A Formula Asia 2000 race.

Formula Asia, also known as Asian Formula 2000, was a class of open wheel formula racing. The formula used an Argo chassis coupled with a 16-valve Ford Zetec 1,800cc engine.

There was only one championship held in Asia from 1994 until 2002, organized and promoted by Motorsport Asia Ltd. It was established to assist young Asian drivers make the transition from karting to European formulae such as Formula Ford and Formula Renault. Rounds were held in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and China. A special invitation race was also held annually at the Macau Grand Prix. It was replaced by Formula BMW Asia in 2003.

Japanese female driver Keiko Ihara finished third in the AF2000 race at the 2002 Macau Grand Prix, becoming the first women on the podium in the event's 50-year history.^[1]

Drivers who have taken part in Formula Asia include: Michael Vergers, Narain Karthikeyan, Alex Yoong, Ananda Mikola, Satrio Hermanto, Takuma Sato, Mark Goddard, Parthiva Sureshwaren, Karun Chandhok, , Denis Lian, Jim Ka To and Danny Watts.^[2]

Past champions[link]

Alex Yoong driving a Formula Asia car.

• 1996 Narain Karthikeyan
• 1997 Bagoes Hermanto
• 1998 Ben Walsh
• 1999 Nattapong Horthongkum
• 2000 Ng Wai-Leong
• 2001 Karun Chandhok
• 2002 Denis Lian

Macau Asian Formula 2000 Challenge winners[link]

• 1999 Takuma Sato
• 2000 Philippe Descombes
• 2001 Philippe Descombes ^[3]
• 2002 Danny Watts ^[4]

References[link]

Daigo Saito
Nationality	Japan
Born	(1980-03-07) March 7, 1980 (age 32) Saitama
2012 D1 Grand Prix
Debut season	2004
Current team	Team 22
Wins	1
Best finish	1st in 2008
Previous series
2006	D1 Street Legal

Daigo Saito (斎藤太吾, Saito Daigo^?, 7 March 1980, Saitama) is a Japanese professional drifting driver, currently competing in the D1 Grand Prix series for Fnatz Professional Garage.

From an early age he was into motorbikes as his father was, and got his motorcycle license at 16. One night when he was out riding with his friends they stumbled upon a drift meeting in the hills of Karuizawa, there he saw a white Mercedes-Benz saloon drifting. From then on he wanted to drift himself and he wanted to drift a saloon. As soon as he was 18 he got his drivers license, his father did not want him to drift so bought him a Mini Cooper as his first car. At this time he did not know that it would not be a good car to drift so he tried, and ended up writing it off. He then bought a Nissan Silvia S13 without asking his parents and set about practicing, his first practice session lasted 36 hours only stopping for food and fuel. He learned a lot from this first practice session though he totalled the Nissan Silvia S13 a couple of weeks later.

In 2005, Saito won the title for privateers

Unlike most D1 drivers his work is not connected to his drifting, as he lives and works at a nursery school, though he is mainly in charge of the animals he is also in charge of driving the bus when the children go on outings.

He started competing in the D1 Grand Prix in the third round of the 2004 season in his red Toyota Mark II JZX90 since then he has improved steadily, winning the championship in 2008.

Complete Drifting Results[link]

(key)

D1 Grand Prix[link]

D1 Street Legal[link]

Source[link]

• JDM Option
• D1 Grand Prix

External links[link]

• D1 Supporter profile
• D1 Supporter profile (D1SL)
• Daigo Saito official web site