It is rare in modern day Formula One for
a new entrant to enter the series without buying an existing
team.
With the blessing of manufacturing giant Honda, Super
Aguri joined Formula One for the 2006 season and fronted
by former Zakspeed, Larrousse and Footwork racer Aguri
Suzuki with Daniele Audetto taking the Managing Director
position.
The team's debut season was based around a revamped Bridgestone-shod,
Honda-powered Arrows A23 chassis purchased from former
Minardi owner Paul Stoddart and adapted to the 2006 regulations
and re-branded the SA05. The team brought out a heavily
modified design mid-season which was known as the SA06
despite the fact it was still the original Arrows chassis
from 2002.
Takuma Sato joined the team from Honda and after a troubled
season in 2005, put in a great year for the new Super Aguri
Honda team. Sato's confidence in the team and his own driving
improved throughout the year culminating in a super drive
at the season finale in Brazil in which he would take the
chequered flag in tenth position, the team's best result
of the year.
In contrast to Sato, rookie driver Yuji Ide was out of
his depth and the FIA stripped the Japanese driver of his
Super Licence. Former Renault test driver Franck Montagny
took over the seat for seven races mid-season before Sakon
Yamamoto was drafted in for final seven races of the season.
Having survived and made progress in its
debut season, Takuma Sato will remain with the squad in
2007 and it was announced on November 15th 2006 that he
was to be joined by long-time Honda test driver Anthony
Davidson for the 2007 season.
