Grapevine: Sato Aims to Finish Season in Style

Jordan's new Formula One star Takuma Sato bids to follow in the footsteps of Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard by winning the Macau Grand Prix this weekend.

The Japanese ace, who will become Giancarlo Fisichella's teammate next season, hopes to erase the memories of an opening lap crash in last year's event to capture the crown in the famous race around the streets of the Chinese principality.

Sato had to receive special permission from Jordan to take part in the event, and has made it clear that he is not even thinking about his graduation to Grand Prix racing next year yet.

"I am looking forward to my testing programme with Jordan which starts in January, but now I am concentrating everything on winning Macau," said Sato. "It's going to be fun. People are saying a lot of things about me because I am a Formula One driver racing at Macau, but honestly it does not add any pressure on me at all."

But Sato's teammate Anthony Davidson, who is test driver for British American Racing, believes that the media focus on Sato could be enough to help his own chances.

"He's got all the pressure here, I haven't got any," said Davidson. "I'm out there to be the first rookie to win Macau since Coulthard and Senna and I think I have got a really good chance of winning."