It may be wishful thinking, but the
Super Aguri F1 team is on its way to Barcelona for this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, in spite of being told that a proposed takeover bid had been shelved last week.
The
Formula One minnow started the season staring into a financial abyss, but appeared to have been pulled back from the brink of extinction when UK-based Magma Group announced that it would take over the team. Although it contested the three season-opening grands prix in Australia, Malaysia and Bahrain while details were being thrashed out, SAF1 naturally thought that its campaign was safe.
However, not long after returning from Bahrain, the team was informed that Magma was putting its bid on hold, following the withdrawal of a fellow back, thought to be Dubai International Capital, the consortium in protracted negotiations to take over Liverpool Football Club.
While speculation swirled regarding the future of Super Aguri last week, with insiders admitting that it was relying on either technical partner
Honda or F1 ringmaster
Bernie Ecclestone - or both - to safeguard its future, things took a positive turn on Monday, with the revelation that the transporters had left for the Circuit de Catalunya
en route to the grand prix weekend. The team did not take part in last week's group test at the circuit, claiming that it had never planned to do so.
"I have heard that the cars are being transported to Spain," co-owner Fumio Akita told
Reuters, "They're on the way, that is the latest information I have."
While morale may be boosted by participation in this weekend's fourth round of the season, the longer term remains an uncertainty for SA
F1. The team will continue to approach alternative backers, especially as Honda has stated that there are no plans to increase its involvement in the team beyond its current technical association. Ecclestone has not responded to suggestions that he may become involved.
