Absolute Beginners
With Super Aguri all but confirmed to enter as the 11th Formula One team this season, the Japanese squad face a mammoth task of getting ready for the Bahrain Grand Prix grid in just a few weeks. Running four year old cars to begin with, and with their drivers line up unconfirmed, Aguri Suzuki's team needs a miracle or two to make a respectable entry into the sport. Will Gray talked to some of Suzuki's predecessors to find out what it's like to be an absolute beginner in the sport
When Takuma Sato spilled the beans on a new Honda-backed team set to make its debut in 2006, nobody believed it would happen. Even BAR-Honda boss Nick Fry seemed a little surprised by the whole thing and most paddock insiders thought it would simply be too much to create a new team from scratch in the six months between early October and early March. But against all odds, Super Aguri are getting close to doing just that.
The last fully new team to enter the sport was Toyota, back in 2002, and they did so with the mighty financial backing of a motoring giant and a full season of testing behind them. Super Aguri, in contrast, have bought up some old cars designed by a now-bankrupt team and although they may have secured sponsorship and an engine from Honda, their plans are far from tried and tested as the new season races ever faster towards them.
Share Or Save This Story
How Le Mans is using grape residues and hydrogen to drive a sustainable future
Schumacher: The Low Points
Schumacher: The High Points
Villeneuve: the Memorable Moments
Au Revoir Jacques
No Regrets: interview with Mark Webber
Michael: Williams will fight for 2006 title
Rising to the Challenge: Interview with Sam Michael
Erik Jones sidelined with compression fracture after Talladega crash
Alpine confident for 'good news' in Habsburg injury recovery
Ferrari "made too many mistakes" for podium fight at F1 Chinese GP
What is a wildcard in MotoGP and why is it used?
How motorsport is embracing the opportunities of AI
The unlikely series providing an open door to innovation
Autosport writers' most memorable moments of 2023
How a lost Lotus that could have revolutionised Can-Am finally came to life
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
