ヘレステスト　琢磨選手は2番手で終了！

さぁ、もうやる事はやったぞ！

JEREZ TEST – DAY 3 11 | 12 | 08 Sebastien Buemi: Chassis: STR3-04; Best time: 1:17.258; Laps: 139; Takuma Sato: Chassis: STR3-01; Best time: 1:17.520; Laps: 119 Jerez de la Frontera – 4.423 kms Scuderia Toro Rosso’s 2008 test programme came to an end today and as on the past two days, the team set the fastest lap time: a good way to end the year, even if it is not particularly significant, given the various different car configurations run by all the teams present in Jerez. More importantly, the cars ran trouble-free throughout the day, allowing both drivers to complete their programmes, which in the morning focused on performance, while the afternoon’s work centred on long runs. In both these cases, the drivers were tasked with finding a good set-up on the ’09 slick tyres. In addition, Buemi did some work on the braking system. “I am pleased with the way these three days of testing have gone,” said Buemi, the only Toro Rosso driver to take to the track on all three days. “We have got through a lot of work, with a minimum of interruptions. Setting up the car to work with slick tyres and with reduced downforce was very interesting and it was also good for me to try the rain tyres on the first day. We have learnt a lot and acquired plenty of data which should be useful for the team for next season.”

Jerez test results

来期のシートを決めると言われている3回目のトロロッソでのテスト（ヘレス）。
ん〜琢磨選手2番手かぁ。。　でも38lapしか走行してないですよ？
何かトラブルでもあったのか？

1. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:18.073 128
2. Sato Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:18.601 38
3. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:18.673 81
4. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:19.032 78
5. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:19.334 89
6. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:19.631 64
7. Alonso Renault (B) 1:19.907 106
8. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:20.309 122
9. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:20.365 87
10. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:20.490 27
11. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:20.954 38

Sato admits money crucial to 2009 seat

"I have my money," he acknowledged to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "My management has worked feverishly to find sponsors."

Japan has not been immune from the global economic crisis, but it is understood Red Bull also sees employing Sato as a way to promote the energy drink in his native market.

Sato, with 93 Grand Prix under his belt, insists his drive is still far from guaranteed.

"When you are talking about the sums that are applicable for Formula One, only large companies are relevant," he explained, "and their decisions are not always made quickly."

"I can only hope that time does not run away from me," Sato added.

He admits that presenting an impressive financial package to Toro Rosso could shift the scales in his favour.

"Private teams such as Toro Rosso are in the present situation under even more pressure than the manufacturers, so for them every sponsor is a gift," Sato said.

Sato confident STR can keep up in 2009
"They have been consistently moving up in Formula One, which is a very difficult thing to do," Sato told autosport.com. "They never go down - every single time they go forward and I strongly believe that they can do that as well in 2009.

"The absolute numbers depend on how what the other teams do, but I strongly believe Toro Rosso will do the best job possible."

Sato added that he has been impressed with the way Toro Rosso operate and that he is hoping for the opportunity to race for the team next year.

Both Sebastien Buemi - who is almost certain to land one of the team's seats - and Sebastien Bourdais are also in action at Jerez, but despite the pressure of competing for a race seat, Sato says he is enjoying the experience of working with the team.

"I really enjoy driving the car, working with the team - the whole process," he said. "Of course, the number of drivers is more than the two drivers available so you know you are competing against somebody.

"But once I get in the car I simply enjoy it. I certainly feel on the track and on the human side with the team it is extremely positive. It is just a matter of waiting on how the management will decide the drivers."

THREE DRIVERS TO TEST FOR TORO ROSSO

04 | 12 | 08発表

The line-up for the tests in Jerez next week has been announced.

On Tuesday Sébastien Bourdais and Sébastien Buemi will share duties. On Wednesday (December 10), Buemi, the Red Bull Racing 2008 third driver, will be in the car all day while Sébastien Bourdais will test in the morning and former Super Aguri driver Takuma Sato will test in the afternoon. Then on Thursday (December 10) Buemi and Sato will continue their runs.

We’ll have the times and reports from each day’s testing, so check back next week for all the latest.

HONDAがＦ１から撤退を正式に発表。

本田技研は5日、東京・青山の本社で緊急記者会見を行ない、福井威夫社長から正式に2008年でのF1撤退を正式に発表した。撤退の理由としては、金融危機と各国経済の急速な悪化から、経営効率の再配分が必要、としている。

世界恐慌がここまで影響したのか。。トヨタも撤退の噂もあるし。

チーム売却が旨く行かずチームの存続が無くなれば当然バトン（とバリケロ）は放出されるわけで、、、
まさかトロロッソに声かけてきたりしないだろうな┗（-＿-;）┛

琢磨選手がトロロッソで3度目のテストへ！

現地時間（以下、現地時間）4日、佐藤琢磨が自身の公式ウェブサイトを通じて、来週スペイン・ヘレスで行なわれる合同テストに再度トーロ・ロッソから参加することを明らかにした。SUPER AGURIの撤退以降、F1復帰を目指しているが、9月、11月に続き、今回でトーロ・ロッソから3回目の合同テスト参加となる。

「いつも佐藤琢磨を応援してくださいまして誠にありがとうございます。来たる12月10〜11日、スペイン・ヘレスで行なわれるテストに琢磨がスクーデリア・トーロ・ロッソより参加することになりましたので、皆さんにご報告申し上げます。今後とも佐藤琢磨をよろしくお願い申し上げます」と発表した。

　11月のバルセロナ合同テストでは、佐藤は初日のトップタイム、2日目も2番手タイムを記録し、そのテストを終えたのち「2009年にトーロ・ロッソでレースをするのが夢」と語っていた。

　ヘレスサーキットにおいて今月9日より3日間行なわれる合同テストには、現在マクラーレン・メルセデスやフェラーリをはじめ8チームが参加予定。トーロ・ロッソは今回のテストで起用するすべてのドライバーをまだ明らかにしていないこともあり、イギリスのモータースポーツ専門誌『Autosport』（電子版）は4日、佐藤のマネージャーのアンドリュー・ギルバート-スコット氏のコメントを紹介した。「もちろん、今回のことで私たちはまた一歩前進したと思っていますが、まだ2009年のレーシングシーズンが決定したわけではありません」と冷静に応じている。

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3度目というのは、ほぼ確実にシートを獲得したと考えてもいいでしょう。先日のTCMでもヘレステスト前には来年のシートが・・・・という話しを聞いています。恐らく、テスト前後に何らかの発表がある可能性が極めてたかいと思われます。