Super Aguri undergoing testing at Jerez
Well that didn't take long. After only two years on the grid, Super Aguri is up for sale. Unlike most of the other "new" teams that took over and rebranded themselves from previous teams, Super Aguri actually put up the bond to join the 2006 Formula One championship as an additional entry. Since then, however, the team has had difficulty putting together the enormous budget required of a modern F1 team, falling into debt to the tune of $47 million, despite getting support from Honda and running old cars.
Now, following the emergence of Force India and the confirmation of an Indian Grand Prix in two years, another Indian business consortium is looking at buying its way into the sport. The Spice Group telecommunications company, which already sponsors Indian former F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan's Team India A1GP car, is reported to be negotiating to acquire Super Aguri. Tata, which is inching closer to its acquisition of Land Rover and Jaguar (which itself once had its own F1 team), is reported to be possibly supporting the bid. The price: $1, plus the coverage of the team's debts. The deal hasn't been finalized, but would involve bringing Karthikeyan back to the grid, and leaving Aguri Suzuki in charge. Spice confirms that it is talking with Aguri and a second team. In related news, Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz has reiterated that Scuderia Toro Rosso is not for sale.
[Source: F1-Live, Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bert @ Jan 30th 2008 6:46PM
Hi, this is David Richards, I would be interested to talk to Aguri-San. Please call me at 1-800-prodrive at your earliest convenience. If you get my voice mail, press zero and ask the receptionist to have me paged.
Cheerio, domo-arigato.
hashiryu @ Jan 30th 2008 6:51PM
hahaha...This thought crossed my mind as well
hashiryu @ Jan 30th 2008 6:51PM
Jaguar F1 ?
hashiryu @ Jan 30th 2008 6:52PM
Will we see a cosworth motor back on the grid?
Pat @ Jan 30th 2008 8:49PM
Three words: Nano F1 Edition
Bert @ Jan 30th 2008 8:50PM
Hi, This is Dave Richards again. I am not sure that I dialed the correct number before. I am calling in regards to your ad, the one about the customer-car that is FIA/FOM certified. Anyways, It would be so kind of you to ask Aguri-san to call me be. I am truly interested and I can assure you that I am not looking for a kick-the-tire joy-ride.
My personal cell phone number is 1-888-555-Dave. Please feel free to call me any time day or night.
Highest Regards.
E30FTMFW @ Jan 30th 2008 10:20PM
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
This is my favorite team. I guess as long as Sato has a place to race i'll be happy. It would be sad to see the name go. We will have more Indians in F1 than Americans.
NASCAR YOU SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!
Patrick @ Jan 30th 2008 11:36PM
Noooooooo. No more Indians on the grid or the paddock. One team is enough.. and even then I hope Force India fall on their ass and fold within a couple of years. Im dreading the day a chinese group wants to buy into the sport, sadly I know it will happen sooner rather than later.
India, stick to the call centre work and leave F1 to the europeans and japanese.
uppili @ Jan 31st 2008 8:18AM
thanks for ur "advice" u rotten racist...
Brendan @ Jan 31st 2008 12:53AM
What are you on? Who cares where they come from, if they've got the bills and the balls, let them race. Besides, how many new teams have come into the sport in the past few years and scored a point? That's right, Toyota's the only one (seeing as Renault, Honda, Red Bull, BMW, and Toro Rosso were other teams that were bought out, and Super Aguri was running Minardis and now Hondas) to actually make their own car and get anywhere with it, albeit not very far.
Sure, the costs are astronomical and prohibitive, but limiting the sport in such a way as you're saying would be killing the very nature of F1 as the highest form of racing in the world.
voodoobru @ Jan 31st 2008 9:28AM
haha, you're a retard.
Tele @ Jan 31st 2008 12:42AM
Hey it doesn't look like they have a second driver yet...
PICK ME PICK ME PICK ME!!!! I have no experience but I learn quick and I'm probably already a better driver than Karthikeyan! I'll even do nothing but work out my neck for the next 2 months to be ready for the start of the season!
Used Cars @ Jan 31st 2008 5:07AM
$ 1! I want to buy one . . . Jaguar F1 for $ 1! lol
http://cars.ozfreeonline.com
Bert @ Jan 31st 2008 6:22AM
Hi again, David Richards here again. I truly hope that I am dialing the correct number, 1-800-Super-Best-Friends. If I am not please call me back to let me know.
Aguri-san, I am prepared to offer more that 1 dollar for your goods. I would even be interested in barter. I have some nice Subarus and some particularly desirable Aston Martins if you desire.
My personal home number is 1-007-Bah-Mosley. Again, feel free to contact me at any time.
John R @ Jan 31st 2008 6:50AM
lol, you crack me up.
Galley @ Jan 31st 2008 8:36AM
I'd buy that for $1!
Bert @ Jan 31st 2008 5:21PM
Hi, this is David again. I just got out of the shower and I heard the phone ringing. In case it was you Aguri-san, I tried calling you.
If you are unsure about selling that's ok, but I would really like to talk to you about it.
I might be at my mom's place having supper, so please feel free to call me there also at 1-800-momma-f1.
I hope to hear from you soon.
ok.
speak to you soon.
Good bye.
In case you didn't get the number it's 1-800-momma-f1.
Ok.
Good. Good bye.
Brad @ Feb 1st 2008 12:26AM
Super Best Friends forever!!!!!!!
pmiddle5 @ Feb 2nd 2008 5:40PM
Thats so disappointing...That team works so hard which is why I love them. Small outfit as well how it use to be. You can see them more as a team then an organization bent on world domination.
I cant wait for China to get into racing and India. Dubai, what are all you richies doing over there beside buying Veryons? Come race ya wankers. Maybe we'll finally get a world championship not a European.