Super Aguri talks progressing well

The Honda-backed team have faced a difficult winter, with financial problems forcing them to severely limit their pre-season testing programme.

Team owner Aguri Suzuki has been in Japan for talks with Honda chiefs about shoring up their future, with several investors believed to be interested in getting involved.

Sources have suggested that a British group, led by consultancy firm Magma Group, is one of the leading contenders to table a rescue package, although there have also been suggestions of a Japanese investor being Suzuki's preferred choice.

Although Suzuki has kept quiet about the state of negotiations, the team are continuing their preparations for the first race of the season in Australia and managing director Daniel Audetto has expressed hope that they will have matters sorted by Melbourne.

"Everything is progressing in the right direction," he told autosport.com. "The team are preparing the SA-08A to be ready for the Australian Grand Prix.

"They are working day and night, as has become a very established tradition in Super Aguri's short but exciting existence."

Audetto told this week's Autosprint, however, that he believes today was key to securing their future - with the shipment to cars to Australia due to begin tomorrow.

"The situation is difficult but we are confident," he told the Italian magazine. "At this moment, the negotiation for the buy-out by an important company floated on the stock exchange should be defined.

"This would allow us to have the resources to face the season as programmed. Everything will have to be defined by March 5, because after that there wouldn't be any more time to send the material to Australia."