Super Aguri OUT

Posted earlier this week, but as of today's Autosport:



Aguri dispatch transporter to Barcelona

The Super Aguri team have dispatched the first of their transporters to Barcelona for next weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, while remaining optimistic that a financial package can be put in place to overcome the collapse of their planned rescue deal.

Team co-owner Aguri Suzuki confirmed on Wednesday that potential buyers Magma Group pulled out of their takeover bid, leaving Super Aguri short on budget and unclear whether they would have the funds and the spares to compete in Barcelona next weekend.

But a source inside the team told Autosport on Friday that Suzuki remains locked in talks with alternative backers and that he had made 'some steady progress, but was not out of the woods yet.'

Super Aguri's long-term future is likely to remain in doubt until at least early next week, and it seems likely that Honda will be asked to subsidise the team until a new financial package can be put in place.

"I don't think there will be a decision until after the weekend," Super Aguri co-owner Fumio Akita told Reuters on Friday.

"It is likely to be Monday or Tuesday until we hear. It will be very, very tight."

Suzuki agreed a deal with Magma before the start of the season after Honda indicated over the winter that it was no longer prepared to fully fund a B-team in Formula One.

With regulations set to come in to force insisting on teams designing and constructing their own chassis from 2009 onwards, Suzuki set about looking for alternative backers to give the team full independent status.

But Super Aguri's on-track competitiveness has been badly affected by the Magma takeover, with the team completing minimal pre-season testing during the build-up to the Melbourne season-opener.

Since then Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson have been running on limited mileage, and were told to protect the cars over GP weekends to save spares, which are in short supply.

Super Aguri were the only team not present at this week's massive pre-European season test at Barcelona.

 

Feel sorry for all concerned, hate to see team's leave..

It's tough at the top and the bottom, hope Anthony Davidson can pick up a drive though.

 

+1

Doesn't the evil-pygmy get in trouble with "someone" (?) if the grid isn't comprised of 22 cars? - I can't think of who that "someone" might be as he seems to own everything anyway, and no doubt "force-majeure" (sp?) will be cited. But I suspect Bernie may step in "as appropriate"..... He did it with Minardi at one point if memory serves.....

Cheers,
Ian

 

Team Ferrarichat.
I've got ten bucks.
Who else is up ?

 

Let's get Anthony Davidson to America in a quality ride in the re-unified IRL.

 

Seriously; I don't see any reason for backmark teams to even exist given the present system.
Imagining to finish a season by going to the sponsor and saying " Sorry, no points this year, can I have $20 Million more for next year ?"
The best talent is either going to go to the best teams given equal payment or is going to ask for a premium to go backwards.
Backmark teams serve to act as a training ground for up and coming talent, fill an otherwise empty grid, and serve as a bench mark for midlevel teams.
FIA needs to expand points to the back of the grid and/or offer rules that equalise budgets more fairly.
If they cant then go to three car teams to fill the grid.

 

If the presidential candidates can raise millions by the web how about SA? It would be fun to see if world F1 fans could fund an F1 team for a few bucks a contributor. Could the world F1 fans out spend Ferrari and make SA a front runner? Now that would be something to see and I'd chip in.

 

first off, why did Honda stop supporting them?

 

Wasn't there a team that got denied entry this year? I say let as many teams as possible qualify each race for 20 spots. Or just let more teams on the grid.

 

I dont think they did Brian, they stepped it down to engine supply , I think they didn't want to totally fund a (B) team.

 

Nice Idea, only it take's more than just money I fear..

 

Steve, does this mean that they're just suppling engines and not funding the team? anyhow, i really hope they won't fold..

 

Yes, that's how I read it Brian, here is a link..http://www.saf1.co.jp/en/topics/2008/nws_080310.html

 

Funny idea! But I think the costs are just too high... works only with midpack football clubs

 

My guess is that Bernie will bail them out and keep them afloat for the rest of this season. Reason being, that it is economically cheaper to pay their bills than to have to renegotiate the contracts will all the race organizers this season: Bernie sells a 22 car grid. With only 20 cars, he is defaulting.

PS: Gisela, did you get my email about the 1/12 helmets? If not, PM me please.

 

I think so too Andreas about Bernie possibly supporting them, but I think Nick Fry was behind the ouster of Aguri from the factory Honda funding. They should have waited until they placed in the Top 3 before adding the Super to their title.

 

That's terrible news.