27 September 2011

Kotaro Sakurai was officially confirmed as British Formula 3 Rookie Class Champion at Donington Park on Sunday, with the Japanese notching up his 12th victory of what has been a season of little or no competition for the Hitech Racing driver. He is now targeting a drive in the International Class for 2012.

Having beaten Bart Hylkema for the first time at Snetterton, Sakurai has been left as the Rookie Class’ only representative since the Paul Ricard rounds in mid-July.

“I am very pleased to win the title this year,” says Tokyo’s Sakurai, who is the first Japanese driver to win a British F3 class title since Takuma Sato beat Anthony Davidson to the overall championship a decade ago.

“I really want to thank Hitech Racing and all of my sponsors for supporting me this year. It’s a real pleasure to have won the Rookie title.

“This year has been brilliant training for me; we are making steps forward all the time and it is looking very positive. Looking to next year, I am feeling very motivated and would like to look at driving a championship class car in British Formula 3.”