Today, Super Aguri has left Formula One adding another team to the graveyard of has-beens.
Started in 2006 on former Formula One driver Aguri Suzuki's dream, Super Aguri barely made it to the season opener in Bahrain with the bad combination of a 2006-spec Honda engine and a four-year old Arrows chassis. Under drivers Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide, the latter retired due to a mechanical failure while the former finished four laps adrift of the leader. It was a humble start for Aguri.
Aguri raced all season with the smallest budget in the paddock. Their fortunes slowly turned around that season by setting small goals and releasing an updated car at the German Grand Prix, and they ended it with a top-ten finish, courtesy of Takuma Sato, in the season-closer in Brazil.
A highly spirited first run, with Aguri Suzuki praising his team on every little achievement they had. They were the little team that could.
When the 2007 season came about, Super Aguri, using the previous year's Honda chassis, improved even more. Takuma Sato, in Spain, took the team's first ever point and the most memorable event was Sato again, passing Fernando Alonso in the much faster McLaren-Mercedes for position at the chaotic 2007 Canadian Grand Prix. Along with that pass and many other events, Super Aguri took three points from that race, and it seemed to be the beginning of something great.
The rest of 2007 didn't see any other points finishes, but leading their backer, Honda, for most of the season certainly boosted morale in the team. It was there that their budget troubles were starting to show.
2008 began with the hopes of a financial backer. Firstly, the backer came in the form of the Magma Group, using money from Dubai, but that collapsed shortly thereafter. However, the team's spirits were not dampened. After the team's transporters were parked outside the gates to the circuit in Turkey, Aguri Suzuki tried, in futility, to get a deal working with Weigl.
That was not successful, and it is here that we are gathered to honour a fallen team. Take a moment to remember the Super Best Friends, a team with a lot of spirit, which is a must in Formula One, but not enough money.
R.I.P. Super Aguri
2006-2008
Comments (4) Add a comment »
from 10 days ago
Its a crying shame. Super Aguri were one of the more exciting teams in Formula One and Takuma Sato is a favourite of mine since his explosive driving proved the only talking point in 2002. I fear we have seen the last of him now.
from 9 days ago
Super Aguri's disappearance will have dire consequences; it's a shame honda pulled the plug on their sisters team!!
from 9 days ago
I'm sure they will be back some time or another, maybe with a different name/owner. All the logistics, factories, garage spaces, engineers, cars, labs....these things tend to take care of themselves in formula 1. I'm thinking one of the rejected candidate teams will fill their spot. Prodrive? Watch this space...
from 7 days ago
It is a shame. Sir Jackie Stewart said that the easiest way to get into F1 is by buying a team not starting from the beginning. I think we need another team out there to keep everyone honest.
I have heard a rumor that Stoddart may contemplate a return to the F1 grid, and considering his daughter is racing in DTm perhaps this could be an interesting offer for F1. Imagine if a privateer team put a woman on the grid before Honda will.
While privateer teams are interesting I would love to see Maseratti or Aston Martin pick up the ball and see if they can go anwyhere.
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