06/03/2006
NEWS STORY
Super Aguri joins the elite group of teams in 'the pinnacle of motorsport' when it arrives for its first FIA Formula One Grand Prix in the Kingdom of Bahrain this week.
It has taken only four months for Team Principal Aguri Suzuki to build an entirely new Formula One team - a feat that many doubted could ever be achieved.
The team conducted its only three-day test of the winter period in Barcelona last month where it successfully completed its systems programme and compound selection of Bridgestone tyres for Bahrain. Although bad weather hampered running during the team's shakedown of the SA05 car at Silverstone last week, the 2006 aerodynamics package showed encouraging results. Both Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide have tested the SA05, albeit with very limited track time. The team has therefore completed only 598.2 kilometres during testing, with the shakedown of the SA05 race cars contributing a mere 30.3 kilometres. Despite this fact, the team is united in its pride and is looking forward to the challenge that lies before them.
Takuma Sato: "I am very excited to be going to Bahrain with a brand new team. They have done a great job to ensure that we made it to the first race - and that is a fantastic achievement. We shook down the car with our 2006 aero package last week and although we did not get to do much running due to bad weather, the car worked well immediately.
"It will feel very different starting the season in Bahrain. The circuit in Sakhir provides an exciting race, but it is demanding on the car, especially on the brakes due to the number of low-speed corners and the heat. We know that it will be a difficult start for what will be a very challenging year, but we are very much looking forward to it."
Yuji Ide: "I have been studying race simulations to learn the Bahrain circuit and the braking for the first corner looks challenging! I have never visited Bahrain, so I am excited to go. I am expecting tough conditions as it is my first F1 race but also because of the hot weather. I have driven in the heat at Sepang in Malaysia for Formula Nippon, but I know that dry heat will be very different. Whenever I race in hot conditions I am very careful to monitor my liquid intake and take care of what I am drinking for my re-hydration. The anticipation of my first Formula One race is nearly over and I am very excited about it."
Aguri Suzuki, Team Principal: "The first race of the 2006 F1 season is a milestone for Super Aguri. It is an amazing achievement that we have put together an F1 team in only four months and I am very proud of everyone involved.
"As a new team we have many personnel who are new to Formula One and we are all very much looking forward to arriving in Bahrain. We know that we will experience very hot weather and high track temperatures, so a top priority will be looking after our tyres during the race. At our test in Barcelona we finalised with Bridgestone our tyre choice for Bahrain and the Honda engine has been running well. We know that we have a challenging year ahead, but we are determined and have great team spirit which we hope you will see this weekend."