23/09/2005
NEWS STORY
Following the confirmation that Jenson Button will partner Rubens Barrichello at BAR next season, and that his only possible role with the Brackley team is as third, and test, driver, Takuma Sato will not stay with the team, according to his manager.
Talking to Reuters, Andrew Gilbert-Scott, said: "I can't see any point. I can't see any benefit at all because obviously there are two race drivers on long-term contracts so there's no future. We want to find something to move forward."
Although the team's test driver, Anthony Davidson, is pushing hard for a race seat with Jordan (Midland F1), the Brackley team is amassing a number of young chargers, including Alan van der Merwe, Danilo Dirani, Adam Carroll and James Rossiter. Therefore, there is a wealth of talent coming through, and little (realistic) opportunity for Sato.
There is speculation that Takuma might return to the team that gave him his F1 racing debut, Jordan, however, it is unlikely that the Toyota-powered team is going to want a former Honda protege on board.
"We are working on trying to get him in a race seat for next year, that's my priority," admitted Gilbert-Scott. "I'm hoping, I'm optimistic.
"I'm not looking at America or anything else," he continued. "I'm very optimistic that we'll get something in Formula One. "We've had a lot of support and there's been a huge amount of disappointment (in Japan) at what has happened."