Aguri close to getting 2006 entry

Although the Japanese squad have worked hard in recent weeks trying to get the required unanimous backing from their rivals to support the late application, the talks appeared to have stalled last week.

That was because the Midland Racing team were withholding their approval because they were concerned about the implications of losing television money and travel subsidies in the event that they were beaten in the Constructors' Championship by Aguri.

The Silverstone-based team's lack of support would have wrecked Super Aguri's plans and meant that the team would have had to delay their entry to F1 until 2007.

However, sources have told autosport.com that Midland are now close to giving their support for Super Aguri's late entry. It is not clear how a settlement has been reached, but it will likely involve some kind of financial guarantees from either Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone or Aguri themselves.

"A positive solution is near," said the source, who is close to the Super Aguri negotiations.

It is believed that a deal could be concluded as early as this week, meaning that Super Aguri can then relodge their application, along with letters of support from their rival teams, to the FIA before the Christmas break.

The team, who are based at the former Arrows factory at Leafield, have continued working on their 2006 car despite the uncertainty about their entry.

It is understood they will start the season with an updated version of the 2002 Arrows A23, before launching their own definitive challengers for the start of the European season.

Once their entry has been accepted and confirmed by the FIA, it is believed that the team will confirm almost immediately that Takuma Sato will drive for them. Autosport.com understands that he visited the factory recently to view the team's latest developments.

The identity of the second driver is not yet certain, but it is looking increasingly likely that it will be a Japanese driver. Sakon Yamamoto and Kosuke Matsuura have both been linked with the seat.