Ever wondered what you'd be like in an F1 car..?

[stumartin]

Thank you, Yuji "B" Ide

[RobbieMeister]

Things have changed, they are easier to drive these days.

Remember Paul Stoddart driving around in a Minardi at his last race last year.

I used to be well aquainted with an F1 designer in the 70's and '80's he asked to drive one of his own DFV powered cars at a private test. He couldn't keep it on the track, not even in a straight line.

T/C rules (not).

[Rob_F]

His car looked horrific to drive though, in fairness. The back end seemed resoloutely determined to overtake the front!

Cheers,
Rob.

[RobbieMeister]

Well in fairness to Stoddie I never saw it. I got it from reports that he got round.

[Jungles]

Paul Stoddart used to occasionally drive his F1 cars, so driving the "final lap" was nothing new to him. Also, he didn't drive a race, it was just a test at Vallelunga.

As for Ide, he is a reasonably successful racer in Japan, but he hasn't had a lot of experience in Europe or other countries. Just goes to show that being competitive in F1 is a giant leap from any other four-wheeled motorsport. Perhaps he also serves as a warning for teams to pick drivers with demonstrated good performance in highly competitive racing series, not mediocre ones.

Ide's career so far:
1990: Racing Kart debut
1991:Kantou National Cup Kart Champion
1992:Regional Kart Championship - 2nd
1993: All Japan Kart Championship Series FA Class
1994: All Japan F3 Championship Series
1995: All Japan F3 Championship Series (J-class)
1997: All Japan F3 Championship Series (spot entry)
1998: All Japan F3 Championship Series
1999: All Japan GT Championship GT300 - 2nd
2000: All Japan F3 Championship - 2nd
2001: All Japan F3 Championship - 5th
2002: French Formula3 (Signature) - 7th
2003: Formula Nippon Series - 7th, Japan GT - 4th
2004: Formula Nippon Series - 3rd, Japan GT - 11th
2005: Formula Nippon Series - 2nd
2006: Formula 1 - Super Aguri

>> Edited by Jungles on Saturday 1st April 16:25

[williamp]

so who came first in 2005?

Another example of money making a drive in F1 over talent. Or Charisma. Or, in fact anything else.

Anyone remember Alan Jones on his Williams F21 car? he said somehting like "Anyone without F1 experience would not make it out of the pit lane without crashing.

[Jungles]

williamp said:

so who came first in 2005?

Satoshi Motoyama. For the 4th time.

[nightdriver]

williamp said:

so who came first in 2005? Another example of money making a drive in F1 over talent. Or Charisma. Or, in fact anything else. Anyone remember Alan Jones on his Williams F21 car? he said somehting like "Anyone without F1 experience would not make it out of the pit lane without crashing.

Or the fact he's well known in Japan, just what a Honda backed team want.

[racefan_uk]

Honda got roasted when they announced that they had signed Button and Barrichello for 06 at their Japanese press conference. The Japan press didn't like that one of two manufacturers from that country was not going to keep Sato in a line up that was capable of winning races and running at the front.

I think the Aguri Suzuki deal was a rushed affair after that. To be fair to both the drivers, Sato is quick. He would regularly be middle grid and sometimes push Button in qualifying. Ide is an unknown quantity, but then, they are racing 4 year old Arrows chassis... where do peopel expect them to be on the grid???

[DABOSS]

Try a twin 250 GearBox kart, not far off :-)