Kazuki's Column from Shanghai
09 October 07
A lot has happened since I wrote my last column after the GP2 Series finale at Valencia. Last Friday I got back behind the wheel of the FW29 during Friday practice in Shanghai and now I'm preparing to make my Grand Prix debut at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Following Alex Wurz's decision to retire from racing in Formula One, the team have asked me to partner Nico Rosberg at Interlagos. I've been the team's third and reserve driver all year, so I've been ready for this kind of situation, but I'm still very excited about making my F1 debut because it's what I've worked towards throughout my career.
I have to thank the team for giving me this opportunity and I hope to re-pay their faith in me with a good showing. I'm very familiar with the FW29, having completed more than 7,000 kilometres in it already, so I feel ready to make the step up.
Interlagos will be another new track for me. I can learn circuits quite quickly, but I'm still going to the factory later this week to drive the simulator. There's no substitute to driving around a circuit, but the simulator does at least show me the layout, so I won't have any surprises when I take to the track for the first time in car number 17.
It will be fun to make my Grand Prix debut in Brazil because there is a large Japanese ex-pat community there. I've been told that 2007 marks the 100th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in the country, so I hope to have lots of support in the grandstands.
I fly to Brazil next weekend to take part in a PR event in Rio de Janeiro. I'll then head to Sao Paulo early next week to begin my preparations for the race weekend. I cannot wait for it to start and I look forward to sharing my experiences with you.
Until next time,
Kazuki
Following Alex Wurz's decision to retire from racing in Formula One, the team have asked me to partner Nico Rosberg at Interlagos. I've been the team's third and reserve driver all year, so I've been ready for this kind of situation, but I'm still very excited about making my F1 debut because it's what I've worked towards throughout my career.
I have to thank the team for giving me this opportunity and I hope to re-pay their faith in me with a good showing. I'm very familiar with the FW29, having completed more than 7,000 kilometres in it already, so I feel ready to make the step up.
Interlagos will be another new track for me. I can learn circuits quite quickly, but I'm still going to the factory later this week to drive the simulator. There's no substitute to driving around a circuit, but the simulator does at least show me the layout, so I won't have any surprises when I take to the track for the first time in car number 17.
It will be fun to make my Grand Prix debut in Brazil because there is a large Japanese ex-pat community there. I've been told that 2007 marks the 100th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in the country, so I hope to have lots of support in the grandstands.
I fly to Brazil next weekend to take part in a PR event in Rio de Janeiro. I'll then head to Sao Paulo early next week to begin my preparations for the race weekend. I cannot wait for it to start and I look forward to sharing my experiences with you.
Until next time,
Kazuki
