Triple ChampCar champion Sebastian Bourdais enjoyed a day behind the wheel of a Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula One car today, completing 82 laps of the Jerez circuit and setting a lap time just 0.7s behind regular driver Vitantonio Liuzzi. It has been four years since Bourdais last drove an F1 car – then for Arrows and Renault – and not able to join the ranks of Formula One, the Frenchman decided to dominate the American ChampCar series instead.

Unfortunately for Sebastian, his test with Arrows in 2002 proved uneventful for him, as the team folded shortly after his apparent signing. His second F1 test of 2002 was with the Renault team, but Bourdais couldn’t agree terms with Flavio Briatore, and Sebastian moved to America to compete in the ChampCar championship. However, despite his dominance in the United States, Bourdais said today that he is still looking for a Formula One drive and hopes this test will aide this dream.

The testing opportunity that Sebastian is currently enjoying has been arranged by Nicolas Todt – son of Ferrari’s Jean Todt – and Bourdais will continue to drive for the remainder of the week.

This test was made possible thanks to Nicolas Todt, with whom I work from now on.
I am happy to team up with him and I hope that this test is only the beginning and that it will lead to even more beautiful and greater things. Sebastian Bourdais.

Formula One, F1, Winter Testing, Sebastian Bourdais, Scuderia Toro Rosso, ChampCar