Super Aguri denied paddock access at Turkish Grand Prix
Reports are surfacing that the Super Aguri F1 team has been turned away from the Turkish Grand Prix's paddock. The denial of access occurred because of financial complications. Team supporter Honda contacted Formula One Management and informed the organization that they would not be providing any more assistance to the struggling team. With no one left to pay the bills, Super Aguri was left stranded outside of the track gates.
One potential life vest has already been thrown to the Japanese team by German engineering firm Weigl Group. However, their contribution would not be enough to fully support race operations. The Super Best Friends need more investors to jump aboard in order to make it through the end of the season, let alone the next race.
[Source: Speed TV, Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
steve 9:09AM (5/06/2008)
way to go Honda...way to turn your back on the team at the beginning of the season...better now then later right?
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Matt 9:47AM (5/06/2008)
Pretty uneducated comment... They're sponsors refused to pay money last season at some time, so they've been seriously out of pocket ever since. They've been trying to find other backers but just haven't been sucessful. They currently use a customer car development of the old Honda, which will be banned from 2010, which means they'll need even more money to build their own cars - why would Honda bankroll two teams? Bit rediculous, no? It's not Honda's fault, Honda never withdrew their funding.
Alex 9:48AM (5/06/2008)
@ brittandknee
go troll someplace else.
BPeredo 9:13AM (5/06/2008)
More investors will do no good as it was announced that they have officially withdrawn from Formula 1.
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gabibiza 9:14AM (5/06/2008)
they are out. annouced this morning, sadly another teams leaves...only 10 teams left now. Remember that there should have been 12 teams this year with Prodrive but they didnt have the time and back up from mclaren mercedes to put the team on tracks! this just shows how F1 is expensive if you dont have enough money...good luck to all of the employees in finding a new job and also to T.Sato and A.Davidson.
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Zane 2:10PM (5/06/2008)
Actually, Prodrive would've been racing in F1 right now, had it not been for Williams and their bias for manufacturer racing.
gabibiza 2:13PM (5/06/2008)
well not only williams but also spyker/force india. shame for takuma, good driver bit of a kamikaze but we always need one! hope that honda will take replace barichello with sato!
Temple 9:19AM (5/06/2008)
Officially over:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7384404.stm
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Galley 9:38AM (5/06/2008)
Super Aguri just announced that the team is folding.
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HotRodzNKustoms 9:48AM (5/06/2008)
That's too bad, but as they say that's racing.
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Derek 9:49AM (5/06/2008)
Sucks, but F1 is expensive. ITV had an interview with him at Barcelona, Aguri said they needed at least 100 million annually to run the team. Just let me know when they start selling tools and equipment.
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Pat 9:53AM (5/06/2008)
They were doomed from the start - given they had last year's Honda. My favorite Super Aguri friends moment - Sato's pass on 2 time world champion Alonso in Canada last year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRJwZu5Qqio
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Derek 9:57AM (5/06/2008)
Ha, I loved that pass. Would have been funnier if it was Coulthard though.
Brad 11:45AM (5/06/2008)
That pass was a classic.
R.I.P. Super Best Friends
hashiryu 10:14AM (5/06/2008)
Thats so messed up. These guys had such a fighting spirit. I could respect them as real racers, pity they didn't have the money to develop their own chassis. Look at the wonders they did with Hondas useless chassis last year.
Tswk tsk
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Mobius_1 10:15AM (5/06/2008)
I did really enjoy them beating factory Honda last season, sad to see them go...
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hashiryu 10:39AM (5/06/2008)
Hey Mr.Suzuki, pick up.....it's Dave Richards on the phone...
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thesawzall 10:43AM (5/06/2008)
It sounds almost like the factory team maneuvered to have them pushed out. Seeing as Honda hasn't had a sponsor for the last 2 years, I think they want any potential sponsor of SA.
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John P. 10:46AM (5/06/2008)
Nascar's more fun to watch than F1 anyway anymore. Seeya Super Aguri, it was fun while it lasted.
As long as Bernie Ecclestone can find new cities around the world to squeeze more money from, F1's going to continue on it's current path.
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Version 1.0 10:58AM (5/06/2008)
Uhh... Super Aguri has already pulled out of Formula 1 for the season...
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