Takuma Talks to the FIA

Home At Last
By Phil Giles
October 10 2002

Takuma Sato has made an appearance at the FIA's Tuesday press conference. Takuma races for DHL Jordan Honda at his home circuit in Suzuka, Japan on Sunday. From Takuma's comments it seems that he's been well briefed by the team.

His thoughts and his reaction to questions from the floor are nothing that we've not heard previously from Jordan's press office.  Still Taku is really looking forward to the race and to see his home fans for his first F1 race in Japan

Q: A question for you all. Various suggestions have apparently been made to spice up the show of Formula One. Among those have been ballasting the winner, there's also the possibility of drivers swapping cars. Does something need to be done; what do you think of the ideas that have been suggested?

Takuma:
Well, I think the ballast situation would make more exciting battles for those outside the circuit in a fairly spectacular way, but for me on the inside, it would be a slight problem because it's not the performance from the car and driver. If you look at touring cars and GT cars, it would be fine because the performance is due to the car's performance and you can see how much the weight affects it and Japanese GT has that regulation which works out OK for those battles, but in Formula One it would be different, because the drivers are affected more than that. That's what I believe.

Q: Takuma-san, when did you last race here?

TS: It was the beginning of '98 because I had a scholarship from Suzuka Racing School in Japanese Formula Three.

Q: So what are your feelings coming back this weekend?

TS: It's just amazing. It hasn't started yet, the Grand Prix weekend, but I can see all the fans are already excited a lot and this morning, when I came out here from the hotel, there were already fans out there and it was a great feeling. I feel something very strange here. This is my home and obviously all the Grand Prix teams have moved from Europe and what we have done today is exactly the same as all the other Grands Prix, but the atmosphere has been slightly different for me, so it's going to be a great weekend, I'm sure.

Q: Which bit are you looking forward to most?

TS: I think it is the fans who are so excited, but I can't imagine a moment.
Questions from the floor.

Q: A similar question for Takuma. Do you know what you are doing next year and is it in Formula One?

TS: Yes, that's the idea! I have a contract with the team for two years so next year I will be with Jordan. But my feeling now is that I want to concentrate on this weekend. It is more important than that. That's all I can say because I have a contract with the team. Obviously I have a very good feeling from the team and I am confident. So I think it is alright.

Q: What are the test programmes for the other drivers for next season?

TS: We are planning end of November with a three weeks programme I think in Jerez, Silverstone or whatever.
 

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