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Takuma Sato
Jordan Signs Sato For 2002

Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda has signed this year's British Formula 3 Champion, Takuma Sato, to race for the team in 2002.

Sato's performance this year has impressed team boss Eddie Jordan, who has been monitoring his progress since he became the youngest Japanese driver to test for an F1 team when he ran in the Jordan Honda EJ10 in December 2000.   Continuing his tradition of spotting up-and-coming talent and bringing new drivers into F1, Jordan has signed a two year contract with Sato, with an option on Jordan's side to extend the contract for an additional two years.      

Takuma Sato dominated this year's British Formula 3 Championship, taking a record 12 race wins in 13 championship rounds and seizing international victories at the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 at Zandvoort, Holland, and the non-championship Formula 3 support race at the British Grand Prix. No other race series in the world has produced as many F1 Grand Prix winners and World Champions as British Formula 3 - Ayrton Senna, Damon Hill and Mika Hakkinen are just three of the nine F1 World Champions schooled in the British F3 Championship.

Eddie Jordan said, "Sato has proved himself to be quick and outstandingly talented in the British Formula 3 Championship this year and deserves an opportunity to race in Formula One. Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda is delighted to be the team to give him this opportunity. Sato's contract with Jordan, along side the three year deal we have with Giancarlo Fisichella, gives Jordan vital continuity and a strong, long-term driver line up which will be key to our development with Honda. We hope that with the help of Honda and Bridgestone, we can develop Sato to make him the first Japanese driver to win a Grand Prix."

Takuma Sato said, "Today's announcement makes me extremely happy as it is the goal I set out to achieve by deciding to do a second year in Formula 3 and combine this with Formula One testing. I am very excited about joining Jordan and am very much looking forward to starting work with the team, who I know already from my testing with them last year. This is a fantastic opportunity for me."