Super Aguri F1 team waiting for green light (Reuters) Updated: 2005-11-16 09:01
LONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The deadline for entries to next year's Formula
One championship passed on Tuesday with a question mark still hanging over a
planned 11th team.
Former Formula One driver Aguri Suzuki speaks
to reporters at Honda Motor Co headquarters in Tokyo November 1, 2005,
announcing that his Japanese team powered by Honda engines has applied to
join Formula One from next year. Suzuki's "Super Aguri Formula One" team
would become the 11th team on the starting grid if aproved by the sport's
ruling International Automobile Federation (FIA).
| The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA), who have confirmed
receiving an application from the Japanese Super Aguri team, said they will not
publish the final entry list until the beginning of December.
Four existing teams -- BAR, Sauber, Jordan and Minardi -- will change their
names subject to the approval of all the other six.
Sauber will be known as BMW Sauber F1, after the Swiss team was taken over by
the German carmaker, while Jordan have been renamed Midland F1 and Red
Bull-owned Minardi are to become Squadra Toro Rosso.
BAR, who will be 100 percent owned by Honda, have yet to reveal what they
will be called.
Super Aguri, run by former Formula One racer Aguri Suzuki, have already begun
advertising for race and test team personnel and engineers to work for them at
the former Arrows factory in Leafield, England.
"Nothing beats the challenge of Formula One. And the new Super Aguri F1 team
is more than equal to it," said an advertisement in Autosport magazine last
week.
However, while Honda are set to supply engines and technical support, the new
team must design and manufacture their own car under current rules.
|