X-Honda to Race in Australia?

It seems like every couple of days the news changes with regard to the former Honda team. The big question on everyone's mind is: Will they be on the grid in Melbourne?

Honda have said that there were at least twelve potential bidders being considered for a buyout, but the big players have been dropping like flies. Peugeot-Citroen, David Richards, A1GP boss Tony Teixeira, and Richard Branson were reported to have been in talks with the Brackley team but have either had their bids rejected or, in most cases, withdrawn their bids, citing a further need for cost reduction in F1. Even Bernie Ecclestone had an offer to help with a management buyout refused.

With the March 29 deadline approaching, the only rumor that seems to have any validity is the management buyout by Ross Brawn and possibly Nick Fry. The team has said that the 2009 challenger is still being developed at the factory, and there are reports that the team could even show up to the last pre-season test. If this is true, then a Mercedes engine deal would have been completed some months ago. Engine deal or not, it is still unclear if we should expect to see the car running with KERS in the first part of the season. It's unlikely that Honda will allow their technology to be used without their name on the car, and maybe less likely that it would work with the Mercedes lump. But if the same package sold to Force India finds its way to the X-Honda then it would be a relatively easy plug-in.

Fingers crossed for Jenson and the rest of the team.