Click to view images of Super Aguri's assets

It was a nice idea that Aguri Suzuki had, to start a new F1 team from scratch. Unfortunately, his dreams didn't last long, resulting in the grassroots team closing up shop and its assets put up for auction. Those assets were bought up by Formtech GmbH, a German tooling and construction company.

Formtech intends to use the team's former Leafield, England, headquarters as its new base for UK operations, where it will use Super Aguri's autoclaves and other equipment to design and manufacture composite materials. Formtech also intends to employ some of Aguri's now-unemployed technicians. But what of the actual race cars and fleet of transporters? Formtech bought those too, and is looking for another buyer. So if you're interested in a new Formula One car and a big truck in which to haul it around, better give them a ring.

Gallery: Super Aguri

Lock, Stock und Barrel: ze Germans acquire Super Aguri originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

So what happened to all that stuff? Well, after Super Aguri went into bankruptcy administration earlier this year, the team's remaining assets are to be liquidated by British auction house SHM Smith Hodgkinson at the end of this month. Among the assets up on the block will be a dozen F1 racing cars, a fleet of transporter trucks and four autoclaves. So if you're looking to buy yourself the remains of an F1 team, this could be your chance.

Gallery: Super Aguri

[Source: SAF1-auction.com via autosport, Photos: Getty]

Super Aguri assets to be auctioned originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

RIP: Super Aguri F1 Team folds due to lack of funds originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 May 2008 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Super Aguri denied paddock access at Turkish Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 May 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]

REPORT: Super Aguri on sale for $1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With the majority of F1 teams gearing up to unveil their new cars, all but two have confirmed their drivers for the upcoming season. The only seats still up for grabs are with Force India and Super Aguri, and while the former was expected to confirm its drivers before the end of the year, that date has now been pushed off until January 11.

Adrian Sutil is all but completely confirmed to take one of the seats at the team formerly known as Spyker and before that as Jordan since its founding in 1991. But a number of drivers remain hopeful to take the second seat, including Renault refugee Giancarlo Fisichella, former Toro Rosso driver Vitantonio Liuzzi, former Jaguar/Red Bull/Honda pilot Christian Klien and Roldán Rodríguez, currently slated as Force India's test driver. Veteran racer Ralf Schumacher, as we previously reported, tested for the seat, but previous reports that the German driver would have to sit out the 2008 season have now been confirmed.

Once Force India confirms its drivers in two weeks, only Super Aguri, recently confirmed by Honda for another season, will be left to announce its roster. Takuma Sato is expected to take one seat and the second remains a wild card likely to be contested by whoever doesn't get the second Force India seat.

Follow the jump to view the confirmed drivers for the 2008 Formula One World Championship.

[Source: F1-Live, Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty]

Continue reading Force India delays driver announcement until January 11

Force India delays driver announcement until January 11 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Emerging reports now suggest that Honda has decided to continue supporting the team for another season. Because Honda is believed to supply a big chunk of Aguri's budget (as well as its engines and chassis) - effectively making it Honda's "B-squad" - the Japanese auto giant has the power to decide Super Aguri's fate. But public pressure on Honda in Japan to have its former pilot Takuma Sato driving in F1 has motivated the company to continue funding the second racing outfit. Honda would not commit beyond next season, however, and if Aguri continues to embarrass the Honda F1 Team with its transcendent performance, they may find themselves holding their hats again a year from now.

The news means that Aguri joins Force India as one of two teams with seats still available for the 2008 season. Sato is all but guaranteed his place, but Aguri could go any which way for its second driver. (Italian driver Luca Fillippi, a rising talent in motorsports, was connected with a drive for Aguri, but opted to sign for GP2 instead.) Ralf Schumacher and Tonio Liuzzi are both in search of new drives for next season, along with a slew of new hopefuls. Let the courtship begin.

[Source: F1i.com, Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty]

Honda to keep Super Aguri up and running for '08 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.