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The build up to Super Aguri
By nGO
March 9 2006
A team founded and built in record time, and encountered many challenges on their way to competing in the 2006 f1 championship. Handicapped through underfunding and under prepared in regards to all other teams, Super Aguri fights on, their Story begins here.

Aguri Suzuki the founder of the team, has had an Illustrious career as both a racing driver and team principle, Having reached highs of achieving an f1 podium in his home race, to lows of not prequalifying for a whole season. His entrance into f1 was not without pedigree, Aguri having numerous race teams on opposite corners of america and Japan. His teams have been quite successful fielding racers such as Ralph firman but as many will agree, stepping up into f1 is totally different. A fair amount of the personnel that make up Super Aguri were former Arrows employees, who fill much of the top ranks. These include people such as Daniel Audetto who has also worked with teams such as ferrari and in 2003 with renault. Other People include Mark Preston, who worked in mclaren with Adrian Newey. Preston thought seriously about starting his own f1 team, so when a senior position became available to him in the Form of Chief technical officer at Super Aguri f1, he could not refuse.

Super Aguri got off to a rocky start having had their application rejected by the FIA. But they were determined to get in and through the help of Honda and Ecclestone, all ten teams agreed, the $48 million bond was paid. There was only the small problem of getting the cars ready for Bahrain, turning out of date cars which were not 2006 compliant in terms of safety and aero specfication, into modern legal f1 competitors.

Super Aguri managed to get a modified chassis although not 2006 aero spec legal, and test it in Barcalona. However, things got off to a bad start as the car was plagued with mechanical problems and only on the last day were the team able to cover a meaningful amount of mileage.

A week on and their first ever 2006 competitor is unvealed, to a baptism of ice. Silverstone proved harsh as the icy conditions stopped any real running, both drivers only completing a handful of laps.

Now their first ever season is looming, it has been a very exciting four months during which time Super Aguri has grown, battled, challenged and suprised on their way to becoming an f1 racing team.

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