Motor Racing: Takage signs for Tyrrell

The British Formula One team, Tyrrell, have signed the Japanese driver, Toranosuke Takagi, as one of their grand prix drivers for next year.

Tyrrell announced that they had signed up the 23-year-old for the 1998 championships, after he proved "impressive" as a test driver, with more than 1,200 miles behind the wheel for the constructors this year.

Takagi, who will be the sixth Japanese to become a Formula One regular, has also competed in Japan's F3000 Formula Nippon series and secured pole position in four of the seven rounds so far this season.

"Tora is already a star in his own country, and we believe he has the potential to become the best Formula One driver Japan has ever produced," Bob Tyrrell, the team's commercial managing director, said.

Tagaki will join up with Jos Verstappen at Tyrrell, while the Finn, Mika Salo, is transferring to Arrows.

Fisa, the governing body of international motor sport, will consider bringing back Friday qualifying sessions for Formula One Grand Prix races next season at its annual meeting in Paris today.

Friday qualifying was dropped this season and only the Saturday session is being used to decide the starting grid.