Sato Excited about Racing Return

Japanese driver Takuma Sato is looking forward to returning to Grand Prix action this weekend after it was announced that Canadian Jacques Villeneuve had pulled out of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Sato was told he might be driving as he and manager Andrew Gilbert-Scott travelled South from Tokyo to Suzuka on the Japanese Shinkansen 'Bullet Train' on Thursday morning. The decision was confirmed by BAR-Honda team chief David Richards just minutes before Sato was due to hold a press conference with the gathered media at the Suzuka circuit.

Sato, who finished fifth when he raced for Jordan at Suzuka last year, said: "I am very excited for the Japanese fans to be racing here. I am very thrilled to be given this opportunity. I am not used to the new qualifying format but I will do my best to help the team finish fifth in the Constructors' Championship. I am really looking forward to it."

Gilbert-Scott was quick to deny suggestions that the decision had been pre-meditated some time ago and explained: "If we had pre-planned to do it we would have announced it Tuesday. Unfortunately it is not very helpful to sell extra tickets for this race because it is such a late decision. It is all very bizarre, even in Formula One terms."

Villeneuve's decision, which was relayed to the team in a telephone call, could mark the end of 1997 World Champion's career as he is yet to secure a drive in Formula One for 2004 and there are few options left available.

He won the world title for Williams in only his second season in Formula One but dropped down the field when he moved to BAR with his manager Craig Pollock in 1999. He has won 11 races in a 130-race career but in a frustrating season this year he has only secured six points and failed to finish eight times in the 15 races so far.

In a pre-race press release Villeneuve showed his frustration with the team but said: "It has been a highly disappointing season with a lot of bad luck. It would be nice to finish with a positive result in Suzuka."

Button seemed downcast by his former teammate's sudden departure, even though the pair did not get on earlier in the season, but insisted he and Sato could help the team secure fifth place in the Constructors' Championship.

In a pre-race press conference at the Suzuka circuit Button said: "It is disappointing that Jacques was not here for his final race. But hopefully Takuma is going to do a good job, hopefully the pressure won't get to him."