Group VERTU’s Osamu Kawashima has highlighted his pleasure in having the ability to make his British Touring Automobile Championship debut at Silverstone.
The 57-year-old Japanese driver can be getting into the Hyundai left behind by Ricky Collard, with price range issues reducing his career-best P4-running marketing campaign quick.
The transfer signifies that Silverstone will see the BTCC’s first Japanese driver since Kunimitsu Takahashi in 1985, who drove a Mitsubishi Starion on the identical circuit whereas the sequence nonetheless raced underneath its British Saloon Automobile Championship identify.
Kawashima is a little bit of an unknown amount, however does have expertise racing in England.
He raced within the Ginetta GT5 sequence in 2014, earlier than a robust 2015 season noticed him declare 5 wins as he completed runner-up in Ginetta GT4’s novice class.
His performances rewarded him with a day testing a Speedworks Toyota Avensis in 2016, however he has not raced on this nation since.
“I’m vastly excited to have the chance to grow to be the primary Japanese driver to race within the BTCC within the trendy period and want to categorical my gratitude to everybody at EXCELR8 for making it doable and for supporting me throughout testing,” Kawashima gleefully commented.
“After I beforehand raced within the UK in Ginettas, I set myself the aim of at some point competing within the BTCC. It’s taken longer than I hoped, however every part has fallen into place and my dream is now lastly coming true.
“I’m wanting ahead to difficult myself towards some extremely quick and proficient drivers on the grid, and my aim is to attempt to obtain some good outcomes and to hone my very own driving expertise. As a racing driver you at all times wish to win, however realistically talking, if was capable of rating some extent it might signify an excellent achievement for me.”
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