Formula One will feature 11 teams for the first time since 2002 after the Super Aguri outfit were today given the green light by world governing body the FIA.
Super Aguri, founded by ex-Formula One racer Aguri Suzuki, were left off the initial 2006 entry list after failing to lodge a £27million bond with the FIA in time.
That left the Honda-backed team needing unanimous backing from all 10 rivals, as well as approval from the FIA.
With support from all 10 existing teams, Super Aguri's final hurdle was the backing of the governing body, which has now been confirmed.
The new team will use adapted Arrows chassis from the 2002 season with Honda engines before introducing their own car at the start of the European season at Imola at the end of April.
Takuma Sato is certain to be Super Aguri's lead driver, with one of the main reasons behind the team's entry being to keep the popular Japanese driver in
Formula One.
His team-mate for the initial races of 2006 looks likely to be another Japanese driver, although Honda tester Anthony Davidson could switch mid-season.
Sakon Yamamoto, who impressed in a one-off Jordan test last year, is a leading candidate, as is Roger Yasukawa, who drives for Super Aguri's Indy Racing League team in the United States.
