Preview of Super Aguri at San Marino

By
May 3 2006

Three weeks on and Super Aguri return closer to home for the next race in San Marino after a three week test in Barcelona. After taking a small breather, and arriving at San Marino with a better understanding of the SA05, the team looks forward to another positive race.

In Australia Super Aguri managed to survived the carnage, and for the first time both cars finished the race, which claimed 10 cars. Super Aguri will be looking to improve on their previous performances hoping that they can start slashing the margin between them and the other teams down.

Having finished every race so far, Sato feels San Marino will be another challenging venue, "The start of the European season means that the team will be in its new motorhome, which will be exciting to see. Following the two-week break the team is now refreshed and looking forward to the San Marino Grand Prix. Imola is a unique circuit - classic and narrow with a bumpy surface. We use a lot of kerb throughout the race, so car set-up is very important. The weather is often cold which makes the driving conditions very different from the first races of the season. Our car has good straight-line speed, but the chicanes and high-speed corners will make this race another challenge for us."

Ide grows more confident after finishing his first race, however technical problems meant he could not test in Barcelona, but he is working hard and will be looking to improve on his pace for Imola, "I am disappointed that I was not able to drive during the test in Barcelona last week as I really need to complete more miles and spend more time learning the car. I want to finish the next race as I did in Australia and hopefully be able to run a little faster. It is my first European race so I am looking forward to it and have been studying the Imola circuit during the break."

Aguri Suzuki is satisfied with the team even though Barcelona did not go according to plan, "After three fly away races I am sure that the team members were glad to return home. In the time we have had back in the UK we have been able to work on the car and participate in an important test in Barcelona. The team was not able to complete its entire programme but was able to achieve a greater understanding of the SA05 as this was the car's first full testing programme. So I am content with our progress as the team flies to Italy for its first European race."