2006 GERMAN GRAND PRIX – FREE PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING
Hockenheimring, Hockenheim,
TAKUMA SATO - Car No: 22 (chassis SA06-03)
FP3 Position 20 No: of Laps 21 Best Lap Time 1:18.668
QUALIFYING Grid Position 17 Best Lap Time 1:17.185
SAKON YAMAMOTO - Car No: 23 (chassis SA06-03)
FP3 Position 19 No: of Laps 19 Best Lap Time 1:18.643
QUALIFYING Grid Position 21 (preliminary) Best Lap Time 1:20.444
T-Car SA05-01
Weather Hot and sunny Air Temperature 26-32°C Track Temperature
36-50°C
SUPER AGURI F1 TEAM enjoyed their best day yet as Takuma
Sato out-qualified their nearest rivals by 0.651 seconds in
his new SA06 to start the 2006 German Grand Prix in 17th position
tomorrow. Sakon Yamamoto, the youngest Japanese driver to
debut in F1, showed impressive handling of the new car during
the first half of final free practice this morning. Unfortunately,
whilst familiarising himself with the limits of the SA06,
Sakon left the track at the last corner of a flying lap and,
after hitting the wall, was forced to qualify in the T-car
this afternoon.
Takuma Sato
“This was an absolutely fantastic team effort and it
feels great. I know how hard it has been to bring the new
car here on such a tight schedule and overnight the boys worked
so hard. We had a few minor problems, which is usual with
a new car, but I think the SA06 is performing very well. We
have split the Midland car times straight away in our first
proper qualifying, which is a stunning job from everybody
in the team. I think that, considering this is just our first
step in the SA06, potentially this car could be very good.”
Sakon Yamamoto
“This morning we were practicing for the qualifying
session and we had a good car set-up, so during my first run
I was able to set really good lap times. We then tried a new
set of tyres and set-up and I wanted to know where the limit
of the car was, so I used 100% of the car’s performance,
but unfortunately I left the track. I am so sorry that the
team now has to work on my SA06 for tomorrow, but I am very
much looking forward to my first race.”
Aguri Suzuki, Team Principal
“Taku did a very good job in Qualifying today. However
we must remember that this is not our complete SA06 package
and that we still have to work very hard for every forthcoming
race. Sakon set consistently good times this morning, but
he pushed too hard towards the end. Hopefully both he and
Takuma will have a good race tomorrow and we will have both
SA06 cars cross the finish line here in Germany.”
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