[DOF_power]

Aguri: Too difficult to continue.

Tuesday, 6th May 2008

Team boss announces regretful decision to withdraw from F1 world championship.


Super Aguri F1 team boss Aguri Suzuki says that taking the decision to withdraw from the Formula One world championship was a tough one, but one that had to be made given the circumstances facing his tiny operation.

Confirmation of the loss of Formula One's eleventh team came early on Tuesday [6 May], as Suzuki bowed to the inevitable and accepted that, having been barred from the paddock at Istanbul Park at the alleged behest of Honda top brass, his dream was over. Various rescue attempts, dating back to the end of 2007, had been rumoured, but even a last-ditch bid by the German Weigl Group proved to be of no avail.

“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," Suzuki recounted, announcing SAF1's departure.

"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 be ceasing its racing activities as of today.

"The team has competed against the many car manufacturer-backed teams and has 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.”

[DOF_power]

Suzuki 'exhausted' after Aguri woes

Tuesday 6th May 2008


Super Aguri team principal Aguri Suzuki admits he is feeling the affects after failing to keep the team on the Formula One grid.

The Japanese team on Tuesday announced they are pulling out of Formula due to financial difficulties.

The cash-stripped team's future has been in doubt ever since rescue talks with Magma Group collapsed in the build-up to the Spanish GP.

The Wiegl Group made a last-ditch attempt to save them, but unfortunately they ran out of time.

Suzuki says the whole episode has taken its toll.

"I'm exhausted," he said at a news conference in Tokyo.

"I definitely need a break. It's a piranha club and I kind of feel that I don't want to stick my fingers back in.

"We simply ran out of time to put together a deal with Weigl," said Suzuki, who had been due to meet Honda's board in Tokyo on Tuesday to discuss the team's fate.

"Magma pulled out suddenly, and without any explanation, and since then I have been flying all over the world talking to other companies but was unable to secure a deal.

"Financially it was just impossible to continue in F1 with the enormous budgets needed today. We did reach a basic agreement with Weigl but were always battling against time."

[Racer Duck]

This at the F1 website:

Super Aguri withdraw from 2008 championship

Following weeks of speculation concerning the future of the team, Super Aguri announced Tuesday that they are to withdraw from the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship with immediate effect.

Super Aguri, founded by former driver Aguri Suzuki, had been participating in Formula One racing since the 2006 season. The Japanese team, who scored their first championship points after only 22 races (Spanish Grand Prix, 2007) and finished ninth in the 2007 constructors’ championship, will cease all activities as of May 6, 2008.

The Honda-powered team, whose driver line-up comprised Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson, ran into financial difficulties last year, and completed little winter testing ahead of the 2008 season as a result. A planned buyout by the Magma Group looked set to save the team until that fell through last month, and only last week Suzuki expressed optimism about a new deal with German automotive company Weigl.

Explaining his decision to withdraw from Formula One racing, Aguri Suzuki released the following statement:

“In order to realize 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. Since then, I have participated in the championship for 2 years and 4 months as the SUPER AGURI F1 TEAM, but regretfully I must inform you that the team will be ceasing its racing activities as of today.

“The team has competed against the many car manufacturer backed teams and has succeeded in obtaining the first points after only the 22nd race finishing in 9th 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.”

[DOF_power]

Fry worked to topple Aguri rescue - Weigl
Honda Racing CEO accused ensuring no Aguri deal
07/05/08 09:18

Franz Josef Weigl has added his condemnation to the interference by Honda Racing CEO Nick Fry in former Formula One team Super Aguri's failed financial rescue.

After announcing the closure of his beleaguered Leafield-based outfit on Tuesday, team boss and owner Super Aguri hit out at Fry's intervention, including the lockout of the team's transporters in Istanbul and his dismissal of Weigl's proposed partial buyout.

"It is over," Weigl is quoted as saying by the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport
"The politics have triumphed. It is miserably unfortunate."

He added his revulsion to the interference of Fry, the 51-year-old Briton and former works Honda Team Principal.

"Nick Fry did everything he could so that our deal did not succeed."

Weigl also revealed that his initial talks with Super Aguri officials began back in January.

"Then unfortunately Mr Fry and (Magma Group chief) Mr Leach interfered," he explained.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

[WestCoast]

DOF...
Being a Photography buff, is that stand for Depth Of Field as in; racing or photo capture? or none of the above?.

Re: Agurri

No loss that I can see, there is plenty of Billionaires out there that don't mind a couple of years in the spotlight... at any price.
How about "Super Russki"