Super Aguri target French Grand Prix for new car

IMOLA, Italy, Apr 24 (Reuters) Super Aguri have targetted the French Grand Prix on July 16 for the debut of their new car.

The Formula One newcomers also plan to run a third car in Friday practice from next week's European Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring to make up for a lack of testing elsewhere.

''It is a far more cost-effective solution,'' the team's financial director Wayne Humphreys told Reuters at the San Marino Grand Prix regarding the third driver, who could be announced later this week.

Super Aguri had planned at the start of the season to introduce their new car at Imola but that date was pushed back.

''The French Grand Prix is our target,'' said Humphreys. ''We actually want it just before that so we can do some testing for the Grand Prix, probably at Silverstone.

''We're just waiting for Honda to confirm the availability of some of the gearbox components which are critical in meeting that objective. All the other aspects of the car are on schedule. It should all be deliverable.'' Humphreys said the team, without a point so far this season, hoped to gain three seconds a lap with the new car, allowing them to fight with rivals Midland among the tailenders.

''It's pretty much a new car,'' he said. ''All the rear end is going to be new, the base monococque is an (Arrows) A23 but heavily modified. To be honest, it's not an Arrows any more. It's unrecogniseable as an Arrows.'' Super Aguri started the season with a developed version of four-year-old Arrows cars bought from former Minardi owner and Australian aviation entrepreneur Paul Stoddart.

One of them was painted in Minardi colours and on display at Melbourne airport as a show car while another chassis has just been obtained from an owner in the Netherlands.

That car will be returned at the end of the season in a Super Aguri format.

Reuters PM GC1739