Highlights

Aguri more nervous about second year in F1

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-03-14 13:39

Super Aguri team boss Aguri Suzuki is more nervous ahead of the upcoming Formula One season than he was before last year's debut campaign.

Super Aguri failed to score a point in 2006 and Suzuki acknowledged the pressure was on the Formula One tail-enders to secure a top-eight finish this season.

"I'm actually more nervous about this year," Suzuki told reporters in Tokyo before this weekend's season-opening race in Australia. "We are are finally lining up to race and not just to be on the starting grid."

Super Aguri will launch their new SA07 -- expected to resemble last years' race-winning Honda -- in Melbourne on Wednesday.

"Last year went by like a flash and there have been more sleepless nights making sure everything is right this year," said Suzuki. "But we won't know exactly how much progress we've made until race day."

Super Aguri's late launch has been shrouded in mystery, with rivals threatening protests if the car is too close to the RA106 that Briton Jenson Button drove to victory in Hungary last year.

Formula One rules say teams must design and build their own chassis.

Super Aguri joined the Formula One grid as the 11th team in 2006 using a revamped version of a four-year-old Arrows.

Japan's Takuma Sato and Briton Anthony Davidson will drive for the Honda-backed team this season.

"It's a dream come true to be involved on a Sunday," said Davidson, who started two grand prix for Minardi in 2002 and one for Honda in 2005.

"At least the car has been reliable and we haven't caused too many red flags -- if at all -- in testing."