04/10/2005
NEWS STORY
In the wake of Honda's announcement that it has purchased 100 percent of British American Racing, Takuma Sato claims that he has been offered the chance of a drive by a new team which hopes to enter F1 next season.
The Japanese driver wouldn't give any other details of the team other than to say that he has "received an offer".
"It's not confirmed that this new team will race but I have received an offer," he told reporters. ""I'm not planning to quit Formula One. I have to keep going and look for a solution."
Intriguingly, the Japanese manufacturer's operating officer Hiroshi Oshima told reporters that his company is considering providing engines for the new outfit.
"Nothing has been decided yet as far as drivers or engines go," he said. "But Bernie Ecclestone has given the team his blessing and we are looking into the possibility of supplying their engines."
On Monday, Pitpass revealed that Sato will drive Japan's entry in the new A1 GP series, though it's not known how many races he will contest, or when he will first drive the car.
As to the new team, there has been speculation for some time that a new team might enter F1. The most recent rumour linking Coca-Cola as a possible entrant - the American soft drink giant - like many others - opting to keep out of F1 while tobacco sponsorship was prominent.