In a sensational start to 2008, Takuma Sato showed the world that maybe practice and testing isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Difficult job, and dog of a chassis or not... within a few laps of Melbourne he was P10 and lapping faster than those behind him.

Some would say "Luck" ... I agree, LUCKY he knows how to drive a car without traction control. As big names in very expensive cars spun off, hit each other,and generally disappointed fans and team mates alike, Takuma kept his nose clean and soared up the leader board. 

Here on saf1.org live chat forum, we were jumping up and down with joy as he showed P11 then P10. Of course there were cars that would eventually pass him - we knew that, but with a dodgey clutch (as it is reported from James in Melbourne) it was inevitable that he would have to move over at some point.

That didn't make me feel any better though ... I had been stupid ... I did the worst thing I could, I wrote that he might get a point. Arghh! Less than a lap later he was pulling over with a failed clutch. Sorry Taku, sorry fans. Superstition is a bad habit in F1

I wrote earlier in the week that technical problems were going to be our worry - I was right, Taku proved without any doubt at all that he is a world class driver, taking a dog of a chassis half-way up the leader board. So who needs testing? Well, I guess I have to say we do ... technical problems are best found in Barcelona when doing test laps.

But hey, as far as getting something out of the car, we can rely on Taku's skills.

Whether the next race will have the same opportunity so early on is probably dubtful - but we know that if there is a bad start for some, Taku will be there trying to make the most of the spaces left

Why do we support SAF1 ?   Melbourne 2008 result: Takuma Sato P12