The Toyota GAZOO Racing driver had feared that his seat at Le Mans would be taken by fellow Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi after Nakajima suffered a fracture to the base of his back at Spa earlier this month, when he collided with the Audi of Oliver Jarvis in wet conditions.

Speaking exclusively to Motorsport.com, Nakajima said: “I had the operation on Thursday and left the hospital on Friday.

“Medically there is no reason to stop me racing as soon as possible but I will see what happens with my body but I can move almost normally, not 100 per cent, as I will need some rehabilitation but I still have the hope to be at Le Mans.”

Nakajima underwent an operation that involved injecting a type of cement into his vertebrae to initially strengthen and accelerate the healing of the fracture.

He could even race at the Okayama Super Formula round on May 23/24.

“They have said I can consider doing that race but I will have to talk closely and figure everything out with my team and the WEC doctors too,” he said. “I will take a day at a time for the next week or so and then see where we are after that.”