CART recruit Takagi admits to struggling in F1.

Having dominated the Japanese domestic scene this season, Tora Takagi graduates to Champcars determined not to make the same mistakes he made when the big time last beckoned.

Having performed well in the Formula Nippon series back in 1996, Takagi landed the role of test driver with Tyrrell which, within twelve months, had progressed to a full grand prix race deal. A second season in the top flight, with Arrows, followed, but on neither occasion did Takagi feel he had made the most of his opportunity.

His best finishes in his debut season were a pair of ninths at Silverstone and Monza, while the Arrows yielded similar results with an eighth at Sao Paulo and seventh at Melbourne beginning an ultimately disappointing campaign in promising fashion. At the end of 1999, Takagi made a difficult decision to leave Formula One and returned to Formula Nippon.

"I struggled with the performance of the car in F1," he readily admits, "but the difficulties on the track helped me gain superior concentration skills in my racing. The results from what I learned in F1 showed themselves in Formula Nippon (this year) as we had six pole positions, eight wins and the maximum points ever gained in a championship battle. These are all-time records in the series, and I am proud of my accomplishments."

After his dominating performance in Formula Nippon, Takagi decided to focus on a new goal for 2001, and joins the Walker Racing CART FedEx Championship team for 2001, with the support of Pioneer and Toyota. He is determined that the disappointment of F1 will not be repeated.

"I am very happy to be joining Walker Racing and the CART series," the Japanese favourite said, "It will be my first experience with oval tracks, so I'll be very focused on learning them as well as learning the car. I have much experience and confidence on street and road courses and I will try to drive them to my full capabilities from the very beginning. I cannot wait for my first test in January."

Toranosuke Takagi was born in Shizuoka, Japan on 12 February 1974. His love of racing was something that was a part of his life almost from the day he was born.

"My father Masami was a touring car racer, and before I could even think for myself, I was already spending weekends at the race track - My parents have the photographs to prove it!" he explains, "It was quite natural that I started to think about driving the car myself."

Takagi started racing go-karts at the age of twelve, the earliest age at which he could get a competition licence in Japan. He competed in the Japanese National Karting Series for two years (1987 and 1988) before becoming the series champion in 1989. This success was followed by a second national karting championship in 1990, when he won every race in the series.

The young racer graduated to Formula Toyota cars at the age of 18, where he won two races in his very first season. In 1993, Takagi moved up to Formula Three, improving on his standing every year he raced - tenth place in his rookie year, fifth in 1994, and second place overall in 1995 with three wins.

His skills and driving style helped him gain the nickname Tora - meaning the tiger - that has stayed with him through his move up through the racing ranks.

1996 saw Tora move up to the Japanese Formula Nippon Series, where he finished in 4th place for the season, posting two race wins, and leading, the following year, to the biggest opportunity of his life.

His mentor, Satoru Nakajima, was friends with Ken Tyrrell, having driven for the F1 veteran in the past, and arranged a Formula One test for Takagi. He was very quick from his very first outing on the track and won a spot as Tyrrell's test driver. What followed may not have been as spectacular, but Takagi has since bounced back - again in the hands of Nakajima - to gain a second shot at success.

Toranosuke 'Tora' Takagi - biography

Birthdate: 12 February 1974Birthplace: Shizuoka, JapanMarital Status: Engaged to YumikoHeight: 5'9"Weight: 135lb

Career highlights:

1987: Japanese A2 National Kart Series (8th)1988: Japanese A2 National Kart Series (4th)1989: Japanese A2 National Kart Series Champion1990: Japanese A2 National Kart Series Champion, winning every race1991: Japanese FA Class Kart Series (2nd)1992: Formula Toyota (2 wins)1993: Japanese F3 Championship Series (10th)1994: Japanese F3 Championship Series (5th)1995: Japanese F3 Championship Series (2nd, 3 wins)1996: Japanese Formula Nippon Series (4th, 2 wins)1997: Japanese Formula Nippon Series (6th, 1 win); Official test driver for Tyrrell F1 team; Porsche Super Cup1998: Formula One Driver for Tyrrell (best finishes of 9th in Italy and Great Britain)1999: Formula One Driver for Arrows (best finish of 7th in Melbourne and 8th in Brazil)2000: Japanese Formula Nippon Series Champion (8 wins)2001: Walker Racing driver in the CART FedEx Championship Series