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."

Well like an abused wife, I keep going back for more - the more F1 messes with my head, it seems the more I have to watch it ... just in case it gets better.

So, this morning at 05h00 the TV switched on and I woke. I loved the opening titles of course, but the presentation was rather lack-lustre for me. Coulthard and Jordan obviously know more than almost anyone else, but they lack the enthusiasm and presentation skills that would have made the things they said interesting.

I love "The Chain" (theme music) but did anyone else notice that all the other background music was something like 10-25 years old?  It seemed to me that the producer must have been at school with my dad.

And then came the cars ...

Ugly as sin, but boy were we in for an unusual treat!  As times and positions were exchanged, and then improved on, something strange was happening. The cars at the front in October started changing places with the cars that were at the back. Unbelievable. I was actually enjoying it again.

And so to humble pie. I have to admit that after berating Rubens he certainly showed he is a fast old man still. Not sure I bring myself to congratulate him or Button - but as I lay there exchanging texts my Brawn GP friend, I was very impressed with what the team has done. If I was Brawn looking for an emblem, then it would have to be a phoenix in overalls.

Tomorrow's race is of course what the whole weekend is about - but there must be a lot of people who already feel like winners today, and so they should. For at least 24 hours they are heroes.

**UPDATE**  Well, they did it, in spectacular 1-2 style. Rubens was driving a dodgem car, and he did well to escape enquiry - but Button drove a good race. The real heros though are the 700+ employees, and perhaps especially the 250+ facing hard times as they are cut from the team, having done thier job and given two has-beens an amazing car.  A party is deserved but I doubt it will happen. In difficult times the British feel guilty for celebrating as friends walk.A lot of small celebrations and happy hearts are there though, and maybe later in the season the employees left will have their day. Who knows what joy is yet to come to them?