Akihiko Nakaya

Akihiko Nakaya is a successful racing driver in the Japanese Touring Car Championship and F3000, as well as regular presenter on the Japanese motoring show Best Motoring. Nakaya offered a distinctively analytical approach to reviewing cars on the show, providing detailed analyses of various vehicle components and explaining certain driving styles that were best suited to their characteristics. He was a regular driver of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions during Best Motoring races involving the I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII of the car, often recording lap times significantly quicker than other drivers of the same vehicle.
Nakaya's name was applied to a special preface-build of the Mitsubishi FTO, the Nakaya-Tune FTO, which appeared in 1997.
Nakaya was considered for a Formula One ride with Brabham in 1992, but the FIA would not grant him a superlicense on the grounds that Japanese F3000 was, at the time, not considered a stepping stone to F1. The ride eventually went to Giovanna Amati, who was more known for her gender than talent and was replaced three races into the season by future World Champion Damon Hill.