Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim is believed to have the edge on at least three other potential buyers to take over Honda Racing.
Although a deal has yet to be announced and is unlikely before the new year autosport.com has reported that Slim, owner of telecommunications company Telmex, has emerged as a leading buyer for the up-for-sale Brackley outfit following Honda’s exit from Formula One earlier in the year.
It had initially been reported that Slim had actually penned a deal with Honda, with Italian newspaper La Stampa saying that the team “has been saved and the drivers will be Jenson Button and rookie Bruno Senna (who will) replace Rubens Barrichello.”
However autosport.com has learned that a deal has not yet been signed with Slim joining Prodrive boss David Richards, Kuwait-based Investment Dar Company (TID), Greek shipping magnate Achilleas Kallakis and an unidentified Swiss group as a front-running, candidate.
Slim first became linked to Honda Racing at the end of last season via a potential sponsorship deal. The talks were triggered by the team’s interest in Bruno Senna who is sponsored by Embratel, a Brazilian subsidiary of Telmex.
With Honda deciding to pull out of grand prix racing, the sponsorship deal was believed to materialise into buy-out talks with Slim visiting Honda Racing’s Brackley headquarters just before Christmas.
Credit – autosport.com
