By Huw Alban
January 17 2006

Paul Stoddart, now that he is no longer associated with the sport of Formula One, has been quite outspoken. Freed from the politics of the sport Stoddy can now say what he wants and what he feels, and he's made some bold claims about F1's 11th team. Today has emerged news that Japan's Yuji Ide is the current popular choice to take the second race seat at Super Aguri making a complete Japanese line-up alongside BAR refugee Takuma Sato.

Super Aguri will be based at the old Arrows factory at Leafield, and when the teams assets were auctioned off Paul Stoddart used the opportunity to buy up huge quantities of equipment and tools and three Arrows A23 chassis. Super Aguri plan to modify these chassis to start the 2006 season, and Stoddart's cooperation has been essential in order that the team have the appropriate spares and equipment to maintain them.

The A23 chassis was a handy piece of kit and did shine on several occasions during it's short racing life in the 2002 season. I remember Heinz-Harald Frentzen blowing the opposition away when Arrows made a good pit call during a sudden rain shower at the British Grand Prix, until his Cosworth V10 gave up in the Abbey chicane.

Paul Stoddart seems to beleive that despite modifications essential for the chassis to conform to 2006 regulations, the A23 will be good competition against the brand new Midland M16 car. "I wouldn't bet against them beating (MF1)," the Australian was quoted as saying to Autosport. "I would not be surprised at all if they beat them," he concluded.

Midland are due to launch their new car officially on the 3rd of February and both Christijan Albers and the yet to be confirmed Tiago Monteiro have had nothing but good words to say about it. In addition the Toyota V8 has been receiving rave reviews from the driver talent in the works team, so on paper the new Midland package looks and sounds good.

It's true the we won't know the team's true form until it hits the track in the new car, but Stoddart's claims are more than speculative at best. Based on what we know and what we've heard, I'd put money on Midland being a regular top 10 contender come the end of the race ! I'd invite Paul Stoddart to put money against that !

Quote source: F1-Live.com