Super Aguri F1 Team heads for Round 17 of the 2006 Formula One World
Championship at the Japanese Grand Prix. The SAF1 Team, which was
'Born in Japan', has been eagerly awaiting its 'home
race' at the Suzuka Circuit and the team's arrival in Japan
this week has been enthusiastically anticipated by Japanese and
international racing fans alike.
The Honda-owned Suzuka Racing Circuit is situated on Honshu, the largest
of the Japanese islands. Considered by many to be a true drivers'
circuit, the 18-turn, figure-of-eight track is unique in the Formula One
calendar. A lap of the track begins with a fast 7th gear bend that
tightens to lead into a series of fast S-bends. Spoon Curve and the
legendary 130R are the other great challenges of the
track, with possible overtaking opportunities in the Casio Triangle
chicane and occasionally at the first corner or at the Turn 11 Hairpin.
Takuma Sato:
"Suzuka will be extremely challenging both mentally and physically
for us this year. We are really upbeat after a great race in Shanghai and
we should have a very strong package now. Suzuka has an equal number of
the right and left- hand corners and most of them lead straight into each
other, so it is important to have the absolutely right balance of the
car, which I believe we can achieve after our successful testing at
Silverstone last month."
"We are firmly concentrating on performing well at
this race as this will be not only our first, but our only chance to
visit Suzuka this year, so we are passionate to have a good weekend for
our fans. I cannot wait to share the massive support that I have had over
the years as I am sure that all the team will feel it."
Sakon Yamamoto:
"This really is my home grand prix because I was born very close
to Suzuka. When I was eight years old I went to see the F1 race there and
ever since that day I have wanted to be an F1 driver. So I joined the
Suzuka Kart Racing School when I was 12 years old and that was my first
step into motorsport. I drove my first Formula car at Suzuka and what I
could see from the car was just like what I had been watching on the TV!"
"I have grown up with the Suzuka circuit, so I cannot help but be excited
to be going to the Japanese Grand Prix for the first time as a Formula
One driver and with a Japanese team. Last weekend in China I finished an
F1 race for the first time, so this is a good step for me going to Suzuka
this week. I am really looking forward to seeing all of the Japanese fans
and I will try to do the best, even more than usual, in front of my home
crowd."
Aguri Suzuki, Team Principal:
"The Japanese Grand Prix is the most important race of the year for our
team. We developed the SA06 almost with Suzuka in mind. There will be
many Japanese and Super Aguri F1 Team fans coming to Suzuka to support us
this week and the atmosphere will be amazing when we arrive. I hope that
Taku and Sakon will have a good race and I know that the team will be
giving 110% at their home grand prix."
-credit: super aguri
