[4][5] Wada, by now under contract with Nissan and with support from Yokohama Rubber, was one of the early stars of the championship, finishing runner-up in 1978 behind Masahiro Hasemi before winning the title in 1979 at the wheel of a brand new March 79B.

[6] That year, Wada finished 6th in the Japanese F2 series on his first full-time season, but he was involved in a serious crash at the final race at Suzuka, shortly after winning the Pacific title on the same weekend.

Wada lost consciousness and entered into cardiopulmonary arrest, being removed carelessly on a stretcher with his head unsecured before being revived at the medical centre.

[8] Afterwards, the change of regulations at Macau spelled the end of the Formula Pacific series in Japan, and Wada returned to the F2 championship, as well as starting his sportscar career in prototypes.

Heading to Turn 1 on the final lap, the brakes failed and Wada went briefly off-track, breaking the upper rocker arm in the process.

[9][1] Off the track, Wada was known for his casual attire, combining a 'punch perm' hairstyle (mostly associated with low income workers, motorcycle gangs and outlaws such as the yakuza) with American-style sunglasses.