Super Aguri F1: Formula One team

The team was founded by former F1 driver Aguri Suzuki. They were based in Tokyo, Japan. They operated from the former Arrows factory in Leafield, UK. The cars were called Super Aguri-Honda because they used Honda engines. The team was, to some degree, an unofficial Honda second-team. In Japan, public pressure convinced Honda to help its former driver Takuma Sato to continue in Formula One. This lead to the start of Super Aguri F1, and the engine supply from Honda. The team competed two full years, and part of the third year. After four races in the 2008 season, the team withdrew due to financial problems.

Super Aguri

Full name	Super Aguri F1
Base	Leafield, Oxfordshire, UK
Founder(s)	Aguri Suzuki
Noted staff	Mark Preston Daniele Audetto
Noted drivers	Takuma Sato Anthony Davidson Franck Montagny Sakon Yamamoto Yuji Ide
Formula One World Championship career
Debut	2006 Bahrain Grand Prix
Races competed	39
Constructors' Championships	0 (Best result; 9th, 2007)
Drivers' Championships	0 (Best result; 17th, Sato, 2007)
Race victories	0
Points	4
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
Final race	2008 Spanish Grand Prix

The team started in September 2005. on 1 November 2005, the team told the FIA its wanted to enter the 2006 Formula One World Championship. The FIA did not approved Super Aguri's entry. It was reported that the team failed to give the required $48 million entry bond on time. Super Aguri applied for entry again in 2006. Because they missed the initial registration, the team needed the existing ten teams to agree to its entry. The other teams gave the required unanimous agreement. Super Aguri was confirmed by the FIA on 26 January 2006.

 

In 2006, the chassis, Super Aguri SA05, was based on the 2002 Arrows A23. The Arrows chassis was bought from ex-Minardi principal Paul Stoddart.Stoddart had bought them when the Arrows team went bankrupt. Super Aguri updated their old chassis to become the Super Aguri SA06. They were used from the German Grand Prix to the end of the year.

Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide were the initial race drivers for the team in the 2006 season. Franck Montagny as the third driver. On 4 May, after four races, the team announced that Montagny would be replacing Ide as race driver. Ide's Super Licence had been revoked after a clash with Christijan Albers.

For 2007, Super Aguri announced Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson would be driving for the team.

When the new SA07 car was first tested by the FIA, it failed the crash test. It was less than 48 hours before the first practice session for the Australian Grand Prix that the SA07 chassis was ready. At the Spanish Grand Prix the team scored its first point. Takuma Sato finished in 8th place. At the Canadian Grand Prix, the team scored its highest finish. Sato finishing in sixth place and earned three points.

For 2008, Super Aguri kept their drivers Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson following the acquisition of an unspecified portion of the team by the Magma Group became a part owner of the team. The team did not attend the final pre-season tests. Not all the parts had arrived. Magma canceled their proposed purchase, leaving Super Aguri's future in doubt. Super Aguri's equipment was denied entry to Istanbul Park for the Turkish Grand Prix. Honda Racing's CEO Nick Fry reportedly told the race organizers that Super Aguri would not be taking part. On 6 May 2008, team founder and principal Aguri Suzuki announced that they were withdrawing from the 2008 World Championship due to financial problems. He said the breach of contract by SS United Group Oil & Gas Company resulting in the loss of financial backing. The team was in financial difficulties.

A team of corporate recovery partners were appointed to seek a buyer for Super Aguri. The team's assets were bought by a German businessman named Franz Hilmer. Hilmer unsuccessfully to enter the 2010 season under the Brabham name.

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Points	WCC
2006	Super Aguri SA05 Super Aguri SA06	Honda RA806E 2.4 L V8	B		BHR	MAL	AUS	SMR	EUR	ESP	MON	GBR	CAN	USA	FRA	GER	HUN	TUR	ITA	CHN	JPN	BRA	0	11th
				Takuma Sato	18	14	12	Ret	Ret	17	Ret	17	15	Ret	Ret	Ret	13	NC	16	DSQ	15	10
				Yuji Ide	Ret	Ret	13	Ret
				Franck Montagny					Ret	Ret	16	18	Ret	Ret	16
				Sakon Yamamoto												Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	16	17	16
2007	Super Aguri SA07	Honda RA807E 2.4 L V8	B		AUS	MAL	BHR	ESP	MON	CAN	USA	FRA	GBR	EUR	HUN	TUR	ITA	BEL	JPN	CHN	BRA		4	9th
				Takuma Sato	12	13	Ret	8	17	6	Ret	16	14	Ret	15	18	16	15	15	14	12
				Anthony Davidson	16	16	16	11	18	11	11	Ret	Ret	12	Ret	14	14	16	Ret	Ret	14
2008	Super Aguri SA08	Honda RA808E 2.4 L V8	B		AUS	MAL	BHR	ESP	TUR	MON	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	EUR	BEL	ITA	SIN	JPN	CHN	BRA	0*	11th*
				Takuma Sato	Ret	16	17	13	WD
				Anthony Davidson	Ret	15	16	Ret	WD

^* Team withdrew from championship after race 4. They did not field any drivers or cars in any further races that season.

 

Wiki Commons has media related to Super Aguri F1.

• Official site on 2 May, 2008 from Internet Archive
• Magma Group Archived 2010-08-22 at the Wayback Machine