As I wrote the title for this piece, I was intending to write about the Drivers World Championship, but it struck me that I should be writing about Taku too. So here goes, as we approach perhaps the definitive race lets look at both subjects.

Taku is no doubt working very very hard at getting into one of the new seats coming along in 2010. I was talking to the TV again this morning, I hope someone was listening: the commentators were making the very good point that young drivers have come in and done nothing but cause problems (probably due to lack of testing giving them the mileage they need - but possibly because they have no real talent for this formula). They made the point which Taku fans have known for a long time ... we need more talented drivers because there is a shortage of them on the grid just now.

When the field is as close as it is (usually a second or so separating the entire field) there are two ways to win points after qualifying: to sit back and wait for others to make mistakes (like Button does) or to attack and make places by courageous driving (like Taku). To make F1 interesting we want him back. Simples.

 Which brings me to my second point - is Button going to be World Champion? Well, if he is, it will be down to other people failing to be successful - Vettel has a hard job, but he could still do it. I get the feeling that Button will sit back and wait, rather than chase him down. Rubens has an even better chance, and if rumours about Brawn throwing Rubens out of the team are right, he has something to show Brawn. Again, Button will be hoping to stay close to him, rather than beat him on the track.

Button won some races at the start of the season in the best Honda/Super Aguri car ever seen ... and then he went off the boil. Luckily for him though, so did everyone else. Vettel and Webber  both made mistakes and were subject to car troubles - Brawn's reliability working harder than Button's driving.

I hope Vettel wins tomorrow to keep the championship alive. I hope Rubens does well. I wonder if reliability will yet play a cruel part of 2009.

From Takuma's web site www.takumasato.org   :

"Takuma Sato will be making two special appearances in the UK early next month, as he enjoys a little nostalgia for Formula One years gone by.

Visiting two of the country's finest historical venues, both steeped in motoring and motorsport history, Taku will play a central role in displaying some grand prix history at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu on Friday 3 July, before heading for Goodwood's famous Festival of Speed the following day.

Beaulieu's motoring archive is already well-known, but Taku will be on hand to unveil a brand new display in the internationally-recognised when he takes the wraps off the BAR-Honda, chassis 060, that he took to the podium at the USGP in 2004. Beaulieu host Lord Montagu will also be in attendance to welcome Taku and his car to the collection.

On Saturday 4 July, Taku will be among the stars attending the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and will take the opportunity to drive two very different cars ・a Benetton B188 Formula One car and a 1970 March 707 Can-Am monster - up the country house's famous hill.

The Benetton has a great pedigree, having been raced by Alessandro Nannini during his time in F1, and was one of the first grand prix cars that Taku enjoyed watching as a young boy. For that reason, to be able to drive this car at Goodwood will be a real thrill for the former Jordan, BAR and Honda racer.

The March, meanwhile, has an 8.8-litre engine, with 830bhp on tap, and will be one of the loudest cars at Goodwood. For very different -and obvious - reasons, Taku admits that he can't wait to have some fun in that car as well.

Approximate timings for the runs are Benetton at 10.20am and March at 2.45pm.

There will be opportunities for fans to meet Taku at both of the Beaulieu and Goodwood events, but each day will be busy and his time limited. Anyone wanting to attend and meet Taku is encouraged to contact This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it so that he can be expecting you on the day."