MAY 4, 2006

Montagny replaces Ide at Super Aguri

Super Aguri F1 have announced that Frenchman Franck Montagny will replace Yuji Ide in the race team starting at the European Grand Prix this weekend.

After struggling to get on pace with his Japanese team mate Takuma Sato in the first four races, the team demoted Ide to a testing role - acting on the advice of the FIA.

Montagny will make his first Formula 1 start at the Nurburgring - the first French driver since Olivier Panis retired in 2004.

Team Principal Aguri Suzuki said, "We accept the advice offered by the FIA to allow Yuji to accrue the mileage he requires to improve in Formula One during our testing days only. The team has made every effort to ensure that Yuji settled into his new F1 surroundings and I think that he has coped incredibly well under the circumstances. I wish that I could have given Yuji more time in the car before the start of the season, but with the team being put together so rapidly we were unable to allow him the proper testing that he should have experienced. I will continue to look after Yuji's interests and support his continuing efforts within the team, including his path back to a Formula One race seat. As a result, Franck Montagny will drive for us in the second race seat at the European Grand Prix."