Fry ‘not optimistic’ about Aguri survival

(GMM) Honda team chief executive Nick Fry on Thursday said he is not optimistic that Super Aguri's troubled current situation will have a happy ending.

The Japanese manufacturer has already ruled out rescuing Super Aguri, which since 2006 has operated as a de facto 'B' Honda team, after its buyer's financial backing fell through.

Leafield based Super Aguri has set up at the Circuit de Catalunya, but currently there is no confirmation that the team will be able to complete the Spanish grand prix weekend or beyond.

Fry, a close former associate of potential Super Aguri buyer Martin Leach, will not buoy the mood of anxiety with his comments at Barcelona to the Reuters news agency.

"We've been working as hard as we possibly can to find a solution for Aguri, but at this stage I'm not overly optimistic," he said.

It is understood that talks with Leach's Magma Group are back on, but that the Dubai investors are not keen on the looming end of the 'customer car' era.

Fry added: "We have been engaged almost full time in the last few weeks trying to find a solution and I hope that it's going to be a happy ending to the story, but at this stage that certainly can't be guaranteed."