TOKYO : Former Japanese star driver Aguri Suzuki announced on
Tuesday he would lead a new Formula One team next season with
engines supplied by Honda Motor.
Suzuki, 45, said his "Super Aguri Formula 1" had submitted an entry
form to Formula One's governing body, the FIA, last week.
"I'm filled with the desire to hoist Japan's flag on the podium as
a constructor or team," Suzuki, who became in 1990 the first
Japanese to score a podium finish in a World Championship round,
said.
"I have joined many races. If I look at them as mountains, F1 is
like climbing Mount Everest. No one knows what will be waiting for
us ahead ... but I will do my best," he said.
The team will be based in Langley in Oxfordshire in Britain and use
the factory of disbanded F1 team Arrows.
"We will use Honda V8 engines but the drivers are undecided,"
Suzuki told a news conference at Honda headquarters in Tokyo.
Suzuki said Japanese driver Takuma Sato, who was rejected by the
BAR-Honda team last season, could be one of the drivers.
"We are in talks with Mr Takuma Sato and are also negotiating with
several other drivers," he said.
Suzuki said the team was also negotiating with possible sponsors as
"F1 is a world in which you can never have enough money."
Asked about news reports that Japanese Internet firm Softbank would
provide financing, he said: "I would be grateful if such a major,
wonderful company becomes our sponsor."
Suzuki also said he wanted to ask Japan's Bridgestone to supply
tires.
Further details of the team will be announced between late January
and early February, he said.
While the team has Honda backing, Suzuki denied it was the Japanese
automaker's second team, saying Super Aguri Forumula 1 was
original. Honda will own the BAR-Honda team outright next year. -
AFP/de