’07 Aguri fails crash test

UPDATE Because of the delay in getting the car redesigned and crash tested again, Autosport is reporting that the new Super Aguri car probably won't get unveiled until the F1 season opener in Australia.

01/23/07 Super Aguri's 2007 car has reportedly failed its mandatory FIA crash test.

It is widely believed that the car, to be designated 'SA07', is controversially a development of the 'RA106' that Honda raced in formula one in 2006. Super Aguri is already using last year's Honda in winter tests.

The Honda-powered team evidently made chassis modifications to the sides of the cockpit and the rear structure so that it would pass the stricter tests introduced for 2007. The setback could now delay the launch of the car until late February.

It is understood that the SA07 specifically failed the new rear-impact test after passing the frontal test. Whether the car passed the side test is not known.

Super Aguri was hoping to get the car running early next month.