Back in 2013, Autosport compiled a list of the 50 greatest drivers never to have raced in F1. Just one Japanese driver made the grade, and that was Satoshi Motoyama, who at No. 27 ranked ahead of some illustrious names, including the late Gonzalo Rodriguez, 1999 Indianapolis 500 winner Kenny Brack, multiple GT champion Christophe Bouchut and Le Mans ace Andre Lotterer (prior to his one-off F1 outing at Spa in 2014).
Motoyama is best known for his feats in his native Japan, becoming champion in what was then known as Formula Nippon four times – a modern-era record – and racking up another three titles in JGTC/Super GT in a career that earned him the nickname ‘The Emperor’.
But a little under 20 years ago, Motoyama did flirt with F1, making two outings at the wheel of grand prix machinery as he made a serious bid to break into the rarified world of grand prix racing. Unfortunately those efforts came to nothing, leaving Motoyama’s unfulfilled ambitions as one of the big ‘what-if’ stories for Japanese motorsport fans to ponder.
By the time Motoyama first managed to land a test outing in F1, he was already 32 years old. His only professional experience of driving outside of Japan comprised two appearances in the Le Mans 24 Hours for long-time employer Nissan, firstly with the R390 GT1 in 1998 and then with the short-lived R391 prototype the following season.
That was because he was focused purely on building his reputation in Japan, which he succeeded in doing with Formula Nippon titles in 1998 and 2001. But at the start of the season that would yield his third crown in 2003, the passing of his childhood friend Daijiro Kato in a crash in that year’s MotoGP race at Suzuka prompted a change of approach.
“From the first time I won the Formula Nippon title, I had some contact with F1 teams, but honestly I had no real intention of racing overseas,” recalls Motoyama. “But after my good friend Daijiro Kato died, I wanted to carry on his legacy and show him how hard I was working, and I decided it was time to challenge myself overseas.
“In 2003 I was able to win the title in both Formula Nippon and JGTC. I felt there was no higher challenge in Japanese racing and that if the chance came up I would go to F1.
Motoyama drove the 2003 Jordan EJ13 in practice at that year’s Japanese Grand Prix
Photo by: Sutton Images
“At that time, it just so happened that Jordan was looking for a driver to use in Friday practice, so I thought let’s…
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