Honda Racing CEO Nick Fry is optimistic that a new owner will be found for the team following Friday’s announcement that parent company Honda are withdrawing from Formula One racing.
The Japanese car giant has put the team up for sale and Fry and other senior management are now in a race against time to find a buyer ahead of the 2009 season. However, he says they have already received several serious enquiries.
"In the last 12 hours we've had three serious people come and suggest they'd like to buy the team," Fry told British broadcasters, the BBC. "We're one of the best-funded teams and have the best assets and resources in the pit lane - we'll be quite a desirable asset for somebody."
Honda have experienced only limited success in recent years, finishing a lowly ninth in the 2008 constructors’ championship, but any potential buyer would inherit a car developed under the leadership of team principal Ross Brawn, who joined the UK-based team at the end of 2007.
In his previous role as Ferrari technical director Brawn was key to five Michael Schumacher championships and Fry believes the 2009 Honda - the first designed entirely under Brawn’s watch - should make the team an attractive proposition.
"We're very hopeful, as are most commentators, that we'll take a big step up,” he added. “It's a big opportunity for somebody.”
Fry also confirmed that Jenson Button has a 2009 contract with the team, while their second race seat - filled by Rubens Barrichello this season - remains undecided.
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