|
 "I am still hopeful," Finbarr O'Connell, who works for
administrators Smith & Williamson, told Reuters on Thursday.
"As long as there are people (out) there who have got a real
possibility of doing something, I'm not going to close it (the team)
down.
"Because if I do, then I will just be organizing an auction as
regards the assets -- which I can do at any stage anyway."
Caterham and rivals Marussia went into administration last October
after mounting financial troubles.
While Marussia missed the last three races of 2014 and ceased
trading, Caterham were absent from two grands prix but made it to
the Abu Dhabi finale after raising the money through a crowd-funding
initiative.
Ironically, Marussia now look more likely to be revived after a
scheduled auction of their cars and race equipment was canceled this
week due to the emergence of an interested party.
 Formula One's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone told Sky Sports
television that he had met a possible purchaser for Marussia on
Wednesday but he was less hopeful about Caterham's prospects.
"I had a meeting with someone...who has said they think can buy
Marussia. So that would be good. Caterham, I don't think there's
much chance of saving them. Marussia I think there's a chance," he
said.
Marussia were ninth overall last season, ahead of Sauber and
Caterham, and would be in line for significantly more prize money
and revenues than Caterham, who have never scored a point in five
years.
[to top of second column] |
Both teams have entries for the championship, which starts in
Australia on March 15.
O'Connell recognized Caterham, founded by Malaysian airline
entrepreneur Tony Fernandes, were "a much more difficult sell" but
there was still interest.
"I've had people visiting the site. Some people are trying to find a
way to make it work for them. We will do anything we can to make it
happen, but it's really in the hands of the prospective purchasers,"
he said.
"I'm very conscious that a time will come when it will not make
sense for anybody to invest large sums of money in racing the
Caterham team for the 2015 season. Time will just run out," added
the Irish administrator.
"I'm not going to stifle any interest, but time is definitely
running out."
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Toby Davis)
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