The Ukyo Katayama Thread

I started this so everyone can post their thoughts and feelings about this magnificent yet controversial Formula 1 driver in one place instead of clogging up the forums

"described by Autosport as 'a man who could score F1 points'"

According to Murray Walker, "Ukyo Katayama, undoubtedly the best Formula One driver that Grand Prix racing has ever produced." [www.ozemail.com.au]




*what you're actually seeing is his driver photo, not a mugshot



Stunning display of driving skill in the well-known horrific dry conditions



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/18/2006 07:47AM by Guimengo.

This is a joke surely?

Murray Walker was spot on

I think given the right machinery we'd have a 7 time world champ, but he'd be Japanese and not German

I put Katayama in the same breath as Rosset, Mazzacane and Yoong- sheer genius

do i detect a bit of sarcasm? nah but after watching some early 90s dvds i got and the full 94 season i rate him because he did some very good performances in some pretty poor cars but obviously some dont think so


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just a little

i do vaguely remember him being very capable and solid, if unspectacular

they are really interesting quotes above, especially Murray's. I get the feeling there might be more to the sentence though- eg "Ukyo Katayama, undoubtedly the best Formula One driver that Grand Prix racing has ever produced....from Japan" or something similar. the sound bite cuts after 'produced'.

No way he can compare to the great Taki Inoue. I vote Taki the most unlucky OR lucky man in F1 history.

Monaco 1995: Taki spins his Footwork Arrows at Mirabeau during the Sat. morning session, stalling the engine. Betweeen sessions a tow truck is dispatched to retrieve the car, with Taki vigalantly sitting in the cockpit to escort it back home. Suddenly the course car appears from nowhere being driven at a insane rate of speed by rally star Jean Ragnotti. The course car slams into the back of the towed Footwork at the swimming pool esses, flipping the hapless machine upside down and tossing out Taki, who had not bothered to buckle his safety belts. Taki lands on his head, but fortunately had his helmet on, and a medical check reveals no damage.

Hungary 1995: Taki drops out of the race on lap 13 due to engine failure. His car creeps to a stop on the side of the circuit. Taki emerges and evaluates the situation. Along comes the course car, racing to Taki's assistance. Unfortunately, it cannot stop in time and mows the hapless Taki down, pitching him several feet through the air. Our hero escapes with only some serious bruising, no broken bones.

Taki could have been a great one, had the Japanese Gods not spent all their efforts keeping him alive from freak accidents, and instead bestowed their fortunes on his driving skill.....



"There are some pikeys there at Turn 10 putting tarmac down - what do you think of that?" - Martin Brundle

Does anyone know how hard it is to have to start one topic only with so many brilliant drivers competing? Could have been Mazzacane, Nakano, Nakagima, Tuero, and many more but there can be only one.

Guimengo smokes crack.

Katayama has had a troublesome time in recent years, did you know hes recently beaten a life threatening cancer battle! top bloke, thumbs up to him!

hes doing cancer promotional things now last I heard...


Jenson drives it like he owns it; Lewis drives it like he stole it

He promotes cancer? :P

yeah, he was rumoured to have been approached by benetton at the end of the 1994 season because they wanted a solid results performer to partner schummi snr.

and because benetton and tyrrell had the mild seven connection, and some other contractual stuff blah blah blah basically it was never done.

so he could have been in a 1995 race winning team!

but after the end of the season i think it was then anyway, he was diagnosed with cancer and thus thought to be the reason he didnt sign.

nonetheless, hes fought it and what a man good on him!


Jenson drives it like he owns it; Lewis drives it like he stole it

Always been a fan of Katayama's.

When you consider his expereince before he entered F1, you will see that he actually did a great job.

Big up Ukyo.

I didnt know about the cancer thing but hope he's ok. i do know that when he left f1 he was a mountaineer and climbed several MASSIVE mountains.

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Ukyo broke both his legs and neck in a crash back in France in 1986 and came back to racing as soon as he could. He did largely do a great job in crap cars in F1 so should not be slated.

he did a good job could have been on the podium in germany 1994 had the car not failed and he had a great drive it italy 1994.

his head made me laugh he always nodded in the car.

"i do know that when he left f1 he was a mountaineer and climbed several MASSIVE mountains."

Yeah

[www.grandprix.com]

Certainly a man worthy of respect.

And a driver of considerable ability.

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gui, how biggotish and wankerish of you.

H E L L O

Some people have no sense of humor -.-

Whats the point in this one?

Ukyo was actually pretty good. Sure he wasnt exactly great but he was worth a seat

According to Murray Walker, "Ukyo Katayama, undoubtedly the best Formula One driver that Grand Prix racing has ever produced."

I dont belive that was the quote. The quote was either, or corrected to, one of the best F1 drivers Japan has ever produced. And thats correct tbh.

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Murray made loads of mistakes he just missed out saying Japan in the middle of that sentance.

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