PETRONAS Syntium Team
2007 Super Taikyu Endurance Series
Driver Profile: Masataka Yanagida
When the PETRONAS Syntium Team decided to race the BMW Z4M Coupe in the popular Japanese Super Taikyu Endurance series for the 2007 season, they were faced with the prospect of finding another driver to partner Fariqe. Coming highly recommended by Race Director Tetsuo Suzuki and Team Manager Gen Suzuki, the team decided to employ the services of an experienced hand. Masataka Yanagida came to fill that position, bringing an invaluable wealth of experience in every respect having competed in both the Formula Nippon and Japan Super GT Championships.
The son of a famous and successful racing father, the 27-year old driver from Tokyo spent his formative years in karting before switching to single-seaters racing in the French Formula Renault Elf Campus storming into his debut with a win. After competing in the Formula Dream series for a couple of years, Yanagida went on to race in the Japanese Formula 3 series as well as tried his hand in the Japan GT championship finishing his debut season in 2001 in fourth position overall. He went on to better the record when he was crowned the overall champion in the Japan GT Championship GT300 Series in 2003.
Preferring to keep himself busy, Yanagida still competes at multiple levels including the Formula Nippon as well as Japan Super GT in addition to the Super Taikyu Endurance Series. His uncanny ability to adapt to the different cars, his knowledge of the circuits and rear-wheel drive experience stands Yanagida in good stead to help steer the team through the Super Taikyu Endurance Series 2007 season.
Masataka Yanagida - A Profile
| Born: |
4 June 1979/Tokyo (JPN) |
|
Nationality:
|
Japanese |
|
Residence:
|
Tokyo, Japan |
|
Website:
|
http://www.masataka-yanagida.com |
|
Marital Status:
|
Single |
|
Career Highlights
|
|
|
2006:
|
• Japan GT Championship Super GT 500 Series, 13th position overall
• Formula Nippon, 14th position overall
• Super Taikyu spot entry |
|
2005:
|
• Japan GT Championship Super GT 500 Series, 5th position overall, 2 x second place finishes |
|
2004:
|
• Japan GT Championship GT300 Series, 6th position overall, 1 x third place finish
• All Japan F3 Championship, 10th position overall, 1 x third place finish
• Super Taikyu Spot Entry |
|
2003:
|
• Japan GT Championship GT300 Series, Overall Champion, 2 x second place finishes and 2 x third place finishes |
|
2002:
|
• Japan GT Championship, 3rd position overall, 1 race win |
|
2001:
|
• Japan GT Championship, 4th position overall
• Japanese F3, 8th position overall |
|
2000:
|
• Formula Dream Series, 5 race wins |
| 1999: |
• Formula Dream Series, Prize winner Formula Dream Scholarship |
|
1998:
|
• Formula Renault Series |
|
1997:
|
• French Formula Renault Elf Campus, Debut Win (1st Round) |
|
1995:
|
• Regional Kart Championship / East Kantoseries FA2 class, 8th position |
|
1993:
|
• Karting debut |
More
PETRONAS Syntium Team - A Profile
The 2007 Super Taikyu Endurance Series
The 2007 Driver Profile - Fariqe Hairuman
The BMW Z4M Coupe