 Anthony Davidson driving the SA08 at the2008 Malaysian Grand Prix | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Super Aguri F1 | ||||||||||
| Designers | Mark Preston (Technical director) Peter McCool(Chief Designer) Ben Wood(Head of Aerodynamics) | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | SA07 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Mouldedcarbon fibre and honeycombcompositemonocoque | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbone with pushrod-activated torsion springs and rockers,Showadampers | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | As front | ||||||||||
| Engine | Honda RA808E 2.4L 90°V8,naturally aspirated,mid-mounted | ||||||||||
| Transmission | 7-speedsequentialsemi-automatic | ||||||||||
| Fuel | BP | ||||||||||
| Lubricants | Castrol | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Bridgestone | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Super Aguri F1 Team | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 18. Takuma Sato19.  Anthony Davidson | ||||||||||
| Debut | 2008 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 2008 Spanish Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||||
TheSuper Aguri SA08 is aFormula One racing car with whichSuper Aguri F1 competed in the2008 Formula One season.
The SA08, similarly to the SA07, was a reworked design of the prior season's Honda F1 car - theRA107.[1]
Pre season testing did not start well for the team. At the scheduled January test inJerez,James Rossiter was limited to just 10 laps in three days of testing due to parts issues.[2] The team fared better at the February test, with driversTakuma Sato andAnthony Davidson completing consistent running of around 100 laps each per day.[3][4][5]
However, as the team progressed toward the season financial difficulties became apparent. While the SA08 passed its mandatoryFIA crash test, the launch was cancelled and the team did not attend the final pre-season test atCatalunya.[6][7][8]
Ahead of the first Grand Prix, it was understood the Magma Group were to acquire Super Aguri, and at this stage Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson were confirmed as the race drivers for the SA08.[9] Later, James Rossiter would be appointed test driver.[10]
At the first race inAustralia, the team arrived with the SA08 and unveiled the car officially during Friday practice. It was finished in a red, white and black livery however was bereft of sponsors.[11][12] Sato outqualified Renault driverNelson Piquet Jr. In the race, both cars would retire. Davidson from a collision involvingJenson Button,Mark Webber andSebastian Vettel whilst Sato suffered transmission failure on lap 32.[13]
InMalaysia, Sato once again qualified 20th this time ahead ofAdrian Sutil. Both SA08's were able to finish with Davidson in 15th and Sato in 16th.[14] ByBahrain, the SA08 was off the pace, with Davidson qualifying 21st behind Sutil by nearly four tenths of a second. Sato crashed causing wing and suspension damage to his car, leaving him with a best time that was over four and a half seconds slower than the best time of qualifying.[15]
The2008 Spanish Grand Prix would be the SA08, and the Super Aguri team as a whole's final Grand Prix. Qualifying on the back row once again, Davidson was forced to retire on lap 21 and while Takuma Sato was the final classified car in 13th place.[16]
Ahead of the next race inTurkey, the team's trucks were barred from accessing the circuit. The Magma Group takeover collapsed, and a later deal from the Weigl Group did not passHonda's scrutiny.[17] Therefore the SA08 would not race inFormula One again.[18][19]
(key)
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Super Aguri F1 Team | HondaV8 | B | AUS | MAL | BHR | ESP | TUR | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | EUR | BEL | ITA | SIN | JPN | CHN | BRA | 0 | 11th | |
| Sato | Ret | 16 | 17 | 13 | WD | |||||||||||||||||||
| Davidson | Ret | 15 | 16 | Ret | WD |
Super Aguri profile at GPRejects.com
