Takuma Sato, Jordan’s new signing and 2001 British F3 and Macau Grand Prix Champion, returned from Sao Paolo in Brazil this morning, having spent three hours from 6.00 until 9.00 yesterday morning, lapping the Interlagos circuit in order to familiarise himself with the track where he will make his Brazilian Grand Prix debut in March 2002.

Behind the wheel of an F3 car from the Brazilian team, Cesario Formula, Takuma completed 86 trouble-free laps (370.5 km), which is further than a Grand Prix distance. He commented, “It felt great to get back in a car and I have really benefited from driving round Interlagos. The circuit runs in an anti-clockwise direction which is something I have never experienced before, and the bumpy surface and sweeping corners can make it quite hard going.”

Heavy rain the night before created damp driving conditions during the early stages of Takuma’s track outing, but the circuit gradually dried out during the three hours, enabling him to achieve a best time of 1:33.79 in dry conditions. “I am quite happy with my lap time,” he continued, “particularly as it was my first time on the circuit, the track was very dusty and with only one car going round there was hardly any rubber being laid down. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to gain some first hand knowledge and running time at Interlagos before my debut Brazilian Grand Prix in March, which I am really looking forward to.”