Buzzin F1 - Formula One Blog

It was announced today that the Super Aguri team have withdrawn from the 2008  FIA  Formula One World Championship with all activities to cease from the 6th May 2008.

The Aguri Suzuki Team Principle has issued this statement;

“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.  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 Constructor’s 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 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 advice 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 always pushed to the limit despite the very difficult conditions, Takumo 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.”

On the day of the team’s demise, the Super Aguri team boss and co-owner, Aguri Suzuki has hit out at Nick Fry.

It was Fry who said before the start of the 2008 season that he didn’t approve of the Aguri teams wish to sign Narian Karthikeyan, and it was also confirmed this week by an official source, that Fry was behind the lock-out of the team at the Istanbul circuit.

In a press conference, Suzuki said “I don’t understand how suddenly Nick Fry needs to be commenting on everything.  Honda were our backers and he’s not the CEO of Honda.  I have no interest in Nick Fry whatsoever and have no idea what he was talking about.”

Fry is the CEO of Honda’s racing division but is no longer the works outfit’s Team Principle.