Japan's Super Aguri could be set for a surprise return to Formula One in 2010, after withdrawing a year ago due to financial difficulties. Former Super Aguri team chief Aguri Suzuki told the Sankei Sports newspaper on Wednesday that he is tempted to rejoin the sport he once labelled a "club full of piranhas".
The debut had been planned for the July 16 French Grand Prix, but the team said events had delayed that to the following race weekend at Hockenheim on July 28-30.
Struggling Super Aguri confirmed Japan's Takuma Sato and Britain's Anthony Davidson as their 2008 drivers on Tuesday after agreeing to a takeover of the Formula One team. Super Aguri, who finished ninth overall last season, arrive in Melbourne with minimal pre-season mileage under their belts after taking part in just one full test since December while focusing on securing their financial future.
The struggling Super Aguri Formula One team said on Wednesday they were considering their future after the collapse of a planned rescue deal. "Super Aguri F1 team confirms that it has been informed by Magma Group, the potential purchasers of the team, that its investors no longer wish to fund the intended acquisition," the Japanese team said in a statement.
Japan's Super Aguri are expected to be confirmed as Formula One's 11th team next week.
The struggling Super Aguri team withdrew from the Formula One world championship.
A FIA spokesman said the Japanese F1 team's application has been refused.
Honda will try to help Japan's Takuma Sato and Briton Anthony Davidson after the demise of the Super Aguri F1 team.
India's Spice Group are in talks with cash-strapped Super Aguri about taking a possible stake in the Formula One team.
Japan's Sakon Yamamoto will be Virgin Racing's reserve driver for the first three races of the Formula One season starting in Australia this weekend, the team said on Wednesday.
Indian driver Karun Chandhok will miss Sunday's Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix after also being dropped by Hispania for last weekend's race in Germany.
Yamamoto's appointment ended Indian hopes of a Formula One comeback this year for Narain Karthikeyan, the Williams test driver who raced for Jordan in 2005 and had been one of those under consideration.
Former champions Williams, newcomers Spyker, tail-enders Super Aguri and Toro Rosso are at loggerheads over cars that have yet to see the light of day.
Anthony Davidson will continue as Honda's test driver this season rather than racing for Super Aguri.
A look at what is different for the coming season.
India's Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna crashed out of the Japan Open following a straight set defeat against Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo, in Tokyo on Thursday.
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