Drivers not a priority, says Suzuki

The former Grand Prix driver unveiled his plans for Super Aguri Formula One in a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday, although admitted that beyond a customer engine deal with Honda and a supply of Bridgestone tyres, little else was firmed up for 2006.

News of the team first leaked out prior to the Japanese Grand Prix when ex-BAR driver Takuma Sato claimed he had been offered a drive with the team. Suzuki himself has admitted, however, that nothing is definite about his driver line-up yet.

"We are at a nice stage in talks with Takuma," said Suzuki. "I'd like to see him racing with a good team and he'll want that too. Our goal is to build a team he will want to drive for."

BAR test drivers Anthony Davidson and Adam Carroll are also strongly linked with drives at the team, although Japanese newspapers have also speculated that Super Aguri IRL driver Kosuke Matsuura could also be in the frame.

"It could be two Japanese drivers or one Japanese driver," explained Suzuki. "It could even be two foreign drivers. Right now we are in a race with time and we have other priorities."

Suzuki did make it clear, however, that he wanted his team to have a strong Japanese flavour - although he was keen to distance himself from talk that it would be a Honda junior team.

"We are a Japanese team - that's very important," he said. "But we aren't Honda's B-team by any means. Our goal is to have the Japanese 'rising sun' raised above the podium."