Kazuki Nakajima gets second race seat at Williams
Kazuki Nakajima will make his full-time Formula 1 race debut in 2008 after being handed the second seat at Williams for next season.
The 22-year-old Japanese driver has been promoted from his role as the Grove squad’s official test driver to a race seat he first filled impressively at the 2007 season-finale in Brazil following the retirement of Alex Wurz.
Nakajima, son of former grand prix driver Satoru, makes an immediate step up from the GP2 Series after winning rookie of the year honours in the feeder formula this year.
In addition to the signing of Nakajima, Williams has issued another staunch declaration that it is not selling its established driver Nico Rosberg to anyone.
The highly regarded young German is rumoured to be high on McLaren’s shopping list of potential replacements for Fernando Alonso – but Williams has reiterated that Rosberg will continue with it into a third season alongside his promising new team-mate.
“I am delighted to confirm that Nico will be racing for the team for his third consecutive year after demonstrating impressive and widely applauded form in 2007,” said team owner Sir Frank Williams.
“Nico will be ably partnered by Kazuki, who has impressed the team over the past year.
“He has pace and the right aptitude to develop into a competitive Formula 1 racer and over the course of the next season, we will provide him with all the necessary support and assistance to hone his talents.”
Nakajima himself says he is delighted to be handed the drive at the end of a year in which he has made his GP2 debut and had his first experience of F1 machinery.
He racked up over 7,000 km in testing miles during the year while also running in Friday practice at five of the season’s flyaway races.
He has been on Williams’ engine supplier Toyota’s young driver programme since 2003 and is now hoping to repay both companies’ faith in him in the forthcoming season.
“This is the crowning of a great year for me,” he said.
“It was an amazing experience to drive out of the garage as a Formula 1 driver at Albert Park last March, and now to be confirmed as a race driver for AT&T Williams is a dream come true.
“I am very grateful to Toyota for the support I have had through the Toyota Driver’s Programme and to Williams for the team’s faith in me.
“There is plenty of work to be done before next season starts, but I am resolved to do whatever is necessary and to show Williams and Toyota that they have made a good investment.”
Source: itv-f1
|
