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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">F-1</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">09/10/2003</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">Villeneuve Withdraws From Suzuka</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">Sato Gets Early Home Crowd Race Debut </FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2"><B>Sato Gets Early Home Crowd Race Debut For B·A·R</B> <BR> <BR> Following the news that he is not to be retained by the Lucky Strike B·A·R Honda team in 2004, Jacques Villeneuve has withdrawn from competing in the Japanese Grand Prix. His manager Craig Pollock commented: "Jacques is extremely disappointed not to be staying with the team next year, and he simply felt that his heart would not be in it for the coming weekend. As a result he asked that he be allowed to stand down. We are grateful to David Richards, and the team, for releasing him early from his contract."<BR> <BR> After Tuesday's announcement that Takuma Sato will drive for the team in 2004, and given that he is the team's current third driver, it was natural that he would take over as Jenson Button's team-mate, albeit rather earlier than anticipated. Expressing his surprise and delight, Takuma commented: "This was not what I was expecting this weekend, and I cannot express how excited I am to be making my debut for B·A·R in front of my home crowd. It is going to be pretty crazy, but I am confident that I can do a good job."<BR> <BR> In 2002, whilst driving for the Jordan Honda team, Takuma produced a widely admired result at the Suzuka circuit. After qualifying in a personal best 7th position, he followed it up with a sparkling drive to 5th place and his first Formula One points. Given his background in Honda Dream, he knows the Suzuka circuit intimately, and it will provide an ideal environment for his debut. In addition, having completed over 7000 kms of testing with the team in 2003, he knows the B·A·R Honda 005 race car extremely well.<BR> <BR> David Richards commented: "Well the end of our season has been rather dramatic, and I certainly was not expecting this, but you have to respect a driver's decision if he feels he cannot give his best when facing these circumstances. Clearly, as we had already decided on Taku for 2004, we have faith that he will deliver for the team this weekend, and I am pleased that he should start racing with us on a track he knows so well. Now we have to focus all our resources on getting the result we need to secure 5th place in the championship."<BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>