Autoblog

Takuma Sato gatecrashes Autocar's party

Justin Gardiner — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Supercars, UK

Steve Sutcliffe was wrapping up Autocar's annual 0-100-0 test when a well spoken Japanese gentleman wandered over and started checking out the cars. Now what would you do if you had a car park full of supercars, a private track rented for the day and a Formula 1 driver hove in to view?

Give him the keys then grab a video camera? Evidently Steve thinks the same way. Rather than let Taku embarrass Steve's 0-100-0 times "because he's small and lighter" (yes Steve, we're sure that's the only reason he'd be quicker...) Autocar let him off the leash on the full track. Click through to see what Taku, who drives a classic Mini Cooper in the UK and a Honda Beat when in Japan, got up to in his first few minutes in a real supercar -- and why he got red flagged all too early.

Taku, who lost his F1 drive when Super Aguri folded earlier this year, has an official test with Scuderia Toro Rosso on September 18th. On the basis of this video alone, it's a fair bet that Red Bull will finally have a popular spokesperson for the Japanese market next year.

Takuma Sato gatecrashes Autocar's party originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Takuma Sato back on Track

Justin Gardiner — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:03:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Japan, UK, Celebrities

Takuma Sato's fans had pretty much given up on seeing their idol on track this past weekend at the British Grand Prix. Many of them had bought plane and/or GP tickets well in advance, only to be disappointed when Super Aguri followed Minardi, and Arrows in to the annals of Formula 1 history just two months ago.

So what did Taku do? Rent a kart track and invite his fans, plus a few select journalists, to race him in a 30-minute endurance race. Some fans, who had flown in from across Europe and of course Japan, were new to karting, so Taku graciously took them out for a few practice laps and providing one-on-one instruction. How many people get to have their first racing lesson from an F1 racer?

Takuma and his team mate won outright (of course), but then were disqualified for "speeding". Autoblog's team was in second right up to the final pitstop when we were penalized for over taking on a yellow flag, but we still made the podium.

As Formula 1's silly season kicks in to high gear, rumors around the paddock have Takuma moving back to Honda's F1 team next year (at the expense of Rubens Barrichello or Jensen Button), driving for Team Force India should the F1 newbies switch from Ferrari to Honda power next year, heading up team Japan in A1 GP or even leading an all new Team Honda USA (which should be called Team Acura surely) with Danica Patrick as his team mate. Unfortunately, Takuma wouldn't confirm or deny any such gossip.

Thanks to Taku management for the invite, to Apex Dream Drives for the pics (and speed) and to Takuma for a great day out.

Takuma Sato back on Track originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Takuma Sato Gets New Seat

Justin Gardiner — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Japan, Technology, Toys/Games

At first glance this could be Super Aguri's latest F1 contender. It's not like they need any bodywork for all their sponsors' stickers...

But no, it is a limited edition Takuma Sato Play Seat that can be parked in front of your TV for just 60,900 cents/Yen (around $600 USD). There goes that precious living room square footage freed up by last year's purchase of an ultra thin widescreen plasma display. Play Seats are comaptible with PS2s, 3s, Wiis and X-Boxes, and we're just aching to give one, or preferably two, a test drive. Fortunatley, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue came out yesterday and a few of us have it in hand, though we're not sure how we're going to convince AOL that a Play Seat is a required business expense for reviewing the game.

Source: Auto Gallery via Le Blog Auto

Takuma Sato Gets New Seat originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Formula 1: Super Aguri bench Yuji Ide

Stuart Waterman — Thu, 04 May 2006 17:24:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

The Super Aguri F1 team is accepting the "advice" of the FIA, and is withdrawing rookie driver Yuji Ide from competition, effective immediately. Ide remains with the team as a test driver, where the team intends to give him the opportunity to gain the experience necessary to return to F1 racing later this year.

Ide will be replaced by ex-Renault test driver Franck Montagny at this weekend's European Grand Prix.

Ide was chosen by Super Aguri as part of the Honda-sponsored team's bid to be an all-Japanese presence in the F1 paddock, but the team's last-minute entry into 2007 competition meant that he had very little time to learn the ins-and-outs of driving an F1 car. As a result, Ide has been somewhat, um, crash-prone, resulting in numerous complaints to race stewards by his fellow drivers, many of whom were unfortunate participants in his misadventures.

Ironically, Ide's teammate is Takuma Sato, widely regarded as one of F1's foremost crashmasters.

[Source (appropriately): Crash.net]

Formula 1: Super Aguri bench Yuji Ide originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 May 2006 17:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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