Yamashita looking forward to home event
Local knowledge is always key at any racetrack on the FIA WEC Season 8 calendar. None more so than Fuji where the tricky variety of two quick sectors and the technical final sector tests both man and machine.
For Kenta Yamashita it will be something of a homecoming as like his countrymen Kazuki Nakajima and Kamui Kobayashi, he will be one of the high-profile crowd favourites at Fuji Speedway.
The 24-year-old from Chiba rose through the domestic ranks in his home country between 2012 and 2016 when he was crowned the All-Japanese Formula 3 Champion.
Since then, he has turned heads in both Super Formula and the Super GT series all under the wing of Toyota.
“I know Fuji well and have won races there before,” said Yamashita ahead of his big race.
“The track is challenging and gives nice racing. With support from fans it will be a great weekend. We will push and I hope for a good result with High Class Racing.”
High Class Racing had a solid debut in the WEC at Silverstone last month as Yamashita and his team-mates Anders Fjordbach and Mark Patterson claimed seventh.
P7 in our #WEC debut. Top effort by the whole team. Difficult race, a tough weekend, but so much learned.
— High Class Racing (@HighClassRacing) September 1, 2019
We’ll be back stronger when the #ELMS and #WEC seasons resume at Spa and Fuji. #4HSilverstone pic.twitter.com/uPfgV5aSRI
Yamashita is studying English while racing this season and says that he is picking up words every day.
“I need to improve but I start to understand more and more English so it is good.”
“I am lucky to be at Fuji in the WEC - it is a big race and the racing will be close like always. I hope we can do well but we are a young team here,” concluded Yamashita.
Ticketing information for the upcoming 6 Hours of Fuji can be found HERE.
