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Takuma Sato’s hopes of returning to the Formula One grid appear very much alive after his management revealed that he has been asked to test for a third time with Toro Rosso next week.
With neither of their 2009 race seats confirmed, the Italian team will put the Japanese driver through his paces again in Spain as they continue to ponder their line-up for next season.
“Takuma has been recalled by Toro Rosso to test at Jerez, Spain, on December 10 and 11 December,” said his commercial manager Matthew Winter.
“We obviously see this as a positive step but still nothing is decided for the 2009 racing season.”
Sato is Japan’s most successful F1 driver, having scored 44 points from his 90 races including a third place in the 2004 US Grand Prix.
However he has not competed since this year’s Spanish Grand Prix in April, when Honda-backed Super Aguri went out of business.
Sato and Sebastien Bourdais are probably vying for the same spot at STR after Red Bull magnate Dietrich Mateschitz confirmed last week that Sebastien Buemi is odds on favourite to land one of the vacant seats.
“One will very likely be Buemi. The line-up will be confirmed before the last test in December,” Mateschitz said.
