Fry hints team survival announcement imminent

Nick Fry on Thursday all but confirmed widespread speculation that the Brackley based team will survive the withdrawal of Honda and race in 2009.

The Briton, thought to have assumed a diminished role in the Ross Brawn-led management buyout, in fact was the sole representative of the team at the FOTA press conference on Thursday.

He told the media an announcement about the team's future is expected "very shortly," adding: "I can't say any more at this stage."

Fry credited the unified FOTA alliance for making F1 sustainable for the team in the wake of Honda's massive financial investment.

"It's correct to say our team has, and will, benefit from FOTA in the future," he said.

"Everyone here (FOTA) has helped us preserve our team, and myself, Ross (Brawn) and our 700 employees all thank them for that," Fry added.

The Dutch website f1today.nl on Thursday reported that Honda's Friday shakedown of its 2009 car, which is expected to be coloured predominantly blue with red features, has been moved from Silverstone to Snetterton, also in the UK.