Difference between revisions of "Takuma Sato"
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| − | '''Takuma Sato''' (born 28 January 1977 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese racing driver mostly known for his appearances in [[Formula One]], [[Super Formula]] and [[IndyCar]]. He is widely considered to be one of the all-time greatest racing drivers from Japan. | + | '''Takuma Sato''' (born 28 January 1977 in Tokyo, Japan) is a retired Japanese racing driver mostly known for his appearances in [[Formula One]], [[Super Formula]] and [[IndyCar]]. He is widely considered to be one of the all-time greatest racing drivers from Japan. |
[[File:Sato02.jpg|150px|thumb|Takuma Sato in 2002.]] | [[File:Sato02.jpg|150px|thumb|Takuma Sato in 2002.]] | ||
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===[[2017 Alternate Formula One season|2017]]: [[Valerian]]=== | ===[[2017 Alternate Formula One season|2017]]: [[Valerian]]=== | ||
| − | Sato rejoined the grid for the season-ending [[Chinese Grand Prix]] with the Eni Valerian Formula Ferrari team, | + | Sato rejoined the grid for the season-ending [[Chinese Grand Prix|Chinese Grands Prix]] with the [[Valerian|Eni Valerian Formula Ferrari]] team in what he described as "testimonial races", after finishing the first race in 20th, he improved and finished the second race in eleventh - finishing his F1 career in the same position he finished his first race, the 2002 [[Australian Grand Prix]]. |
==[[IndyCar]]== | ==[[IndyCar]]== | ||
Revision as of 08:53, 21 July 2018
Takuma Sato (born 28 January 1977 in Tokyo, Japan) is a retired Japanese racing driver mostly known for his appearances in Formula One, Super Formula and IndyCar. He is widely considered to be one of the all-time greatest racing drivers from Japan.
Contents
Formula One
2002-2003: Jordan
Sato made his Formula One debut for Jordan in 2002, after serving in 2001 as the team's test driver. He scored his first Formula One points with a fifth place at the French Grand Prix. He finished his first career season with a points finish at Suzuka, a massive achievement for Japanese motorsport.
After scoring two eighth place finishes in 2003 at the British and German Grands Prix, he was injured in a big practice crash in Hungary. While recovering, Honda announced they will not re-sign with Jordan in 2004, and that Sato left the team after a mutual agreement was reached between himself and the Jordan team. He was replaced by HWNSNBM and Daniel Melrose.
2003-: BAR Honda
Sato made one more appearance in 2003 at Suzuka, finishing 6th at the wheel of a BAR, a drive that, along with his connections to Honda (who had bought a 45% stake in BAR), secured him a seat with the team for 2004.
Sato flourished in the shortened 2004 season, with a vast amount of the races taking place in the Asia-Pacific region. Sato's first strong result came in the season opening Australian Grand Prix, where he took his maiden podium with a third place behind the two Ferrari cars. Sato scored consistently and finished the season with an emotional third place finish in his home Japanese Grand Prix - enough for fifth place in the World Driver's Championship and the best of the non-Ferrari or Williams drivers.
2010: Super Aguri
By 2010, Sato was established as team leader at the secondary Honda team Super Aguri - racing alongside Sammarinese driver Andrea Acuri in the early parts of the season. Sato outclassed his teammate, albeit without taking many points finishes - which saw Acuri be sensationally replaced by multiple time World Champion Michael Schumacher. An otherwise fairly anonymous season saw Sato finish in 19th place. The arrival of Schumacher meant resources were stretched at Super Aguri and Sato was released at the end of the season.
2012: Williams
Sato's Honda connections saw him make the move to the Canon WilliamsF1 team alongside Esteban Guerreri and Jarno Trulli. The 2012 Williams Honda was a strong package - and Sato was able to take two wins over the course of the season in the United Kingdom and Singapore on his way to seventh in the standings. Despite this strong season, Sato was not retained.
2016: Peugeot
Sato made a one-off appearance for the Works Peugeot team at the Singapore Grand Prix, taking a ninth place.
2017: Valerian
Sato rejoined the grid for the season-ending Chinese Grands Prix with the Eni Valerian Formula Ferrari team in what he described as "testimonial races", after finishing the first race in 20th, he improved and finished the second race in eleventh - finishing his F1 career in the same position he finished his first race, the 2002 Australian Grand Prix.
IndyCar
2011: KV Racing
After being out of a Formula One drive in 2011, Sato made the jump stateside to the IndyCar series, joining the KV Racing outfit as a representative of Honda. Sato was quickly on the pace in the series and took three top five finishes, his best being a fourth place at Mid-Ohio. He finished his debut season in 13th overall, second in the Rookie class behind James Hinchcliffe.
2013-2016: A.J. Foyt Enterprises
Sato returned to the United States after his Williams drive expired, signing with A.J. Foyt Enterprises on a multiple year deal. Sato took his first IndyCar win in the third race of the season at Long Beach, which he followed up with a second place in Sao Paolo. The rest of his years in IndyCar before the US Open Wheel collapse were fairly anonymous - Sato had established himself as a reliable midfielder who picked up top-10 points on the regular.
