Super Aguri out on track.

[egomeister]

www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=110014


Great to see the car turning a wheel - they have achieved an astounding amount in such a short space of time!

[mikereynolds]

two of mates are working for them at the mo!

[c6erb]

I hear they're using an old Arrows chassis.

[skibum]

Good to see Sato back to his old tricks and spinning and sticking it into the Kitty Litter on their first test



although I did read that it was lashing with rain and they were testing traction control type stuff so fair enough - still made me chuckle though

[egomeister]

c6erb said:

I hear they're using an old Arrows chassis.

Yep, they've updated the 2002 Arrows chassis for the start of the season. The plan is to introduce their own car in the European season.

[woody]

egomeister said:

c6erb said: I hear they're using an old Arrows chassis. Yep, they've updated the 2002 Arrows chassis for the start of the season. The plan is to introduce their own car in the European season.

Am I the only one who thinks this is a mistake?

Looking at there testing times (I know they aren't using the proper Aero package etc) wouldn't they have been better off not using the old Arrows and building/testing there own chassis and then turn up to the European rounds when its ready?

Or is there a stipulation by Max and Bernie that you shall attend the first race?

Does the 107% qualy rule still apply? - if it does I think they'll struggle.

I hope I'm wrong because the more teams the better - and they should be applauded for getting a car on track in the short amount of time they've had.

Chris

[egomeister]

Yep they need to attend all the races or face huge penalties, so the arrows chassis keeps them "legal" until the new car comes. It's given them a lot of extra work, but it means they are out this season. If you remember back to the final days of arrows (Germany I think) I seem to remember them doing the bare minimum to attend a race (something like a single lap in qualifying).

The rule was introduced to ensure a certain level of quality and commitment from competing teams to prevent the massive churn of shoestring teams seen in the late 80's/ early 90's. I think the FIA regulated too much because it meant you need massive backing to start a team - for instance Jordan could never have been founded under the current regs.

[t1grm]

All they are going to do is trundle round at the back making Midland and Scuderia Toro Rosso feel better by not being last all the time. In fact do they still have the 107% qualification rule? If so I’d be surprised if they even qualify for half the races.

So why bother?

OK it’ll be a few nice weekend jollies for the team management and their sponsors and entourage, where they can rub shoulder with the beautiful people but, it’s not exactly adding anything to the spectacle of the sport is it? (apart from maybe a few mobile chicane inspired incidents with the leaders)

[egomeister]

t1grm said:

All they are going to do is trundle round at the back making Midland and Scuderia Toro Rosso feel better by not being last all the time. In fact do they still have the 107% qualification rule? If so I’d be surprised if they even qualify for half the races. So why bother? OK it’ll be a few nice weekend jollies for the team management and their sponsors and entourage, where they can rub shoulder with the beautiful people but, it’s not exactly adding anything to the spectacle of the sport is it? (apart from maybe a few mobile chicane inspired incidents with the leaders)

You'd rather other teams didn't bother entering the sport then? I'd much prefer seeing people giving it a go, than a future where half the teams are owned by manufacturers and the other half are owned by Dietrich Mateschitz (as much as I applaud Red Bulls entries into F1)

I would imagine that for everyone concerned within the team 2006 wasn't the ideal season for their debut, but commerecial pressure have presumably pushed them towards this (primarily Honda wanting Sato to be racing) Aguri Suzuki has founded a number of stable & solidly funded teams in the lower categories since his retirement and I don't see why Super Aguri cannot establish itself as a credible F1 team over the next two or three seasons.

[Gringo2006]

More teams the better in my opinion.

Not sure if the 107% rule still applies, but it could/can be over ridden if all the teams agree.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Gringo2006 said:

More teams the better in my opinion. Not sure if the 107% rule still applies, but it could/can be over ridden if all the teams agree.

With the knock out system, I'm not sure it does.

[Digital]

There's a new 110% rule, according to Autosport.

[daydreamer]

Digital said:

There's a new 110% rule, according to Autosport.

Yes, but that states that any lap that is over 110% quicker than the slowest time that you have recorded will be disalowed.

The 107% stated that you had to be within 107% of pole. It is still on the books I beleive, but hasn't been used since the advent of race fuel qualifying. I'd be surprised if it was resurrected, based on the support that SA appear to have from the powers that be.