Virgin delay no threat to Brawn health

(GMM) The expansion of Brawn's Virgin sponsorship deal never materialized, but CEO Nick Fry insists the health of the team in 2009 is not in doubt.

"There is no issue whatsoever with funding through this year," the Briton is quoted as saying by ITV.

"Even if we didn't get another penny in sponsorship we'd be able to do what we need to do," added Fry.

Insiders were expecting Brawn and Virgin to announce an expansion of their current arrangement more than two weeks ago in Barcelona.

But at Monaco last weekend, the speculation was that Sir Richard Branson, who began backing Brawn in Australia to the tune of $250,000 per race, has so far been reluctant to up his offer in line with the Brackley team's total dominance of the season so far.

Fry, however, said he is not worried about the situation, because there is no shortage of other companies interested in backing the team's success.

"The beauty in our situation is that we don't need to take the first deal that comes along; indeed we haven't taken the first deal that comes along," he revealed.