Super Aguri SA05

The Super Aguri SA05 was the car with which the Super Aguri team competed in the first half of the 2006 Formula One season. It originally was developed from the Arrows A23 designed in 2002 by Mike Coughlan and Sergio Rinland. The project was overseen by former Arrows engineer Mark Preston, who brought several other ex Arrows employees back with him.[2]

Super Aguri SA05
The SA05 of Takuma Sato
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorSuper Aguri
Designer(s)Mike Coughlan (Technical Director)
Mark Preston
(Engineering director)
Sergio Rinland (Chief Designer)
PredecessorArrows A23, Minardi PS04B
SuccessorSA06
Technical specifications
ChassisCarbon-fibre monocoque with honeycomb structure
Suspension (front)Wishbones, pushrod-operated torsion bars and dampers. Mechanical anti-roll bar
Suspension (rear)Wishbones, pushrod-operated torsion bars and dampers. Mechanical anti-roll bar
Length4,666 mm (184 in)
Width1,800 mm (71 in)
Height950 mm (37 in)
Axle trackFront: 1,472 mm (58 in)
Rear: 1,422 mm (56 in)
Wheelbase3,100 mm (122 in)
EngineHonda RA806-E 2.4 L (146 cu in) V8 naturally aspirated, 19000 rpm limited mid-mounted
TransmissionSAF1 carbon composite material main case 7-speed semi-automatic paddle shift
Power650–750 hp (485–559 kW) @ 19,500 rpm[1]
Weight600 kg (1,323 lb) including driver
FuelENEOS
LubricantsCastrol
TyresBridgestone
Competition history
Notable entrantsSuper Aguri F1 Team
Notable drivers22. Japan Takuma Sato
23. Japan Yuji Ide
23. France Franck Montagny
Debut2006 Bahrain Grand Prix
Last event2006 French Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
11000
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

The decision to use the A23 as the base chassis for the team's debut car was in part because the team was disallowed from using BAR's 2005 F1 car (BAR being Honda's predecessor team).[3]

From the A23, the car used a new monocoque, new aerodynamic package and rear end engine parts. The original A23 used a V10 Cosworth engine, and thanks to the new engine regulations for 2006, the engine installation had to be redesigned to accept the smaller Honda V8.[4]

The SA05 was driven by Takuma Sato, whose firing by the works Honda team had played a significant role in creating the team, and also was driven by inexperienced Japanese rookie Yuji Ide and long-term Renault test driver Franck Montagny.

The team was created at short notice, partly due to Honda's unwillingness to leave the popular Sato without an F1 drive. The team, led by former F1 driver Aguri Suzuki, was funded by Honda and used Honda engines. The chassis, however, was based on the Arrows A23 from 2002, which the team purchased from Paul Stoddart,[3] who had in turn bought these cars after the Arrows team collapsed and used them for developing a new Minardi known as the "PS04".[5] The gearbox was also from Arrows, as was the suspension design, which was unchanged from 2002.[6]

The year was one of exploration and learning for the team. The car was predictably the slowest during pre-season testing, but a new aerodynamic package was introduced before the first race in Bahrain which brought the team closer to the others.[7] Although the car was on average the slowest, it was not by a big margin, and Sato impressed by racing with faster cars. Ide, however, was out of his depth, and his Super Licence was taken away[8] in part after a spectacular collision with Christijan Albers' Midland at the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix.[9][10] He was subsequently replaced by Montagny, who was much closer to Sato's pace.

The team's increase in personnel and support from Honda allowed them to prepare the SA06, which was used from the German GP onwards. At that stage of the season, the team were 11th in the Constructors' Championship, with no points.

The Super Aguri SA05 was the first non-Brackley Honda-powered F1 car since the Jordan EJ12.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Points WCC
2006 Super Aguri Honda V8 B BHR MAL AUS SMR EUR ESP MON GBR CAN USA FRA GER HUN TUR ITA CHN JPN BRA 0 NC
Japan Takuma Sato 18 14 12 Ret Ret 17 Ret 17 15† Ret Ret
Japan Yuji Ide Ret Ret 13 Ret
France Franck Montagny Ret Ret 16 18 Ret Ret 16

References
  • Henry, Alan, ed. (2006). AUTOCOURSE 2006-2007. Crash Media Group. pp. 84–85. ISBN 1-905334-15-X.
  • "Super Aguri SA06". racecar-engineering.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008.
  1. "Engine Honda • STATS F1".
  2. "Preston linked to Aguri operation". 4 November 2005.
  3. "2006 car won't be ready - Super Aguri". GPUpdate.net. 2005-12-22. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
  4. "New Aguri planned for French GP". GPUpdate.net. 2006-04-24. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
  5. "Minardi confirm back-to-back Arrows test". GPUpdate.net. 2003-07-23. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  6. Smit, Dylan (20 May 2020). "White Walker - 2006 Super Aguri SA05 Honda". DriveTribe. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  7. "Unexpected Resurrection - 2006 Super Aguri SA05 Honda (Double Trouble Part 2/2)". Carmrades. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  8. "Ide loses super license". motorsport.com. 2006-05-10. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-05-13.
  9. "Rookie Ide axed for European GP". news.bbc.co.uk. 2006-05-04. Retrieved 2007-05-13.
  10. "San Marino 2006: Schumacher's Imola role reversal". Autocourse. 2006-04-23. Retrieved 2007-05-19.
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