Japanese team Super Aguri are pulling out of Formula 1 racing after prolonged financial difficulties, founder Aguri Suzuki said yesterday.

"I have been very happy that I was able to achieve a miracle and become a team owner, but I have to make the difficult decision to withdraw," Suzuki said.

Super Aguri was the first all- Japanese team in the Western- dominated sport, achieving an ambition of the 47-year-old Suzuki.

But the team struggled after their 2006 debut and suffered a major blow last month when Britain's Magma Group backed out of plans to acquire them.

"It had been my dream to become an F1 team owner," Suzuki said, "but I have to put a close to the work."

Honda Motor Co, which supplies engines and other technical support to Super Aguri, reportedly provided an emergency financial injection to help them through the Spanish Grand Prix on April 27.

But Super Aguri were shut out of the latest F1 round in Istanbul amid reports that Honda does not want the team to be a drain on its own racing unit.

In their debut year the team, featuring former Honda driver and Japanese F1 icon Takuma Sato, scored no points. In 2007, Super Aguri won four points to finish second-last.

They have not scored any points after four races this season. Their best result was Sato's 13th place in Barcelona, where Davidson retired.

Suzuki was the first Asian on a F1 podium when he finished third at the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE