Bourdais to test for Toro Rosso

[oggs]

Taken from ITV.com

Three-time ChampCar World Series champion Sebastien Bourdais is to test for Scuderia Toro Rosso in the final pre-Christmas test at Jerez this week.

The Frenchman, who has dominated the US-based Champ Car World Series for the last three seasons with the Newman-Haas team, last drove an F1 car in 2003 when he tested for Renault at the Spanish venue.

The 27-year-old has tried on several occassions to attract the attention of F1's team bosses, but despite his obvious potential, his attempts have come to nothing.

Bourdais' first experience of F1 came in 2002, while he was en route to the International F3000 crown, when he impressed in a test for Arrows.

He seemed poised to take a vacant seat in Tom Walkinshaw's cash-strapped squad before it went bankrupt.

Sebastien then pinned his hopes on Renault, but following a test early in 2003 he failed to reach agreement with team boss Flavio Briatore.

Having run out of options, Bourdais headed to the US where he has made the Champ Car Series his own, breaking a series of records on his way to a seemingly invincible position as the reigning multiple champion.

But Bourdais has made no secret of his ambition to switch codes eventually, and was most recently linked to a test seat with BMW earlier this summer.

[FourWheelDrift]

And Marco Andretti is testing for Honda. I don't think anything will come out of it though. Bourdais doesn't seem to be of interest to the F1 teams for some reason, besides just like Priaulx in the WTCC he's a racer that is experiencing great success, race wins and championships (albeit with difficulty and challenges from other drives). So he's used to success. Unless he gets a good offer of a drive with a team that could win a race or two I think he won't be interested in them.

[rubystone]

Ys, Bourdais has built up a good reputation in the US with a good, well funded team. Renault (or was it Benetton?) sniffed around some years agobut decided for some reason not to pursue him. I think it may have coinciced with their upsurge in fortunes under Flav and his promotion of Alonso.

Bourdais is also pretty agressive in his racing style in the US and I've heard reports that he's not popular with the other drivers; also some suggestion that he's arrogant.

I'd like to see just how good he is though, but to be honest, Andretti has the best chance of making the switch given his name, age, family connections, nationality and undoubted talent. I just don't think that he'll get his break with McLaren....

[rustybin]

rubystone said:

Bourdais is also pretty agressive in his racing style in the US and I've heard reports that he's not popular with the other drivers; also some suggestion that he's arrogant.

There is recently created vacancy in F1 for someone with these characteristics <--- :scratchlonggermanicchin:

[williamp]

rustybin said:

rubystone said:

Bourdais is also pretty agressive in his racing style in the US and I've heard reports that he's not popular with the other drivers; also some suggestion that he's arrogant.

There is recently created vacancy in F1 for someone with these characteristics <--- :scratchlonggermanicchin:

Was it in 2005 at Le Mans when Bourdais was a little... to enthusiastic with his agression?

[egomeister]

I'd like to see Bourdais in an F1 car - he's proved his talent in Europe and the US so its about time he had a shot at F1.

[rubystone]

Most recently, Boudais barged Wilson out of the way to win on the last lap in the last CART (or is it Champ Car?) race of the year at Mexico City. Because the cars are built like brick outhouses (and with the mechanical sophistication to match) he got away with it.

Incidentally - aren't Grand Am cars ugly?...so ugly that I refuse to read anything about them! I hear that the rumours that the Cayenne styling team designed them are wide of the mark though...

[FourWheelDrift]

rubystone said:

Incidentally - aren't Grand Am cars ugly?...so ugly that I refuse to read anything about them! I hear that the rumours that the Cayenne styling team designed them are wide of the mark though...

Very.

Toy cars.

[oggs]

rubystone said:

Most recently, Boudais barged Wilson out of the way to win on the last lap in the last CART (or is it Champ Car?) race of the year at Mexico City.

JW was doing until that tw4t done that

[FourWheelDrift]

Bourdais was the last of the runners today, but with an almost identical time to regular drivers Liuzzi and Speed. I'd say that was a very productive and impressive test session.

Leading times (December 14) - Jerez:

1. Pedro de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes 1min 19.107secs 75 laps
2. Jarno Trulli Toyota-Toyota 1min 19.470secs 93 laps
3. James Rossiter Honda-Honda 1min 19.548secs 117 laps
4. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1min 19.587secs 76 laps
5. Christian Klien Honda-Honda 1min 19.702secs 109 laps
6. Felipe Massa Ferrari-Ferrari 1min 19.728secs 80 laps
7. Luca Badoer Ferrari-Ferrari 1min 19.761secs 75 laps
8. Heikki Kovalainen Renault-Renault 1min 19.810secs 110 laps
9. Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber-BMW 1min 19.940secs 120 laps
10. Giancarlo Fisichella Renault-Renault 1min 20.068secs 69 laps
11. Robert Kubica BMW Sauber-BMW 1min 20.187secs 99 laps
12. Kohei Hirate Toyota-Toyota 1min 20.423secs 32 laps
13. Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1min 20.443secs 97 laps
14. Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1min 20.726secs 108 laps
15. Michael Ammermuller Red Bull-Ferrari 1min 20.737secs 59 laps
16. Olivier Panis Toyota-Toyota 1min 21.269secs 25 laps
17. Vitantonio Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1min 21.506secs 42 laps
18. Scott Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1min 21.514secs 22 laps
19. Sebastien Bourdais Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1min 21.520secs 79 laps

[rubystone]

Whatever one might think of his character traits, there's no doubt that Bourdais is more worthy than some of a place on an F1 grid.

[Chris944_S2]

rubystone said:

CART (or is it Champ Car?)

Last I heard it was "Champ Cars World Series powered by Ford"

[dr jonboyg]

rubystone said:

Incidentally - aren't Grand Am cars ugly?...so ugly that I refuse to read anything about them! I hear that the rumours that the Cayenne styling team designed them are wide of the mark though...

They are very ugly (although the Crawford chassis are not as bad) but the racing is actually bloody good, with a lot of very talented shoes in the series. And since they never clash with ALMS, it means there's nearly always a sportscar race to watch each weekend.

[FourWheelDrift]

The "number 2" new boy drivers lead their more experienced team mates at the top today.

1. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1min 19.493secs 100 laps
2. Heikki Kovalainen Renault-Renault 1min 19.586secs 92 laps
3. Fernando Alonso McLaren-Mercedes 1min 19.747secs 94 laps##
4. Giancarlo Fisichella Renault-Renault 1min 19.798secs 109 laps
5. James Rossiter Honda-Honda 1min 19.835secs 64 laps
6. Robert Kubica BMW-Sauber 1min 19.894secs 125 laps
7. Luca Badoer Ferrari-Ferrari 1min 19.899secs 38 laps
8. Sebastian Vettel BMW-Sauber 1min 20.069secs 117 laps
9. Vitantonio Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1min 20.191secs 72 laps
10. Christian Klien Honda-Honda 1min 20.461secs 57 laps
11. Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1min 20.854secs 114 laps
12. Marc Gene Ferrari-Ferrari 1min 21.015secs 98 laps
13. Sebastien Bourdais Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1min 21.277secs 100 laps
14. Alex Wurz Williams-Toyota 1min 21.368secs 64 laps
15. Marco Andretti Honda-Honda 1min 21.888secs 67 laps
16. Scott Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1min 23.315secs 15 laps