Super Aguri denied access to Istanbul

When did it become Nick Frys responsibility to inform the Formula One Management on who is racing each weekend? If Super Aguri failed to pay for engines or owe Honda money, then that is between the companies and Honda should simply do what Cosworth did to Arrows and block them from using the equipment one way or another. However blocking them from the paddock simply isn't on.

It just seems Honda have to create the biggest fuss every where they go. Every week its something new, whether it be screwing up pit stops, creating the worlds most laughable car whilst putting in more laughable claims, pathetic pit stop strategies, etc. It's like 1 continues soap opera with Honda, and now they are dragging others into it?

There is some sort of irony here really. Super Aguri was only create because Honda realised what a down right god-awful PR decision it was to drop Sato, and needed a place for him to go. And who better than Aguri Suzki to screw over right? Former Mugan Honda test driver, runs a poor IRL team, who of course have Honda engines, and he is Japanese. Hell, give them some money, shove Sato in there, and Davidson since he is a Honda driver, wait till the fuss over Satos sacking dies down and then dump Super Aguri at the side of the circuit by any means possible - even if it means screwing them over.

Perhaps Nick Fry should be more concerned with the running of his own circus then sticking his nose into other teams potential business deals and bringing yet more negative attention on the sport.

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Dave - perfect, everything summed up there!

Actually agree with what was said on Fry. Somebody a little higher up the chain of authority needs to shut him down, because he seems to be a bit of a loose cannon IMHO.

Backmarker or not, the loss of any team is a blow to the sport...



"There are some pikeys there at Turn 10 putting tarmac down - what do you think of that?" - Martin Brundle

@ Gav

On the theme of Japanese commentators..
The scorer is Honda too..

The Spanish commentators upset, the Japs sounding like they're constipated... so much fun :P

Jagdpanzer Wrote:
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> Actually agree with what was said on Fry. Somebody
> a little higher up the chain of authority needs to
> shut him down, because he seems to be a bit of a
> loose cannon IMHO.
>
> Backmarker or not, the loss of any team is a blow
> to the sport...


Nick Fry acting on his own initiative? Dont believe it, this is very much a Honda decision.

So a company with sales of 130 million euros in 2007 is going to take over a team that costs at least 30 million per year to run and has accumulated 60 million in debt.

One might as well guess that while Weigl Group might be able to finance some of the operating costs so that Aguri might just about make the grid it still leaves the question of debt unresolved.

The board meeting in Tokyo this week will be very interesting.

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Red_Bull Wrote:
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> Nick Fry acting on his own initiative? Dont
> believe it, this is very much a Honda decision.

Agreed. This isn't Mr. Grin deciding that SA had no place in F1. The most involved he'll have been is advising on any impact this is having on their own team to Honda HQ and then simply being a PR guy. If it's his decision on the way this is apparently being carried out, then it leaves a lot to be desired, but personally I think it's fair to say this is well outside his jurisdiction.

My opinion on this is Nick Fry had better have some bodyguards watching him closely, 'cause there's gonna be some angry Japanese fans if Super Aguri go under because of what he may or may not have said to the FOM this weekend.

It'd be a shame to see them go under, because, if we're honest, Super Aguri basically saved Honda's blushes last year for building a sh*te car and allowing them to use a modified race-winning chassis, which in turn was based on 4 years of very quick chassis. However, Honda are a very proud company, so it'd be no surprise to see them take action against the opposition in an unconventional way.

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GPGSL S5 Race driver for IED.

The board meeting is scheduled for tomorrow and should the board approve the offer there's nothing stopping SA from racing in Turkey.

Fry is seriously jumping the gun speaking on behalf of the board that hasn't yet met.

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At least SA bringing some result for Honda as whole, whereas Honda goes onto build sh*te cars two seasons in a row. Nick Fry should really have been fired when Ross came into the team.

Well bringing Ross in has allowed Nick to do what he does. Whilst instead of saying go copy Mclarens sidepods, Ross can actuallly look over the development of the car and know whats going on.

As for this, it may be that Nick Fry knows a little more than the rest of us and knows the outcome of tommorrows meeting. Who knows, maybe he can time travel.

If the buyer can not support Aguri, which seems to be what Nick thinks, then it is in Honda's best interest not to let them race I guess, though Honda do not own Aguri, so does Nick have any right in stopping them ??

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"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL

If the buyer can not support Aguri, which seems to be what Nick thinks, then it is in Honda's best interest not to let them race I guess, though Honda do not own Aguri, so does Nick have any right in stopping them ??

No, that is the issue. Honda/Fry have nothing to do with the situation at all. Yes, Honda supply engines to Super Aguri, but if it is a question of paying for the engines then that should be taken out in the same way Cosworth/Arrows was solved. If the buyer cannot support Super Aguri then it is not in Hondas interest in the slightest what Super Aguri do.

