2006 FRENCH GRAND PRIX – PREVIEW
Magny-Cours, Nevers
Since returning to its factory in Leafield from the North
American rounds of the 2006 Formula One World Championship,
SUPER AGURI F1 TEAM has been in full swing with its preparations
for the forth coming French Grand Prix, which marks the centenary
of ‘Grand Prix’ racing, and the introduction of
its new car, the SA06, due to debut at the Hockenheimring
later this month. With only 135 personnel in the SAF1 Team
to date, deadlines for each milestone reached so far have
been tough to achieve, but with a relentless hunger to grow
and progress, everyone in the team has given 110% in terms
of commitment and sheer determination.
Franck Montagny will be racing for the team once again in
the role of second driver at the French Grand Prix whilst
Sakon Yamamoto will continue in his invaluable role as third
driver for the Friday practice sessions. Sakon will then be
driving for SUPER AGURI F1 TEAM in the position of second
race driver from the German Grand Prix for the launch of the
SA06.
The French Grand Prix in 1906, staged near Le Mans, was the
first automobile race called a ‘Grand Prix’. It
was won by the Hungarian Ferenc Szisz, in a Renault, after
racing for two days and 1,238 kilometres. With the exception
of 1955, the French Grand Prix has been staged every year
since 1950. All in all, seven racetracks have been used: the
Circuit Nevers was preceded by Clermont-Ferrand (four times),
Dijon (five times), Le Castellet (14 times), Le Mans (once),
Reims (eleven times) and Rouen (five times). The only country
where an even larger number of racetracks (eight) are used
for Grand Prix racing is the USA.
The circuit at Magny-Cours has hosted the French Formula
One Grand Prix since 1991 and the Bol d'Or (motorcycle race)
since 2000. The 4.411 kilometres long track was re-designed
in 2003 and is a smooth circuit with many of the corners named
after other racing circuits, such as the ‘Estoril’
corner and the ‘Adelaide’ hairpin. It is a flat
circuit, with negligible change in elevation which does not
provide a lot of overtaking opportunities.
Takuma Sato
"The French Grand Prix will be the last race where we
compete with the current car, the SA05. We shall be using
our standard aero package so it will be a challenging weekend
for us. But even though we were on a low-medium aero package
for the North American races we must keep the momentum going
in terms of the speed and competitiveness that we achieved
there and hope that we have a good race."
Franck Montagny
“I am very happy to be going to Magny-Cours as other
F1 drivers really like this circuit. It has a fast chicane
and slow corners, so it has a good balanced mix. Our new car
was originally scheduled to be launched here but now it will
be the final race for the SA05 and so we shall do our best
and try to make a good race until we have the SA06 in Germany.”
Sakon Yamamoto
“I am very happy to be going back to Magny-Cours and
to be part of the celebrations of 100 years of Grand Prix
racing. The last three Fridays at race weekends with the SAF1
Team have taught me a great deal, but I also hope that I have
been able to give important and valuable information back
to the team. I know the circuit at Magny-Cours from my F3
driving days and so I am looking forward to driving there
again. The team is improving everyday and maintains its good
motivation, so I see no reason why we should not have a good
weekend in France.”
Aguri Suzuki, Team Principal
“Takuma qualified well and gave us our best starting
position at the last Grand Prix, but we had to retire from
the race and the result was very unlucky for the team. Our
goal remains the same, to have both cars finish the race and
hopefully improve on their finishing position. The team is
still very highly motivated and we are looking forward to
finally introducing our new car. Until we do we will continue
to struggle, but we will learn a great deal, as we have at
every race, from our participation with the SA05 in the French
Grand Prix."
|
