Kato confident ART can fight in the ‘top five’ for the rest of the season

Taito Kato is confident that he and ART Grand Prix can fight at the front for the rest of the season.

The Japanese driver’s Formula 3 career got off to a fine start in Melbourne, qualifying seventh before finishing third in the Feature Race – achieving his maiden podium in the championship.

Since then, Kato revealed he has spent quite a lot of time in Japan, not only spending time with family, but also training and putting on weight to be ready to go racing again.

“I was quite relaxed in Japan,” joked Kato. “Normally I am in Japan for quite a short time because I live in Europe right now. It was a good time to refresh my body.

“I ate a lot of Japanese food, which is the best in the world. It's good preparation for the next rounds. So it was a good holiday with some good training in Japan as well.”

Kato has also spent time with ART since Melbourne going through all the positives and negatives from their weekend in Australia.

The 19-year-old said it was very clear to both him and the team what went well and what needs to improve moving forward.

“Looking at everything was very positive to be honest,” said Kato. “Everything was clear and we know the issues.

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“What is quite positive is that things were quite clear, we have the potential, and we know it is there.

“I think the car is capable of fighting in the top five for sure. Formula 3 is quite tight, especially in qualifying, so I have to be inside the top 10 every time. That is the most important thing.

“I think the car is good, I have nothing to say about it, it’s just issues with myself. So I just need to keep pushing. I think I was doing pretty well in the Round 1, so I will do the same things for Round 2 as well.”

Next up for Kato, ART and the rest of the paddock is a trip to Spielberg for two days of in-season testing, and the Japanese rookie jokingly admitted that he is “scared” to get back in the car having not driven since Melbourne.

Kato will be in France with the team doing some simulator work before then, with an eye on Monte Carlo where he will be racing for the first time.

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“I will be scared but I did Macau as well,” said Kato on driving in Monaco for the first time. “Macau went pretty well, I adjusted quite quickly, so I think I have good confidence.

“Macau is the most difficult track in the world, the most challenging of circuits. I think Monaco is not as difficult to be honest.

“I think the average speed is a bit lower than Macau, so I have confidence for Monaco. But I think second year drivers will have the experience, so there is quite a big gap. But I have to adjust as soon as possible, and then just focus on the qualifying.”