JAPAN: MOTOR RACING - Formula One drivers gear up for Suzuka F1 race this weekend

Formula One drivers are gearing up for this weekend's F1 championship in Suzuka, Japan, driving a simulator and even pulling rickshaws on a bustling Tokyo street as a warm-up. For the Honda racing F1 team, Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka which will start on Friday (October 6) has special meaning because it has been Honda's home circuit and this might be the last race there. Next year's Japanese Grand Prix will be switched to the Fuji International Speedway. "Now I'm going to one of the best races of the year because it become my home Grand Prix as well. So last two races will be home Grand Prix to me. So I'm delighted for that and I will give it very very best." said 2003 Japanese Grand Prix race winner Rubens Barrichello referring to the race in Japan this weekend and the next race in his homecountry Brazil. Fledging Super Aguri F1 team, which made their debut at the start of this season and are supported by Honda, pledged to do their best on home soil. "We will make every effort to get better positions with the utmost energy we have developed through this season." said Super Aguri team driver and first Japanese driver in years Takuma Sato. Panasonic Toyota racing team driver Ralf Schumacher, brother of world champion racer Michael Schumacher, also seeks the best possible result this weekend. "We wanna show good result in Japan and I think we can. We should have right package. Let's hope weather condition stay bit more reliable than the last week," said Ralf at a press conference held by Toyota. Williams team rookie driver Nico Rosberg made a cardinal mistake by driving a simulator car against some die-hard gamers, who then beat him. The "races" took place on Tuesday (October 03) in front of hundreds of screaming Japanese fans at the lobby of Tokyo's office building. Rosberg competed with three amateur gamers who had triumphed in preliminary matches. Though he seriously tried the simulator the German could not beat them and eventually finished in third place. "Well if you're there (Suzuka track) I could maybe show around the garage or something and if I have three minutes time or something like that , I'll think of something at the race anyway".," said Rosberg, thinking of a prize at short notice for the two winners.. On one of Tokyo's busiest shopping streets drivers from the Red Bull F1 racing team pulled two Japanese girls around in traditional rickshaws. "It's always nice to take two girls around town and I mean I felt a bit like a toy boy," joked Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos.

ITN Source | October 4, 2006

Tags:. .winners. .effort. .condition. .seriously. .pulling