'We are usually scrambling to be ready for the start of the season', team stresses in bid to allay Melbourne doubts.

Despite the continuing uncertainty over the team's future, Formula 1 minnows Super Aguri have confirmed they will indeed be on the starting grid for the curtain-raising grand prix in Melbourne in just over a fortnight's time - though how many more races they will be around for remains in serious doubt.

The Leafield-based outfit - which has the smallest budget within the top flight - has been in severe financial difficulty for some time, and has been repeatedly forced to call off its winter testing engagements due to the economic situation. Talks with potential investors are ongoing, with team principal Aguri Suzuki having flown over to Japan earlier this month for emergency negotiations with parent company Honda.

The team sought to make clear, however, that the latest testing pull-out in Barcelona earlier this week had been necessitated by a lack of parts rather than finances.

"The cancellation was because some parts hadn't arrived in time," Super Aguri co-owner Fumio Akita is quoted as having told international news agency Reuters. "We are usually scrambling to be ready for the start of the season.

"It was very tight last year and this year is following the same pattern, but we will be on the grid for Melbourne. We're not worried at all about missing out.

"Talks are still going on and I'm told there are three potential investors. Obviously, we have to think of the future and what's best for the team."

One of those 'potential investors' is the Indian-based Spice Group, which last month discussed the possibility of assuming a stake in the team, and Akita refused to rule out a complete buyout of the tail-end team.

"It might be 100 per cent," he admitted, "but obviously any sponsors or investors who leave the infrastructure there and back the team to improve results would be ideal.

"How much any potential stake in the team would be does depend on the conditions the investor has, but even if it's a 100 per cent stake you can't sensibly get rid of the team per se.

"If you have no Aguri [Suzuki] you probably lose Honda as engine suppliers; if investors come in and say they can bring in BMW engines that's a different story.

"Even if we give up 100 per cent share, though, it doesn't necessarily mean the owner or the team name goes with it."