Sato hails “amazing” trip to Japan with Borg-Warner Trophy
Reigning Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato says that Honda and BorgWarner gave him a unique opportunity to share his “incredible feeling” with his loyal home fans.
Mt. Fuji with the Borg-Warner Trophy
BorgWarner
Sato visited several key sites in Japan with the Borg-Warner Trophy on its first ever trip outside America. The unique trophy is insured for more than $3.5m and required the constant presence of expert “handlers” AJ Fairbairn, manager of Restorations Services, and Jason Vansickle, assistant curator at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
Sato and the trophy visited the Honda World Headquarters, the Honda “THANKS DAY” at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit, the BorgWarner facility at Nabari, the NSK-Warner plant in Fukuroi, the Sato Fan Day at the Yamano Beauty School – and even Mount Fuji.
Said Sato: “It’s been an amazing two weeks with the Borg-Warner Trophy. It’s special having so much support from the fans from east to west – it’s been a busy trip but such an incredible experience.
“I’d like to give the whole team a big ‘Thank You’ and to everyone who has supported this special, once in a lifetime project – especially Honda and BorgWarner – without both of them, this would have been impossible.
“A big thank you to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum to help make the trip to Japan happen – thank you, I really, really appreciate it!”
Sato’s fan club gathering saw over 800 of his loyal supporters in attendance, and he personally met with every fan in attendance. Fans filed up to the stage, some presented him with gifts, others just wanted to shake his hand, bow or hug him. In return he gave them a signed hero card featuring his image on the trophy and they then got a chance to pose with the Borg-Warner Trophy before they departed the stage.
“Having the Borg-Warner Trophy at my annual fan club is an incredible feeling to share with everyone, unbelievable. It’s all about appreciation. This is the reason I am standing here today – only because of everyone’s support. I feel really fortunate to receive this kind of support, very special.”
Sato, who switches from Andretti Autosport to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2018, added: “It was a really good year this year and equally I am looking forward to 2018. I get my Baby Borg to start the year in January so it will start in a memorable way, for which I am thankful.”
Scott Gallett, VP of marketing at BorgWarner Inc. said “Takuma’s enthusiasm and the fans’ appreciation was overflowing during the entire trip. The people’s reaction to seeing the Borg-Warner Trophy in person was something I’ll never forget. “BorgWarner is proud to help support all Takuma’s and Honda’s celebration events and we would like to publicly thank him for personally supporting our BorgWarner events. Takuma is a happy and humble champion for sure.”
“If the faces on the Borg-Warner Trophy could talk they would shout, ‘Thank you Japan!’”
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