Sato hopes to sign off in style

Takuma Sato wants to give his home fans a result to cheer as the sun sets on the Japanese driver’s BAR-Honda career.

Sato’s penultimate race for the Brackley-based team comes in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka next weekend, a race he has traditionally excelled in.

The ex-British Formula Three champion will leave BAR to make way for Rubens Barrichello next year, with his Formula One future shrouded in uncertainty.

But Sato, 28, will put aside worries over where he will be driving next year, preferring to concentrate on delighting his enthusiastic home support.

He said: “The Japanese Grand Prix is a very special race for many reasons. I love the layout of the Suzuka circuit as it follows the natural lay of the land and of course the atmosphere over the race weekend is fantastic.

“The corners and combinations of the track are very challenging, but a lot of fun to drive.

“Obviously I am always very excited when I come back to Suzuka and am looking forward to a great race in front of my home crowd next weekend.”

Another BAR driver facing uncertainty over his future, Anthony Davidson, was trusted with the team’s final test of the season this week.

The Englishman is hoping for a race drive with Jordan, Williams or BMW but without personal sponsorship, his task is a tricky one.

Davidson has earned his Formula One reputation as a test driver for BAR and he completed potentially his last test in that role at Jerez this week. He completed 244 laps and declared the results to be promising.

Davidson said: “It’s been a positive couple of days in Jerez this week, particularly Friday where we were able to complete so much mileage.

“I concentrated on new aerodynamic and suspension developments, plus the tyre evaluation for China. We also ran the Suzuka spec engine, which felt good and was strong all week.

“I’d like to thank the team for all their support this year. The test programme has been intense but has gone very well and the team has constantly pushed our limits to the maximum – the fact that I completed 150 laps on Friday shows that.”

Davidson was joined yesterday by up-and-coming British driver James Rossiter, a recent recruit to BAR’s testing team.

The Formula Three Euroseries regular is acclimatising to the added strain of driving a grand prix car and was pleased with his 85 laps yesterday.

“It was a good test,” he said. “I am pleased to have been able to help the team with the final test

programme of the season.

“I’m continuing to build my experience in the car and hope to be able to contribute more and more as my driving develops.”