times improved, helped by winds blowing in direction towards the latter part of the track, though his overall lap time was the same as in Round 7, and he ended the session 8th. He was unable to coax maximum revs out of the engine during the qualifying sessions.

Sunday the 4th was sunny right from the start. The temperature stood at 15C, still a bit chilly, but a better day for racing. The 16-lap Round 7 event began at 11:35. Yamamoto started cautiously, observing the grid before him. Into the first corner complex, he passed two other cars to move up to 5th. At Thruxton, the only fully ‘open’ section is from this complex to the chicane that is the final corner, making the middle section of the lap very quick indeed. He had a slipstream battle with the #1 car of Brazilian Adriano Buzaido right behind him for a while, but finally went ahead marking his fastest time on lap 5. He took the checkered flag after bringing down the gap to the fourth-placed car (#7 of British Dean Stoneman) to just 0.483 seconds. There was a lot to be gained from this race.

Yamamoto had another good start in Round 8, which began at 16:00, moving up two positions at the start, just as he had done in the first race. However, in a high-speed turn on lap 3, a car in front of him suddenly spun. Yamamoto moved right next to another car that had that slowed its pace due to the accident and almost went ahead, but the two machines collided at this point, Yamamoto spinning, going off course, and flipping over. The car slid fast on its roof for a while, then went up on its side, and then stopped. The Safety Cars were out immediately, but Yamamoto was forced to retire. Overall, it was a rough race. This was Yamamoto’s first big accident, but he calmly took on the customary accident pose, and escaped any injuries.

Ryuji Yamamoto:
“Although the car wasn’t at its best throughout both qualifying sessions, this isn’t one of my weak tracks. If car worked perfectly, I think I could have finished in the top 5. I didn’t make any mistakes, but we have things to reflect on, both with my driving, and within the team. I was aiming for the top 5 in the first race, so I gained a lot from that. I was able to race while observing my opponents’ moves, and I think I was calm during the slipstream battle. My start wasn’t bad in the second race and I thought I was improving, so it was a pity to go out. This sort of accident was a first time for me.”

Hiroshi Ebisawa – NISMO Manager:
“We went into qualifying with no practice after a two-week interval, so it seemed that he couldn’t release his strengths when he really needed to just yet. With a 0.1s faster time, he would have been three or four places further up. These are his goals for now. His races have improved a lot since last season, and his skills are definitely improving too, but it is still important to finish in the top 5 in qualifying.”

NISSAN Drivers Development Program (NISSAN D. D. P.)
In 2006, the three major manufacturers Nissan, Toyota and Honda established Formula Challenge Japan (FCJ), a new “formula car” series (single seat machines as in F1) with the goal of bringing up young, world-class drivers. Simultaneously, Nissan has awarded scholarships to several drivers, as have the two other manufacturers. In 2006 and 2007, Nissan provided four drivers the necessary support to participate in such championships.

Yamamoto finished 2nd in FCJ in 2006, equal on points to the champion (title was decided according to the number of wins). He has since entered the Formula Renault UK Championship, held at various locations throughout England, with Nissan’s Advance Scholarship, carrying on from his debut season last year. Formula Renault uses formula cars made by Italian chassis manufacturer Tatuus, with 4-cylinder 2000cc commercially available engines made by Renault. Formula Renault is ranked below F3 and is considered a mid-level formula category, just like FCJ.

Nissan/Nismo has continued to award scholarships to four young drivers for the 2008 season, providing support to those entering FCJ.

Sources: Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. / Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd.

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