NOVEMBER 28, 2002

Matsuura to test with BAR

British American Racing has offered Kosuke Matsuura, runner-up in this year's German Formula 3 Championship this year, the opportunity to test at Jerez next month. The 23-year-old Japanese driver will join Ralf Firman Jr at the test.

Matsuura has been racing in Germany in the last couple of years run by Agrui Suzuki's ARTA project, which has sponsored the Prema Racing operation. Prior to that Matsuura was the Formula Dream Champion of 2000 in Japan after a year in the Suzuka Racing School Formula. He thus has strong links with Honda, BAR's engine provider.

"Kosuke's test sees greater co-operation between BAR and Honda's respective driver development programmes, which is a key element of our long-term partnership," said BAR team boss David Richards.