Sato Throws down the gauntlet
Zandvoort, August 3, 2001

Japan's Takuma Sato was fastest in both free practice sessions for Sunday's 11th Marlboro Masters at Zandvoort today. Driving the Carlin Motorsport Dallara-Mugen Honda, the British Formula Three championship leader was just 0.087s ahead of his nearest rival, Frenchman Benoit Treluyer who is currently leading the Japanese Championship. "Everything went OK," reported the 24-year old Japanese driver. "The tyres were going off completely by the end of the session, but there was more rubber on the track. So we were just doing our job and trying different set-ups." Treluyer admitted that the second session wasn't so good. "We went in the wrong direction on set-up in the afternoon session," he said. "The car was difficult to drive, so we will put it back for tomorrow. Now we know which way to go." The Frenchman said that he was having to re-adapt to working with the Signature team, having worked mainly in Japan this year. "I'm confident. I want to win this race, and I believe that we can." The battle of the Japanese continues with Ryo Fukuda, leader of the French championship, in third place. "It's my third time here. The first time was in a Martini, which wasn't competitive. The second time I had to start from the pit lane because my mechanic got the start time wrong, so this time I want to do well. Things have gone OK in practice. I started with a new Renault engine and I wasn't sure how well it would go, but it's work well. I think the battle will be between the Renaults and Mugen Hondas, so I'm confident."

Top ten times:
1, Takuma Sato(Dallara-Mugen Honda F301), 1m 34.635s;
2, Benoit Treluyer(Dallara-Renault Sodemo F399), 1m 34.722s;
3, Ryo Fukuda(Dallara-Renault Sodemo F399), 1m 34.836s;
4, Gianmaria Bruni(Dallara-Renault Sodemo F301), 1m 34.971s;
5, Matt Davies(Dallara-Opel Spiess F301), 1m 35.193s;
6, Derek Hayes(Dallara-Mugen Honda F300), 1m 35.224s;
7, Markus Winkelhock(Dallara-Opel Spiess F300), 1m 35.225s;
8, James Courtney(Dallara-Mugen Honda F300), 1m 35.306s;
9, Tiago Monteiro(Dallara-Renault Sodemo F300), 1m 35.336s;
10, Tristan Gommendy(Dallara-Renault Sodemo F300), 1m 35.392s;

(bu, Zandvoort - 03.08.01)

Results :
Free practice 1
Free practce 2
Free practice combined

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