Q & A WITH GRAHAM TAYLOR, SPORTING DIRECTOR, SAF1 TEAM
Q. The most significant change for trackside operations
in 2007 comes in the form of understanding the new control
Bridgestone Potenza tyres. How has the team adapted during
winter testing?
Graham Taylor, Sporting Director: I believe we have made
a very solid start in understanding and getting the most from
the 2007 Bridgestone Potenza tyres. SUPER AGURI F1 TEAM was
able to achieve a very strong relationship with Bridgestone
during is first year and we are reaping the rewards of this
now.
Q. What adjustments have been needed to get the most
from the tyres?
GT: There are many set-up changes that a modern F1 car holds
within its arsenal and all of these have been explored during
our winter testing program. The playing field has been flattened
by the introduction of a single tyre manufacturer for F1 and
SAF1 Team hopes to capitalise on this. It would be remise
of me to detail those settings that benefit and others that
do not, but I feel that our Engineering staff have a good
understanding of how to maximise the abilities of this year’s
tyre. However with the tyres effectively now controlled I
predict the gap from the front to the back of the grid will
foreshorten to 2.0 seconds.
Q. The sporting regulations also allow for a third
car to be run on Friday, which is now considered a test day.
What will this change in the team's operations?
GT: Our philosophy does not change, we will endeavour to
push forward as much as possible. The new regulations actually
restrict the number of cars to two rather than the three we
were able to employ in 2006. The extra track time on Friday
is extremely useful to smaller teams such as ourselves and
we will utilise to the best of our abilities.
Q. What are your expectations for SAF1 Team’s
performance?
GT: I am expecting the performance levels to take a natural
step forward. Please be reminded that SAF1 Team is still only
15 months old, but we are ambitious and we wish to compete
with teams further toward the front of the grid. We are targeting
achieving our first World Championship point and when we accomplish
this it will be a momentous time for Aguri and his little
Team.
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