It is just Honda sticking there nose in where it is not wanted, using Fry as the spokes person.

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(GMM) An official Super Aguri source has now confirmed that the team's equipment trucks and motor home have been locked out of Istanbul's Otodrom venue.

Less than a week before the Turkish grand prix there, it emerged that officials at the circuit - which is owned by F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone - denied Super Aguri access when they arrived to prepare for Sunday's race.

The trucks are therefore parked outside of Istanbul Park, which is located in Akfirat county on the Asian side of the city.

The source confirmed on Monday that Super Aguri team members were told by Otodrom officials that they had been instructed by Formula One Management (FOM) - Ecclestone's company - to restrict their access to the paddock.

Upon contacting FOM, Super Aguri management were then told that Honda's F1 CEO Nick Fry had instructed Ecclestone that the struggling team would not be getting a green light to compete in Turkey.

The source told us that the paddock lock-out is designed to prevent Honda the embarrassment of having Super Aguri on the scene if the manufacturer's executive board rejects the proposed Weigl buyout in Tokyo on Tuesday.

It is understood that Super Aguri chiefs Aguri Suzuki - who is already in Japan - and Daniele Audetto are now pushing hard to have the Tuesday meeting fast-forwarded to Monday.

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Honda can petition for SA liquidation any time they want. If an investor cannot support SA then there's no point in them racing and it would make sense for Honda to try and recover the money invested through the sale of SA assets.

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Exactly that Dave.

So I was very disappointed that it didn't happen and it was only with great support from Honda that we were able to race at Barcelona.

From Satos interview on ITVF1.

To me, that says Honda provided the financial backing to allow SA to race last weekend. They cant support two F1 teams for two race weekends in a row can they.

So I guess Honda took the precaution of not allowing SA to race just in case the buyout was refused, but then if it was accepted they would be allowed to race at Magny or where-evers next !

Makes sense to me, just it looks like Honda havent exactly executed it well have they, making Nick Fry look the bigger w*nker than he already appears and probably giving Honda a worse image than if the buyout failed !!!

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"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL

Honda SHOULD be providing the financial backing. As I already said, the only reason Super Aguri exist in Formula One was to save Hondas ass when they sacked Sato and the Japanese fans declared they would boycott Honda cars. Aguri was dragged over from the States and given everything he needed to setup what Honda wanted. And now that the fuss over Satos sacking is done and dusted, Honda will screw Aguri and ruin the team, making them drop out of F1, and making them look like the bad guys for not giving Sato a car to race.

Honda got what they want. They got off the hook. Now they just need to get rid of Aguri and everything is back to tip top - even if it means screwing a few Honda contracted drivers.

It's down right disgusting in all honesty, but I should have expected it from the likes of Honda.

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So what would happen at the end of the season? Should Honda give Aguri total support and facilities so they can produce their own cars? Hire their designers? Fund their running? Host their corporate guests?

Aguri were screwed over the moment the FIA ruled that each team must manufacture and build their own cars. Just like Dave Richards effort they don't have the infrastructure in place to survive in F1 on their own. Given 5 years or so, who knows, but unless they can secure a stable couple of years, they were always going to die after 2008 anyway. All Honda have done is bring that almost inevitable fate forward.

DaveEllis Wrote:
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> The source told us that the paddock lock-out is
> designed to prevent Honda the embarrassment of
> having Super Aguri on the scene if the
> manufacturer's executive board rejects the
> proposed Weigl buyout in Tokyo on Tuesday.


yet its okay to embaress teh small team who have worked their butts off for teh past two years?

and Fry's an arse, wouldn't it of been the much manlier thing to actually inform Super Aguri that they wouldnt let them be competng in Turkey and had instructed the FOM as such, instead of allowing them to drive their trucks and stuff teh breadth of europe first?

Sim

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DaveEllis Wrote:
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> Honda SHOULD be providing the financial backing.
> As I already said, the only reason Super Aguri
> exist in Formula One was to save Hondas ass when
> they sacked Sato and the Japanese fans declared
> they would boycott Honda cars. Aguri was dragged
> over from the States and given everything he
> needed to setup what Honda wanted. And now that
> the fuss over Satos sacking is done and dusted,
> Honda will screw Aguri and ruin the team, making
> them drop out of F1, and making them look like the
> bad guys for not giving Sato a car to race.


I was under the impression that Super Aguri were massively popular in Japan, a real sort of people's team. Surely if word gets out (and it will) that Honda were the party who removed their chance to race, then the public backlash would be huge? SA is a great little team with hugely a capable and committed workforce. All they lack is the proper investment to take the team forward. I have no doubt that if they had the resources that Honda had, they'd be the better team by miles.