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[Denthúl]

This is awesome news, the man clearly deserved a second chance and I think the 2009 car will suit him much better than the 2008 car did. And if he doesn't have all that bad luck again, I can see him having a pretty good season. I rate him as better than Buemi, who has done little to impress me, though I've not been watching him for too long. Maybe he'll change my opinion. Anyway, story from Autosport:

Bourdais confirmed at Toro Rosso

By Matt Beer Friday, February 6th 2009, 08:17 GMT

Toro Rosso have confirmed that Sebastien Bourdais will return to the team for a second season in 2009.

The four-time Champ Car champion's Formula One career looked like it might be short-lived when he seemed to be falling out of contention for the second STR seat over the winter as the team sought additional funding.

But yesterday autosport.com revealed that Bourdais would return to testing duties with them next week and was set to be announced as GP2 graduate Sebastien Buemi's teammate for 2009.

"It has been a very long and difficult winter, but now the waiting is finally over and I am really excited about tackling my second season with Scuderia Toro Rosso," said Bourdais.

"I would like to thank Red Bull and Dietrich Mateschitz for this opportunity to continue with a team that made so much progress last year.

"Now, I can focus on preparing for the coming season. It promises to be a very interesting one, thanks to all the rule changes and I'm also looking forward to establishing a good relationship with my new teammate, Sebastien Buemi, to ensure both of us do the best possible job for the team and for Red Bull."

Buemi, Bourdais and former Honda and Super Aguri driver Takuma Sato had taken part in a testing shoot-out for the Toro Rosso drives before Christmas, although it was clear that the team's need for sponsorship was going to be an important consideration as well as the drivers' performances.

Bourdais struggled to match former teammate Sebastian Vettel for much of his F1 debut season. But he made progress in the latter part of the year - and team boss Franz Tost hopes he can build on that in 2009.

"After one year with Toro Rosso, we expect him to profit from the experience he gained last season," said Tost.

"He now knows the F1 environment, the race tracks and the team. In addition, the slick tyres, which make a comeback this year, should suit his driving style very well.

"Therefore he will tackle the coming season with much more experience under his belt. This will be especially valuable given that our other driver, Sebastien Buemi, is an F1 rookie, who has come up through the ranks of the Red Bull Junior Driver programme."

Today's announcement means that all the spaces on the F1 grid are now filled pending developments with the sale of Honda Racing.

[7UpJordan]

YES!! Come on Bourdais! You've still got the powerful Ferrari engine and Newey's car to work with!

[McLaren Fan]

Good news. I think Bourdais showed much promise last season.

[Jabberwocky]

I think this years F1 cars are closer to Chump Cars so I think he will have a bit of an advantage.

[Rivelution]

Hell Yeah!!!! I'm glad they made a wise (and obvious) choice.

[darwin dali]

Man, that was like pulling teeth

[liquidmetal]

good for him .... bourdais definitely deserved a 2nd chance ... he was distinctly unlucky last season (engine stall @monza in the front row, going frm 3rd to 6th @spa on the last lap, fuji fiasco etc etc) ... hopefully his luck will be better this time

[Hanwombat]

WOOP WOOP

Totally deserved

[texasmr2]

That is definitely great news .

[cap-dude]

Gawd what a farce. Did they really need to wait that long to decide to keep the same driver.
Even the whole thing with Alonso last year went quicker.

[7UpJordan]

Sato's starting to sound like Ralf!!

Sato still focused on Formula One return

Japan’s Takuma Sato believes he still has plenty to offer Formula One racing, despite missing out on a 2009 race seat with Toro Rosso to Sebastien Bourdais.

“I strongly feel that I have unfinished business in F1 and that I still have a lot to give,” said the former Super Aguri star, after Bourdais was confirmed on Friday.

“I am determined to stay in top level motorsport and I will be fully focused on making a return to F1 as long as any opportunity is there.”

Sato, who lost his Super Aguri drive when the team folded four races into 2008, tested three times for Toro Rosso over the winter and looked to be a strong contender for the seat.

“I am not sure what my future holds,” he added. “I will be discussing with my manager what our next steps should be.

“I want to thank all my supporters who have been absolutely fantastic with their loyalty. I will always remember these fantastic relationships we have built and hope we can one day repay this support.”

