Super Aguri to further delay new car

The Japanese team have impressed many with the job they have done so far this year with the developed 2002 Arrows A23, but the outfit have always insisted that it was only a stop-gap solution before their definitive challenger hit the track.

The original idea was for the team to switch to an updated version of last year's BAR007 hybrid car for the San Marino Grand Prix later this month, but that date slipped back while discussions took place with Honda about getting hold of the car.

Following a series of recent meetings, however, Super Aguri have been told that they will now not be able to use the BAR007 car at all.

This is because of fears about it breaching the terms of the Concorde Agreement, which dictate teams must design and build their own cars, and also because Honda's F1 team do not want to divert any of their attention away from their own efforts on track this year.

Super Aguri's managing director Daniel Audetto admitted the news on the BAR car was a setback, but made it clear the team already had a back-up plan in place to aggressively develop their current SA05 car until their own new SA06 was now ready.

"The car is delayed now," he told autosport.com. "We have to make a completely new SA06 without much help from Honda, because they have to focus on their own situation.

"We think it will not be before Silverstone probably, so we have decided to go in parallel in developing the SA05 with developments that carry over to the SA06."

Speaking about the improvements expected to be fitted to the SA05, Audetto said: "We will have a new gearbox, we will get the centre of gravity lower and we will also work on the weight distribution.

"We hope to reduce the weight and also have some ballast to improve the situation. Also there will be some aerodynamics which will come from the SA06 development."

Although Scuderia Toro Rosso have been able to run last year's RB1 chassis because technically it does not breach the terms of the Concorde Agreement, it is believed that Honda are reluctant to release their old car so easily on two grounds.

The first is that their F1 team are still under a suspended ban after their disqualification from the San Marino Grand Prix last year, and any actions that leave them open to dispute could leave them exposed to further punishment from the FIA.

Also, unlike Red Bull Racing, Honda have not yet committed to F1 beyond 2008. Ahead of discussions with the FIA about future rules, the company is believed to be reluctant to press ahead with any activity that would compromise its bargaining position with the FIA.

When asked whether he thought the situation could change in the next few weeks, and that Aguri could persuade Honda to release the BAR007, Audetto said: "I cannot force Honda to change their mind, so we have to go our own way."

Although Aguri have done an impressive job this year considering how quickly the team were put together, Audetto has made it clear that they are not going to rest on their laurels - and that they were determined to end the year in the top 10 of the constructors' championship.

"We have done quite well, but it is not well enough to be in the top 10," he said. "Our target this year is to finish in the top 10. Still we are about two seconds slower than the Midland and, even with the improvements to the aerodynamics, the centre of gravity and the gearbox I don't think we can catch up with them.

"So we need the new car as soon as possible to get in the points."