Report: Toro Rosso gives Bourdais wings!
It's a sad state of affairs when the pure talent of a racing driver isn't enough to advance his career. In the case of Sebastien Bourdais, the top teams on the F1 grid have apparently been blind to his domination in Champ Cars, as our favorite Frenchman (okay, second favorite, after Talladega Nights arch-villain Jean Girard) looks like he's headed for his fourth consecutive title in the open-wheel series.
Enter Nicholas Todt, who is out to change Bourdais' fortunes and secure him a drive for the 2008 Formula One season. The fellow Frenchman did wonders for Felipe Massa, who started out at Sauber (then powered by Ferrari), then took a test seat at Ferrari (where Nick's dad Jean is king), before moving him back to Sauber (still with Ferrari engines) to race for another season, before taking the race seat at Ferrari alongside Schumacher. Now Massa is a contender for the title.
Nicholas Todt has now signed on to manage Bourdais' racing activities in Europe. In between ChampCar races, Bourdais is driving at Le Mans for Peugeot, and has been testing for Scuderia Toro Rosso. Todt has reportedly arranged for the talented 28-year-old driver to test again for the STR, which uses engines supplied by (you guessed it) Ferrari, and the rumors are that they might have secured a race seat with the squad for next season.
Could Bourdais prove to be the next star "rookie" in F1? Time will tell, we hope, but this proven entity is no rookie. Shame he'll have to start from the back of the grid, but his apparent willingness to do so only confirms his determination.
Related post:
F1 is missing out on Sebastein Bourdais
[Source: GrandPrix.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
indymcsc 6:16PM (4/25/2007)
He's too old for F1. They like 'em young.
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t2b 6:30PM (4/25/2007)
JV & JPM
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Brad 6:40PM (4/25/2007)
I think he takes over at Red Bull Racing next year and David Coulthard retires. He would be wasting his time at STR in my opinion. Although I think both of those seats will be open next year or even one this year. Scott Speed might not make the whole season.
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Ian 7:28PM (4/25/2007)
STR/Berger need oney so they don't have the cash, w/o new Sponsors to pay a Bourdais. That and the STR is a back marker car for now so why move to F1 to trundle around below the top 10?
I agree that a ride with RB's top team is a much better fit. Of course Renault badly need a rejig as well. Maybe SB and Mr B could bury their hatchet and work things out?
it's incredible that no topteam has bothered to test SB. F1 tuypes can be so introverted re driving talent is quite funny! Actually quite a few F1 seats may be available in 2008. Toyota? Honda? Williams?
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Ian 7:28PM (4/25/2007)
STR/Berger need oney so they don't have the cash, w/o new Sponsors to pay a Bourdais. That and the STR is a back marker car for now so why move to F1 to trundle around below the top 10?
I agree that a ride with RB's top team is a much better fit. Of course Renault badly need a rejig as well. Maybe SB and Mr B could bury their hatchet and work things out?
it's incredible that no topteam has bothered to test SB. F1 tuypes can be so introverted re driving talent is quite funny! Actually quite a few F1 seats may be available in 2008. Toyota? Honda? Williams?
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Brad 9:46PM (4/25/2007)
With some of the drivers that have been in and out of F1 in the last 3 to 4 years, SB should have already gotten a shot at a drive. I would say there will definitely be an opening at Toyota to replace Ralf but I don't think they would take a shot with SB.
I think Rosberg will stay at Williams. Wurz on the other hand, who knows? I think he is a good driver, they just need more reliability.
Honda? I don't know if there is a driver out there that can improve that thing. They've just totally missed the mark somehow.
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The Penguin 10:51PM (4/25/2007)
Bourdais is not yet too old for F1, but he and everyone else knpws that this is going to be his last chance to make it in. Even though he won several Champ Car titles he has always wanted to race in F1.
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Steve Levin 1:14AM (4/26/2007)
SB's won in Champ Car, sure...with the best team, and fighting with Justin Wilson -- who was at best a midpacker -- if that. And now against Oriol Servia, who, whilst talented, isn't Fernando Alonso.
Bourdais is just a small fish in a vry small puddle.
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Rishi Khaitan 3:44AM (4/26/2007)
I'll be looking forward to Bourdais with an F1 seat. Too bad that no matter how good he drives, he'll be stuck in a bottom-feeding STR car.
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Goldrusher 5:56AM (4/26/2007)
Toro Rosso is a good team, a backmarker now, but they have a good team working on the car for 2008. I wonder when we'll see Bruno Senna in F1...
http://aurumargentum.blogspot.com
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amp 10:25AM (4/26/2007)
I wonder what Doornbos is thinking.
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