Manager Not Expecting Sato to Race in Japan

Takuma Sato's manager Andrew Gilbert-Scott is not expecting his driver to race at the Japanese Grand Prix next weekend.

The BAR team said today they will announce their 2004 replacement for Canadian Jacques Villeneuve at a Tokyo news conference on Tuesday. The team said in a statement, without mentioning any drivers, that they would confirm next season's line-up at the 1430 (0530 GMT) press call.

Craig Pollock, former team boss and manager of 1997 champion Villeneuve, said on Saturday that BAR team boss David Richards had told him the 32-year-old Canadian would not be driving for BAR next year. Briton Jenson Button has a long term contract with the Honda-backed team and Japanese test driver Takuma Sato is expected to step into Villeneuve's place.

Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix could be Villeneuve's last Formula One race, assuming he is not replaced for it by Sato who finished fifth for Jordan at Suzuka last year. Pollock could not confirm on Saturday that Villeneuve would race but Sato's manager Gilbert-Scott said he expected the Canadian to do so.

"Personally, I'd be very surprised if Jacques doesn't race this weekend," he told Reuters from Japan. "Any other suggestion is completely news to me. I don't know whether these comments about Jacques not doing it are serious but it is nothing to do with the team, Honda or us," he said.

"Taku is here as a reserve driver. If the team need him to race, he's ready to race but we'd like to know as soon as possible because it's Monday already."

BAR are sixth overall in the Championship, a point behind Sauber and level with Jaguar.