Sato set for Lotus drive
Takuma Sato will make his racing debut around the streets of Monaco in a classic Lotus 49B, after getting the all clear following his sickening crash at the Austrian GP
Sato will drive the classic car, which was used by Graham Hill to win the 1968 and '69 races at Monte Carlo, in the Historic GP this weekend.
The Japanese had a seat fitting and a quick spin in the car at the Hethel test track in Norfolk yesterday (Tuesday), and was reportedly very impressed. Although the vintage race car is a million miles away from the Jordan EJ12 he will race the following week, it should give him a chance to get to know the unique characteristics of track that is practically unchanged since the Lotus was state-of-the-art.
The Lotus 49B was launched in 1968, and was driven to the world title that year by Hill. It was still competitive two years later when the car Sato will drive was used by double world champion Emerson Fittipaldi as he made his F1 debut in the 1970 British GP. However, it was superseded later in the season by the 72: arguably one of the greatest F1 cars ever.
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