Aguri plan ’06 ‘driver swap’?
The prospective outfit's managing director, Daniele Audetto, is quoted as saying that Sakon Yamamoto – the Formula Nippon driver who steered Jordan's 'Friday' car at Suzuka – had moved into contention for the second race seat this year.
Yamamoto, to team up with countryman Takuma Sato, would be a healthy proposition in the team's bid to lure Japan's commercial backing. Another Formula Nippon star, Yuji Ide, was also linked to the ride, as is Super Aguri's IRL race driver, Kosuke Matsuura.
But Audetto also admitted that the experience and highly-rated talent of Honda tester Anthony Davidson would be an ideal choice.
However, he told Autosport magazine that it would not make sense to put the Briton in the initial Aguri car — the four year old Arrows A23. The UK-based team plan to unveil a bespoke chassis for Imola and beyond.
''It is not likely we will be fully competitive (with the A23),'' Audetto explained. ''It is better for Anthony to carry on with his role developing the Honda F1 car.''
''But that may change when we have our new chassis,'' he suggested.