Sakon Yamamoto has said he will be 'proud' to make his
F1 debut with the
Super Aguri F1 team next weekend at Hockenheim, when the Oxfordshire-based squad reverts to an all-Japanese driver line-up.
Yamamoto, who will partner
Takuma Sato, replaces Franck Montagny in the second Super Aguri car. Unlike Yuji Ide though, who was very much thrown into the deep end at the start of this season with very little experience, prior to losing his super licence after the first four grand's prix, Yamamoto has been out in the team's third car in Friday practice at the last four grand's prix and as such has gained valuable experience.
He also ran in the new SA06 this week, when he did the second day of the team's shakedown, when they shifted from
Silverstone to
Santa Pod.
"Our second shakedown on Thursday was another very good day for the team because we did not encounter any major problems and completed our testing schedule," he stated. "I felt that the car was improving constantly throughout the day so I am really looking forward to going to Germany next week.
"Hockenheim will be my first race with the SAF1 Team and I am, of course, very excited and appreciate everyone's hard work. I am very proud to be racing with the team and will try my best to improve, step-by-step, for everyone."
Super Aguri team boss, Aguri Suzuki meanwhile reckons that his outings on the Friday in practice will be crucial: "It is going to be Sakon's debut race at Hockenheim and I believe that his experience as third driver up to now should help him perform well in the race," concluded AS.
It is believed that Yamamoto will drive the second car now in all the remaining races of the season - although should he struggle too much, then Montagny will be hovering in the background, ready to play sub again.