Sato’s manager, Andrew Gilbert Scott, admitted he was “extremely disappointed” with Toro Rosso’s decision and suggested that financial considerations may have played an important role.

“Taku had showed tremendous speed and commitment during the three tests he did for the team and I believe he proved to be the faster driver,” said Gilbert Scott. “Unfortunately, however, the team made no secret about the fact that they would need the drive to bring a substantial amount of funding to the team to secure the drive.

“We have all been working very hard and have been able to attract a significant amount of sponsorship to support the team but unfortunately it was obviously not enough to secure the drive.”

It means that Sato will not be on the grid for the Formula One season opener for the first time since 2003.

Two words for you, Taku. FAT CHANCE.

[McLaren Fan]

A nice bit of revisionism from Scott Andrews there, too.

[Rivelution]

Feb.8 (GMM) Sebastien Bourdais will buck the trend in 2009 by combining his formula one campaign with the Le Mans 24 hour race.

The French sport daily L'Equipe said the 29-year-old, who was confirmed for this season by the Red Bull-owned team Toro Rosso just last Friday, is to contest the world famous event in mid-June for Peugeot.

"I will be with Peugeot on Monday to speak at a press conference," Bourdais confirmed. "If I participate, it will be to win."

Le Mans-born Bourdais, who has raced the 24-hour event six times - first as a 20-year-old in 1999 - last contested Le Mans for Peugeot in 2007 when a full-time Champ Car driver, and finished second.

He admitted that the 2009 pre-season has been among the most difficult of his entire career, with Toro Rosso leaning towards signing the well-financed Takuma Sato.

"The driver choice was firstly all about finding sponsors, then less so," Bourdais told L'Equipe.

"In the beginning the budget dropped significantly, but then the cost saving measures for 2009 were introduced that will save the Red Bull teams $100 million.

"The cards were shuffling constantly until the situation we arrive at now. So, for me, it did not turn out badly. I tried not to take it personally and knew that it was linked to the economics.

"(Manager) Nicolas Todt tried in every way to secure partners but it didn't go the way he wanted because of the difficult economic environment.

"There were times when it was really difficult, but at least on a sporting level I knew the team had a real desire to stay with continuity for a second season (with me)."

http://www.motorauthority.com/f1/bourdais-to-combine-f1-with-le-mans_7450.html

[GarethStr]

Poor Sato, i quite enjoyed his antics on the race track, but it is good for Bourdais. He has to live up to Prost now the only Frenchie i can think of

[7UpJordan]

Feb.8 (GMM) Sebastien Bourdais will buck the trend in 2009 by combining his formula one campaign with the Le Mans 24 hour race.

The French sport daily L'Equipe said the 29-year-old, who was confirmed for this season by the Red Bull-owned team Toro Rosso just last Friday, is to contest the world famous event in mid-June for Peugeot.

"I will be with Peugeot on Monday to speak at a press conference," Bourdais confirmed. "If I participate, it will be to win."

Le Mans-born Bourdais, who has raced the 24-hour event six times - first as a 20-year-old in 1999 - last contested Le Mans for Peugeot in 2007 when a full-time Champ Car driver, and finished second.

He admitted that the 2009 pre-season has been among the most difficult of his entire career, with Toro Rosso leaning towards signing the well-financed Takuma Sato.

"The driver choice was firstly all about finding sponsors, then less so," Bourdais told L'Equipe.

"In the beginning the budget dropped significantly, but then the cost saving measures for 2009 were introduced that will save the Red Bull teams $100 million.

"The cards were shuffling constantly until the situation we arrive at now. So, for me, it did not turn out badly. I tried not to take it personally and knew that it was linked to the economics.

"(Manager) Nicolas Todt tried in every way to secure partners but it didn't go the way he wanted because of the difficult economic environment.

"There were times when it was really difficult, but at least on a sporting level I knew the team had a real desire to stay with continuity for a second season (with me)."

http://www.motorauthority.com/f1/bourdais-to-combine-f1-with-le-mans_7450.html

It used to be quite common for F1 drivers to do both F1 and the old World Sportscar Championship during the same season, as well as Le Mans. I would like to see Bourdais' efforts re-start this trend.