Former F1 pilot Katayama rescued
December 19, 2009 by Negative Camber
Filed under People & Events
In a dreadful and scary moment that has yet to see the end of its possible conclusion, former F1 driver Ukyo Katayama has been rescued from Mount Fuji leaving two friends behind and feared dead according to Reuters.
“I’m okay,” the former racer told reporters after he was rescued. “The other two appeared to have died. I’m sorry for the trouble I have caused, I am just praying for their safety.”
Training for an expedition to the South Pole, Katayama and his friends began their ascent on Mt. Fuji on Thursday. Police had given up on the search for the friends but will commence on Saturday. A nightmare of epic proportions, it reminds me of this book. Although controversial, this book was a chilling account of a mountain expedition that ended in ruin.
Katayama raced in 95 grands prix between 1992 and 1997.
Loading ...
Climbing Mount Fuji ??? Didn’t he get the memo that F1’s racing at Suzuka from now on ??? No need to scout around for a nice place to watch the next Japanese GP for free…
But playing around aside, good for him !!! Had I known about this last week I would not have cared that much. For me, Katayama was just that first guy showing up the next page from the world champion in the race program I’d look through once a year to recognize the helmets on track. But since I’m watching 1994, and saw that he qualified in P5 twice in a row , scored a few points early on (and I was actually gutted today when he DNFed from P5 in Monza), then I owe him some respect. Feisty little guy.
Who’s that other guy that was in a near-death situation (outside racing of course). And not DC. Wasn’t there someone else lately ??? Can’t remember, but it rings a bell.