Takuma Sato

Takuma Satō (Japanese佐藤 琢磨, Satō Takuma; born January 28, 1977 in Shinjuku, Tokyo) is a Japanese racing driver. He was British Formula 3 champion in 2001. From 2002 to 2008 Satō launched for different teams to 90 Formula 1 races. Since 2010 he takes in the IndyCar Series. Since 2013 he drives for AJ Foyt Enterprises.

Satō succeeded with the second starting place at the European Grand Prix to start in 2004 as the first Japanese Formula 1 drivers, from the front row in a Grand Prix.

• 3.1 Career stations
• 3.2 Statistics in Formula 1 3.2.1 Individual Results

Career

Beginnings in motorsport

Satō began his motorsport career in 1996 in karting, where he was active until 1997. He was a member of the 1997 Honda Suzuka Racing School. In 1998, he first started out in a race to the Japanese Formula 3 Championship. However, he finished his commitment after a race and moved to Europe. He competed in the British Formula Vauxhall Junior. 1999 Satō sixth in the Formula Opel Euro Series. He also appeared in the national class of the British Formula 3 Championship and finished the season in fourth place.

In 2000, Satō to Carlin Motorsport and finished with four wins from twelve races, third in the British Formula 3 in 2001 remained Satō in the British Formula 3 Championship and won 12 of 25 races. He chose the title duel with team-mate Anthony Davidson with 345 to 272 points for themselves. He also won the Formula 3 Masters and the Macau Grand Prix. This season, Satō was also a test driver of formula 1 teams British American Racing.

Formula 1

Jordan ( 2002)

2002 Satō was awarded a Formula 1 cockpit in Jordan. He was assisted in his Formula 1 debut of Jordan's engine partner Honda. While his team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella could score points in some races, Satō was often on by accidents. At the Grand Prix of Austria he collided with Nick Heidfeld and initially could not leave the car. At the season finale, his home race in Suzuka, Satō scored his first points with a fifth place ranking. He finished the season off on the 15th place.

BAR (2003-2005)

2003 Honda ended the cooperation with Jordan and Satō was a test driver for the British American Racing, who drove with Honda engines. After he was taken for the 2004 season as a race driver alongside Jenson Button under contract, leaving Jacques Villeneuve, should replace the Satō, prematurely the team and joined Satō 2003 at his home Grand Prix. Like last year, he managed to score again in this race. The season he finished on the 18th place in the drivers' standings.

Of 2004, British American Racing on a competitive car and was second in the constructors' world championship. Satō succeeded at the U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis to stand as a third party for the first time on the podium. In the second half of the season, he managed to drive almost every race in the points. Although he achieved his best overall result of his career with an eighth place in the drivers' world championship, he defeated his teammate Button with 85 clearly 34 points.

2005 Satō not followed up on the results of the previous year. Already in the second race, the Malaysian Grand Prix, he was sidelined due to illness and was replaced by his former Formula 3 teammates Davidson. In the further course had other Satō Grand Prix omit, as his team disqualified for being underweight and was ruled out for two races. At the Grand Prix of Japan, he was disqualified because of a debt from him collision with Jarno Trulli. The season he finished with one point at the 23rd place overall.

Although British American Racing was acquired after this season by Honda, Satō was replaced by Rubens Barrichello.

Super Aguri (2006-2008)

For the 2006 season, Satō was initially without cockpit. Finally, Honda allowed him one more season in Formula 1 at the newly founded team Super Aguri F1. Team owner Aguri Suzuki initially used old Arrows chassis. Although Satō scored no points this season, but he managed to prevail over his three alternating teammates. In the overall standings, he was like 23 in the previous year

2007 Super Aguri was more competitive than last year thanks to a new chassis. With Davidson Satō got a new teammate. At the Grand Prix of Spain, he scored with an eighth place the first point for his team. Two races later, at the Canadian Grand Prix, he overtook in the closing stages of the race thanks to a different strategy, Fernando Alonso, the reigning world champion, and finished the race in sixth. At the end of the season, he finished 17th overall. His teammate Davidson remained in this season with no points.

The 2008 season began with some difficulty: Super Aguri presented its new car will not be ready in time and the team walked away with a substantial development is lagging behind in the first race. As expected, were the Japanese cars at the rear end of the field. After four races the team rose due to financial problems of the current world championship. Satō was thus without a race seat. He finished at the end of the season 21 overall.

Satō then tried to get a cockpit for the 2009 season. Although he completed testing for the Scuderia Toro Rosso, for the racing cockpit him but Sebastien Buemi was preferred.

