F1 - 超級亞久理前途...

steffan

Super Aguri buyout falls throughSuper Aguri released a statement on Wednesday confirming that their prospective new owners, the Magma Group, have pulled out of the planned acquisition. The Japanese squad also revealed that team principal Aguri Suzuki is continuing negotiations with other potential purchasers.

Following a winter of speculation concerning the team's future, Super Aguri announced in the days leading up to March’s Australian Grand Prix that they had reached an agreement with Magma.

The deal was expected to be completed within a few weeks, but despite competing at the opening three races of the season, driver Takuma Sato revealed earlier this month that the squad would not be able to attend this week’s multi-team Barcelona test due to ongoing negotiations.

Super Aguri’s statement in full:
"Super Aguri F1 team confirms that it has been informed by Magma Group, the potential purchasers of the team, that its investors no longer wish to fund the intended acquisition.

"It is with deep regret that Aguri Suzuki is now forced to consider the future of the team, however negotiations with other parties continue. The team will issue a further statement in due course."

confidential

any news about toro rosso
are they still for sale?

steffan

Super Aguri's future in fresh doubt

By Steve Cooper Wednesday, April 16th 2008, 10:03 GMT


Super Aguri face a race against time to make next weekend's Spanish Grand Prix after the investment group buying the team chose to reconsider their options at the very last minute, autosport.com can reveal.

The Japanese outfit were due to ink a deal this week with automotive investment group Magma, which was working on behalf of Middle Eastern backers Dubai International Capital.

Honda's senior board had personally rubber-stamped the Magma-led buyout of the team because they felt the proposal offered the best opportunity for the team to prosper and grow into a full constructor ahead of the 2009 season.

Super Aguri's future had been in doubt at the beginning of the year and they missed most of the pre-season testing before a last-minute deal with the Magma group secured their presence on the grid.

However, the Dubai investors are now reconsidering the level of investment they are willing to sink into the Formula One operation.

Magma CEO Martin Leach has written to Super Aguri informing them of the Dubai group's decision to rethink their financial commitments.

While the Leafield-based team are still making preparations to attend next weekend's race at Barcelona, the lateness of the decision has left them requiring crucial funds and spares to contest the weekend.

Team principal Aguri Suzuki is engaged in talks with Honda's senior management in Tokyo in a bid to find a practical solution within the next 48 hours.

照咁睇, 呢站出唔出到場都成問題....

Originally posted by confidential at 2008-4-18 12:12 AM:
any news about toro rosso
are they still for sale?

Toro Rosso 仲係賣緊盤, 不過佢地賣唔係因為$$問題

steffan

Super Aguri buyout falls throughSuper Aguri released a statement on Wednesday confirming that their prospective new owners, the Magma Group, have pulled out of the planned acquisition. The Japanese squad also revealed that team principal Aguri Suzuki is continuing negotiations with other potential purchasers.

Following a winter of speculation concerning the team's future, Super Aguri announced in the days leading up to March’s Australian Grand Prix that they had reached an agreement with Magma.

The deal was expected to be completed within a few weeks, but despite competing at the opening three races of the season, driver Takuma Sato revealed earlier this month that the squad would not be able to attend this week’s multi-team Barcelona test due to ongoing negotiations.

Super Aguri’s statement in full:
"Super Aguri F1 team confirms that it has been informed by Magma Group, the potential purchasers of the team, that its investors no longer wish to fund the intended acquisition.

"It is with deep regret that Aguri Suzuki is now forced to consider the future of the team, however negotiations with other parties continue. The team will issue a further statement in due course."


pulled out.....

confidential

Aguri needs Honda help to make Spain news from itv.com

Super Aguri co-owner Fumio Akita concedes the Magma Group’s decision to pull out of its takeover of the team means it may now have to bank on extra support from Honda to make the Spanish Grand Prix.

The Leafield-based squad’s immediate future was thrown into fresh doubt earlier this week when its prospective new owners backed out of its expected buyout after informing the team its investors no longer wished to fund the deal.

Its decision has forced current team boss Aguri Suzuki to chase other possible rescue deals, with Honda, which has provided engines and technical support since the squad’s creation in 2006, one possible avenue for help.

Akita admits with the team already struggling for finances and spare parts, it may not be in a position to make next weekend’s race and beyond unless Honda helps it out.

"It's possible," he told Reuters.

"We were banking on Magma's buyout but they turned it down. It feels like being jilted by a lover.

"Even if we have the money to go to Spain we might not be able to carry on after that.

“It's impossible to predict what will happen but it could now depend on Honda."

In its announcement on Wednesday that the Magma deal had collapsed, Super Aguri said that it would be making a further announcement on its future in due course.

Akita reckons there will be no solution for the team’s troubles until early next week, and it will be touch-and-go on whether it will be able to fly out to Spain

"I don't think there will be a decision until after the weekend," said Akita.

"It is likely to be Monday or Tuesday until we hear.

“It will be very, very tight."

Super Aguri only made the season-opener in Australia at the last minute following the Magma Group's initial takeover plans.

But it was already forced to skip this week's Barcelona test as the deal hadn't yet been sealed.

steffan

Aguri dispatch transporter to Barcelona  [news from Autosport]

By Simon Strang Friday, April 18th 2008, 11:23 GMT


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.