McLarenFan
05-17-2002, 07:29 AM
CART driver Toranosuke Takagi was given the chance to drive Toyota's Formula Oneâ„¢ racing car during testing at Paul Ricard on Thursday. The former F1â„¢ driver completed an impressive 107 laps during the session.
A Toyota press release reported that Takagi's test was part of a plan aimed at bringing together the corporation's worldwide motorsport activities. The Japanese driver currently competes for the Toyota-powered Walker Racing team in the United States.
"The last time I drove in F1 was two years ago," said Takagi. "For me this was an exciting experience and it is incredible just how much an F1 technology has changed in that time.
"I want to say thanks to Toyota for giving me chance to drive today. It was good fun and very different to CART."
Takagi's previous F1 experience consists of two seasons spent racing for Tyrrell and Arrows in 1998 and 1999. Though he did not score a championship point, he was thought to be fast if a little erratic.
He moved to Japanese Formula Nippon in 2000, where he proved dominant winning eight of 10 races, earning six pole positions and collecting the most points in the series' history. He moved to CART in 2001.
On Friday Toyota will test another CART star, Brazilian Cristiano da Matta. The Newman/Haas team driver also uses Toyota power in the American series.
Toyota has not revealed if either Takagi or da Matta is being considered as a potential future racer
it will be great to see one of the F1 old horses making a comeback...
A Toyota press release reported that Takagi's test was part of a plan aimed at bringing together the corporation's worldwide motorsport activities. The Japanese driver currently competes for the Toyota-powered Walker Racing team in the United States.
"The last time I drove in F1 was two years ago," said Takagi. "For me this was an exciting experience and it is incredible just how much an F1 technology has changed in that time.
"I want to say thanks to Toyota for giving me chance to drive today. It was good fun and very different to CART."
Takagi's previous F1 experience consists of two seasons spent racing for Tyrrell and Arrows in 1998 and 1999. Though he did not score a championship point, he was thought to be fast if a little erratic.
He moved to Japanese Formula Nippon in 2000, where he proved dominant winning eight of 10 races, earning six pole positions and collecting the most points in the series' history. He moved to CART in 2001.
On Friday Toyota will test another CART star, Brazilian Cristiano da Matta. The Newman/Haas team driver also uses Toyota power in the American series.
Toyota has not revealed if either Takagi or da Matta is being considered as a potential future racer
it will be great to see one of the F1 old horses making a comeback...