Ukyo Katayama, who contested 97 Grands Prix in a career spanning 6 seasons, has been rescued after getting into difficulties whilst climbing Mount Fuji.

According to reports, Katayama, who, other than motor sport, named mountain-climbing as his other real passion, was found by rescuers walking down a trail at a height of about 2,200m on the 3,776m mountain. Two companions, named as Eiichi Usami and Toshio Horikawa, are missing believed dead.

The Kyodo news agency reported that Katayama made two calls for help - one at at 01:00 and another at 07:30 (local time). He reported that one colleague "appeared to have died and another was in danger". Katayama subsequently said that his companions' tents had blown away.

The popular Japanese driver, nicknamed 'Noddy' in respect of the way his head would bounce from side-to-side while driving, made his debut with Larrousse in 1992 before spending four seasons with Tyrrell. His final season of F1 was in 1997 when he drove for Minardi.

His best results were in 1994 when he scored two fifths, one at Interlagos and the other in the infamous San Marino Grand Prix.

Other than Mt Everest, which he climbed in 2002, Katayama has also climbed Mt McKinley, Kilimanjaro and a number of other Himalayan peaks.