Satoru Nakajima (中嶋 悟, Nakajima Satoru, born 23 February 1953) is a former racing driver from Japan. He is a five-time Japanese Top Formula champion and the first full-time Japanese Formula One driver. He also became the first Japanese F1 driver to score points, at the 1987 San Marino Grand Prix, where he finished sixth in only his second F1 race.

Early life

Nakajima was born into a farming family living just outside Okazaki, Japan. He began driving cars in his early teens in the family's garden with his older brother giving him tips, careful that their father didn't catch them. He felt exhilaration behind the wheel of a car, and from then on knew what he wanted to do.

Career

He started racing after he finished school and passed his driver's licence. In 1973 he was a rookie in the Suzuka Circuit series, which he won. Five years later, he won his first race in Japanese Formula Two. In 1981 he won his first championship, thus beginning a period of domination in the series.