Super Aguri Leave.

Super Aguri withdraw from Formula One

Super Aguri have withdrawn from the Formula One world championship with immediate effect, the team announced on Tuesday.

After weeks of speculation about their future following the collapse of a proposed takeover by the Magma Group, a last-minute rescue package by German automotive company Weigl Group was not good enough to keep them racing.

Team principal Aguri Suzuki is understood to have met with the Honda board in Japan on Tuesday, but the outcome of that meeting was that the team will no longer be racing.

"In order to realise my dream to become an owner of a Formula One team, I applied for a grid position in the FIA Formula One World Championship in November 2005," said Suzuki in a statement issued by the team. "Since then, I have participated in the championship for two years and four months as the Super Aguri F1 Team, but regretfully I must inform you that the team will cease their racing activities as of today."

Suzuki made it clear that the current difficulties for the team were caused by the non-payment of major sponsor SS United last year, which put the team on the back foot regarding their financial situation.

"The team competed against the many car manufacturer-backed teams and have succeeded in obtaining the first points after only the 22nd race finishing in ninth place overall in the 2007 constructors' championship.

"However, the breach of contract by the promised partner SS United Oil & Gas Company resulted in the loss of financial backing and immediately put the team into financial difficulties. Also, the change in direction of the environment surrounding the team, in terms of the use of customer chassis, has affected our ability to find partners.

"Meanwhile, with the help of Honda, we have somehow managed to keep the team going, but we find it difficult to establish a way to continue the activities in the future within the environment surrounding F1 and as a result, I have concluded to withdraw from the championship.

"I would like to express my deepest thanks to Honda, Bridgestone, the sponsors, all the people who have given us advise during various situations over the past couple of years all the Team Staff who have kept their motivations high and always done their best, Anthony Davidson who has always pushed to the limit despite the very difficult conditions, Takuma Sato who has been with us from the very start and has always fought hard and led the team and lastly our fans from all over the world who have loyally supported the Super Aguri F1 Team."

Super Aguri made their debut in 2006, having been formed with assistance from Honda in a bid to keep Takuma Sato in F1. They scored their first world championship points at the 2007 Spanish Grand Prix, and finished ninth in last year's constructors' championship.

The team's withdrawal leaves F1 with only 10 teams now, with the grid originally having supposed to have had 12 outfits at the start of this year before the collapse of Prodrive's entry.

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As said as it may be I think this was the most likely ending. Honda didn't like the look of the Weigl group and it just wasn't going to be.

Where next for Sato and Davidson I wonder. Davidson I can see back at Honda as test driver. Not so sure about Sato though.

Bummer. Just hope 20 cars on the grid doesn't become the de facto norm.

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GPGSL S5 Race driver for IED.

As I said in the other thread, and as is alluded to above, they were stuffed for next year anyway. They might have been able to see out this season, but they'd need to hire an entire design team, and all the CAD resources for it, a wind tunnel (Mike Gascoigne claims FI have access to three) manufacturing facilities and staff...

It wasn't a case of if. It was whether or not they'd see the season out.

It really is a shame that Super-Duper Aguri is leaving the grid...

Its kamakazi drivers like Takuma Sato that make the races interesting....
Again, its the little teams that get thrown by the wayside when it comes to huge F1 teams with bigger budgets...Prost, Stewart, Jordan & Minardi are 4 teams in recent years that have either packed up or been bought out by larger companies.

Some would argue that the sport shouldn't have "try-hard" teams in the upper echelon of motor sport, but I reckon that some drivers have to prove themselves in crap cars to prove their worth - take Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber for example...both Minardi drivers, but one is a 2-time WC and Mark Webber just needs a few more podiums to make people take notice of him (well, he just needs some luck, really).

Put Sato in one of the new model '08 Hondas, he'll do pretty well (they might have him lined up as Rubens' replacement) and I reckon Anthony Davidson could do pretty well in either a Red Bull or Toro Rosso given the chance.

Sayonara Aguri Suzuki-san.

turkey_machine Wrote:
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> Bummer. Just hope 20 cars on the grid doesn't
> become the de facto norm.


indeed. although one wonders with these new rules how long until STR is off the grid

Sim

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Well I guess that's it.

Meeemmmoorriiiesss.....

I like this bit -

Suzuki thanked Honda and tyre partners Bridgestone but took a parting shot at Honda F1 Chief Executive Nick Fry, who had expressed scepticism about Weigl and reportedly told Formula One Management that Super Aguri would not race in Turkey.

"I don't understand how suddenly Nick Fry needs to be commenting on everything," said Suzuki. "Honda were our backers and he's not the CEO of Honda. I have no interest in Nick Fry whatsoever and have no idea what he was talking about."

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sasjag Wrote:
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> turkey_machine Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Bummer. Just hope 20 cars on the grid doesn't
> > become the de facto norm.
>
>
> indeed. although one wonders with these new rules
> how long until STR is off the grid


Im guessing this is the whole reason behind RBR selling STR due to the customer car rule.

Its sad, I have been watching F1 for 11 seasons now, and the closest to a 24 car race was Aus 97 when Lola DNQ'd!

RIP Super Best Friends.

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Uhuh, nice parting shot.

Except that the CEO of a Honda subsidiary that has been providing technical support for over 2 years and has a claim on SA assets has enough reason to have a say in a parent company resource allocation and SA future.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/06/2008 03:26PM by tripleM.

sad news, this team had great potential!

its hard to see where the next 11th team will come from as well...

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X (@ed24f1)

Its a shame, probably my favourite team due to them being massive underdogs.

Shame about Sato, many people dont like him but he is a very quick driver. Many times last season he would start around 20th but be up to 12th by the end of the first race.

Him overtaking Alonso in canada was classic though.

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yes, while the two aguri drivers are good drivers, i can't see them getting another race seat in the forseeable future.

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X (@ed24f1)

Sad Sad news, i must say i never really pay any attention to those cars, nor the drivers, but now i'm starting to miss them, is a sad thing to loose 2 cars of the grid, even if they where the slowest...

F1's allowed up to 12 teams but it's looking like the sport will struggle to keep 10 for next year, what with the STR sale rumours.

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Eventually it's jsut gonna be the top 3 teams and another few covered by a second, close but not necessarily exciting...F1 needs small teams both for new drivers and for its own image

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Renault is on edge with staying or not, STR might be out after next season if nobody buy it,..

Atm I almost hope 1 (or more) team would drop out, because it would bring back talks about 3rd car.

Kimi, so, Massa Fernando Sebastian is faster than you. Can you confirm you understood that message?

Locke Cole Wrote:
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> F1's allowed up to 12 teams but it's looking like
> the sport will struggle to keep 10 for next year,
> what with the STR sale rumours.

STR should be safe, as Berger owns 50%, its only Mateschitz who's looking to sell, if I remember correctly.

Shame SA had to drop out, what with the FIA making it difficult for new teams to enter it looks like we'll be stuck with 10 teams, or less, for a while.

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Renault will go, they've consistently said that they can only justify F1 if they are winning, and they dont look liek doing that anytime soon

STR will be gone, due to customer car rule

Porsche/VW have recently ruled themselves out of joining F1 as its still to expensive

Toyota will soon get fed up of not winning and leave

Honda will need to start winning as well soon, else they will go

and of course in a few years time i beleive IndyCar will pose a serious threat to F1 in terms of popularity and value for money.

we'll be down to Ferrari, McLaren, and BMW, with Williams possibly and RBR

Sim

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