- Hayanari Shimoda
Hayanari Shimoda (下田隼成; Shimoda Hayanari) (born
July 16 ,1984 ) is aJapan eserace car driver, born inTokyo .His career started in
1997 inkarting , Shimoda moving up toItalian Formula Renault in2001 . Happy to travel the world to further his career, he raced part of the2002 Japanese GT Series and fill-in races in bothFormula Renault 2000 Eurocup andBritish Formula Renault .A full season in
Formula Renault V6 Eurocup followed in2003 , as well as a part season in theWorld Sportscar Championship and one race in theAmerican Le Mans Series . He stayed in the V6 Eurocup in2004 , and was also set to drive in theLe Mans Endurance Series before complications prevented him from doing so.Shimoda was set to be the second driver for the SuperNova team in
GP2 Series during2005 . However, at the last minute, he was replaced byAdam Carroll who will now partner ex-Jordan Grand Prix driverGiorgio Pantano .He finished 3rd in the
Le Mans Endurance Series LMP1 championship forZytek , winning the1000km Nürburgring .In 2005 he won the Monterey Sports Car Championships, the final race of the season in the
ALMS . He was partnered byTom Chilton in aZytek 04S LMP1 sports prototype.He also represented Japan in the
A1 Grand Prix series for the first time at Eastern Creek in November 2005, and was lucky to escape with only a concussion after a spectacular crash in which the engine separated from the chassis. He also occurred in another spectacular crash at theA1 Grand Prix round inMexico . The cars were under a yellow flag when as they were coming onto the pit straight Shimoda's car was launched airborne after hitting the back ofA1 Team New Zealand's car. Shimoda escaped unhurt.He is currently racing in the
World Series by Renault championship for the Victory Engineering team.
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