IndyCar Series

After Satō was started in no other racing series in 2009, he moved in 2010 into the American IndyCar Series to KV Racing Technology. His vehicle was painted in the traditional racing colors of the British manufacturer Lotus and he was supported by Lotus. Although Satō also struck by his speed, he usually came through but accidents in the public eye. In 17 races, he fell out of 9 times. With a ninth place in Edmonton for the best result he ended his debut season at the 21st place in the championship.

2011 graduated Satō his second season in the IndyCar Series for his team, as the KV Racing Technology this season - took Lotus. When he scored fifth in the season opener in Saint Petersburg had hitherto been his best IndyCar placement. In the fourth race in São Paulo, which took place in wet conditions, Satō led the race control and had good chances to win. However, a strategy error of his team prevented this outcome and he came in eighth place finish. On the oval track in Newton Satō scored his first pole position in the IndyCar Series. In the race he dropped out. In Edmonton, he scored the pole position once again. The chance of a podium placement was zunichtegemacht by a collision with Ryan Hunter -Reay. Hunter -Reay was occupied after the race lead with a drive-through penalty, while Satō fell back to the rear. A race later in Lexington missed Satō with a fourth place finish on the podium again, but until then scored his best IndyCar result. He finished the season from 13th place in the overall standings.

2012 moved Satō within the Rahal Letterman Lanigan IndyCar Series to who went with Honda engines at the start. At the season opener in St. Petersburg, which he led in the meantime, he left with technical problems. Two races later in Long Beach Satō was at the beginning of the final round in third place. But finally he collided with Hunter -Reay and did not reach the goal. He was seen as a rollercoaster. Finally, the fourth race in São Paulo he succeeded with a third place his first podium placement in the IndyCar Series. In the following race, the Indianapolis 500, Satō attacked in the final laps to the leader Dario Franchitti. He came with a wheel too far to the inside, so that he lost control of his vehicle and drove into the wall. He was regarded as 17. At the Edmonton Indy Satō achieved with a second place had hitherto been his best finish in the IndyCar Series. In the closing stages he was in striking distance of the eventual winner Hélio Castroneves. At the last race of the season, the MAVTV 500, Satō different again just before the finish in the top group come out. At the end of the season Satō was 14th in the driver standings. With 10 of 15 races he did not finish this season. Following the season Satō was active in other racing series. On the one hand, he participated in four races of the Formula Nippon for the team Mugen. He had no points and was 15th in the driver standings. On the other hand, he entered for OAK Racing to two races of the FIA World Endurance Championship ( WEC). He formed a trio with driver Bertrand Baguette and Dominik Kraihamer. Satō finished in 80th place in the Drivers' World Championship.

2013 remained Satō in the IndyCar Series and joined its team. He went into this season for AJ Foyt Enterprises at the start. In the first nine races Satō only once fell out and came four times in the top 10. At the season opener in St. Petersburg, he reached the second place in qualifying. In the race he came on the eighth position to the finish. Two races later in Long Beach Satō scored his first IndyCar victory with a convincing performance. A race later in São Paulo, he led the race most of the rounds. However, in the last corner he made ​​a small mistake, the James Hinchcliffe allowed to drive past and win. Satō was second and went as overall leader in the Indianapolis 500, which he finished in 13th place. He lost the championship lead after this race, and was after the ninth race in fourth place in the drivers' standings. In the second half of the season, however, failed Satō to build on the achievements of the first race. In these ten races he came only once finish and a 14th place was his best result. Thus it was served in the championship back and lay on the end of the season only at the 17th position. In addition, Satō took 2013 for the team to Mugen five races of the Super Formula, the successor series Formula Nippon, in part. It was an eighth place his best result and he finished 18th in the overall standings. 2014 occurs Satō in the IndyCar Series for AJ Foyt Enterprises in again.

Personal

Satō is married and has two children.

Statistics

Career stations

• 2003: Formula 1 ( 18th place)
• 2004: Formula 1 (8th place )
• 2005: Formula 1 ( No. 23 )
• 2006: Formula 1 ( 23 square )
• 2007: Formula 1 ( 17th)
• 2008: Formula 1 ( No. 21 )
• 2010: IndyCar Series (No. 21)
• 2011: IndyCar Series (No. 13)

• 2012: IndyCar Series (No. 14)
• 2012: Formula Nippon ( 15th place)
• 2012: WEC ( place 80)
• 2013: IndyCar Series (No. 17)
• 2013: Super Formula ( 18th place)
• 2014: IndyCar Series

Statistics in Formula 1

Individual results

Individual results in the IndyCar Series

( Legend)