The struggling Super Aguri team withdrew from the Formula One world
championship on Tuesday (May 6).
    The team had been battling to survive since last season when promised
major sponsorship failed to emerge and backers Honda made clear they were not
prepared to support them long-term.
    "Regretfully I must inform you that the team will be ceasing its
racing activities as of today," team founder Aguri Suzuki said in a
statement ahead of Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix.
    A planned takeover by the Magma Group, with Dubai money, collapsed last
month and Honda were lukewarm about an 11th hour rescue bid from Germany's
Weigl Group.
    Suzuki had been due to meet Honda's board in Tokyo on Tuesday to
discuss the team's fate.
    The decision left Formula One with 10 teams for the first time since
2005.
    "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 constructors'
championship," said Suzuki.
    "However the breach of contract by the promised partner, SS United
Oil and Gas Company, resulted in the loss of financial backing and immediately
put the team into financial difficulties," he added in the statement.

    "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."
    Suzuki thanked Honda and tyre partners Bridgestone.
    "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 the environment surrounding F1," he said.
    "As a result I have concluded to withdraw from the
championship."
    Super Aguri's trucks had already been denied access to the Istanbul
circuit for the fifth round of the championship while their cars remained at
the Honda F1 factory in central England.
    Earlier in the week it was reported that Honda F1 chief executive Nick
Fry had told Formula One Management (FOM) that the team would not be racing in
Turkey.
    The decision to withdraw has left Japanese driver Takuma Sato and
Britain's Anthony Davidson out in the cold.
    Sato, a popular figure in Japan around whom the team was built after he
was dropped by Honda in 2005, scored all four of their points last season.
Neither driver has scored this year.
    Super Aguri competed with chassis and engines provided by Honda but a
change in the Formula One rules banning the use of so-called 'customer cars'
also made them a less attractive takeover target.