Saturday Review – Great Hopes for Super Aguri

Super Aguri did not conduct any private testing this winter due to a lack of financial resources. The team found funding from Honda, its parent company, to participate in this 2008 season, but the performances are being affected today during the qualifications.

The team occupies the back of the grid, whether in free practice or qualifying, but both the drivers and management remain reassuring and very optimistic for the rest of the weekend.

Takuma Sato – 21st and 20th:

« With the current circumstances, I am really very pleased with how the day has unfolded! »

« We started off poorly yesterday, but we have improved and caught up well on this Melbourne track. »

« I appreciated his qualifications without traction control. At first, I was a bit off-balance, but then with the grip that developed, I managed to find a good balance in the single-seater to complete a clear and fast lap… We hope first to be able to finish the race tomorrow, before confirming the results afterwards. »

Anthony Davidson – 22nd and 22nd:

« It was a difficult qualifying session for me. With a limited number of laps completed before qualifying due to various issues, it was complicated. »

I have hope that things will improve tomorrow. I achieved a similar time to the Force India before having to slow down because of the yellow flag. So I kept the last place and it’s disappointing!

Graham Taylor – Sporting Director:

« We have a lot of data to analyze today. We are satisfied with the results obtained in qualifying given that we did not do a test this winter. Furthermore, we are not so far since Sato is ahead of a competitor. »