Still unknowns in Aguri plans.

Despite confirming the team's intention to be on the grid when next year's grand prix world championship starts in Bahrain, Super Aguri F1 continues to be surrounded by unknowns, not least where its money and chassis is coming from.

Team boss Aguri Suzuki confirmed that an entry had been lodged with motorsport's governing body, the FIA, during a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday, but did not go as far as revealing sponsors, drivers or who would build/supply the team's chassis. All that could be confirmed was that Honda would provide engines, which was already known as it was the Japanese giant that revealed plans for F1's eleventh team, and that the cars could run on Bridgestone tyres.

Although money will always be a key element of any team, new or old, Super Aguri's biggest concern at present appears to getting around the clause in the Concorde Agreement which prevents it from simply buying or copying another team's cars.

Initial speculation linked the team, which will be based at the former Arrows factory in Leafield, to a supply of BAR chassis, either 2005 or 2006 vintage, but this would not strictly be possible within the rules. According to widespread belief, the regulation which claims that 'parts of the car must not be designed or manufactured by another constructor', defines 'constructor' as another team competing in F1. What the team would need to do is source the 'intellectual property rights' to whatever car it intends to run, and then out-source its construction to a third party. Sources have suggested that Panoz, which provides the chassis used by Super Aguri Fernandez Racing in the IRL has offered to help with the design and build.

Of course, nothing will be possible without sponsorship and, although grandprix.com had led with suggestions that Japanese communications giant Softbank may finance the operation, Suzuki was saying nothing when he met the press.

"Formula One is like a money pit," he told Reuters, "However much you spend, it's not enough, so we are aware of the need for strong backing. It's not like I walk about with that sort of money on me, so clearly we recognise that sponsorship is a crucial factor..

"We are in talks with several possible sponsors, and those talks are progressing smoothly, but I can't make specific comments until we've received the FIA's approval."

On the driver front, Takuma Sato is understood to be the favourite to sign, although he has yet to do so as he waits to see exactly how the team will be set up. Aguri's IRL driver Kosuke Matsuura has become the Japanese media's favourite to take the second seat, but other sources continue to suggest that Anthony Davidson will finally land a full-time race seat.