`It will be fascinating to watch`
Former Jordan racer turned A1 Team Ireland driver Ralph Firman has given his support to the new Super Aguri F1 team which had its entry into the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship confirmed last week. Firman raced Aguri Suzuki’s Team Honda Racing ARTA NSX into second place in the 2005 Japanese Super GT series and is confident Suzuki can be successful in Formula One.
“I am delighted for Aguri Suzuki because he’s not only achieved a huge amount as a driver but also as a businessman and team owner,” said Firman, fresh from a highly competitive showing in the South African round of the A1GP series in Durban. “He is a very competitive individual and experienced at pulling together strong teams with good financial support. His business skills are clearly very good. Although he has put this Formula One programme together very quickly, I am confident he realises the challenge that lies ahead and will impress everyone with the way in which he tackles it. It will be fascinating to watch.”

Firman, whose own rookie Formula One season with Jordan was blighted by suspension failures and a huge accident at the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix caused by rear wing failure, believes Honda’s opportunity to win in Formula One will be enhanced its involvement in the Super Aguri F1 programme.

“Honda is a fantastic company to work with and, whether it’s in Super GT or Formula One, they compete to win. I am sure that the feedback they get from having both the works Honda F1 team and the involvement in Super Aguri F1 will benefit them as the season progresses. I do not believe it will compromise either team, quite the opposite in fact. Honda F1 has a very strong driver line-up with Jenson and Rubens pushing hard to win, and I am sure Super Aguri F1 will have drivers capable of scoring points this season. That would be a terrific result in the team’s first year.”

Firman is A1 Team Ireland’s principal driver and achieved the team’s first podium finish in the Portuguese round of the series in Estoril. He is also planning to compete again in Japanese Super GT this season, and recently completed a successful test in the Team Honda Racing NSX at Sepang, Malaysia.

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