Tell us how the association came about?
I am very interested in electric cars, not just racing cars. Personally, I had no image in my mind of entering Formula E. My Team Principal is Mark Preston, former Super Aguri Formula 1 Technical Director. He called me… ‘Aguri san, we do Formula E race.’ I gave it deep thought. ‘Ok,’ I said, ‘If you are the boss, I help you.’” I told Mark, “This time, it would be the opposite!”
In Japan, there are many good suppliers of electric parts which I could help source. Sponsors are very difficult to find now, but
I could try. We have four key persons – me, Mark Preston, Peter McCool [Technical Director] and Ferry [Spijkerman, Commercial Director].
As a consultant?
Yes. In Japan there are a lot of good suppliers of electrical parts, so I can make contact with many companies but also on the sponsor side.
How do you see the development of the team from a Japanese/Anglo perspective?
Only one. Me! Maybe in the future we’ll
have more Japanese people joining.
Do you see a big future in the sustainability for this type of racing?
I was very happy with the first race in Beijing, but I’m very surprised with this circuit (in Putrajaya). Very impressive for a temporary circuit.
The one-day, street race concept is very unique.
Yes. On some circuits this car looks very slow, but in the future we’ll see a big change in maybe three, four or five years.
Let’s say for arguments sake that this was the first race for Formula One. Do you think in the next five years they’ll be a very steep increase in technology?
I’m sure. Ten years ago the Toyota Prius was the first hybrid car. Now in Japan we have many, many hybrid cars. Technology always updates. This year of Formula E is like a ‘pre-season’. Everyone has the same technology. Next year will be the real Formula E race.
Do you think it will be possible to run an entire race on one battery next year?
I think so. But if we find a good battery the other teams will be using it also!
Japanese universities and car companies are doing a lot of work with battery technology aren’t they? With the concept of charging on the run?
Yes.
Do you think there will be a possibility to race in Japan?
I don’t think so.
For economic reasons?
The government isn’t very positive about motor sport. Here (in Malaysia) there’s a lot of government support for the race. Huge support.
And yet there’re so many race tracks in Japan.
Yes, but that’s thanks to Toyota and Nissan. At the moment there’s not much cost for Formula E, but in the future it could be huge if the manufacturers get involved.
How hard was it as a Japanese driver to break into Formula One in the 1980’s?