Several parties show interest in Honda

London: Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said several parties had shown interest in buying the Honda team which confirmed on Friday it was pulling out of the sport.

"I think it's okay. I think there's a number of people out there that have shown a lot of interest," Ecclestone told Sky News.

Ecclestone, saying he knew of two separate enquiries, added that Honda's withdrawal was a wake-up call for the sport.

"Both Max [FIA head Mosley] and myself have been campaigning now for quite a long time to try to reduce the necessity to spend vast amounts of money to be competitive," he said. "What we are trying to say to the engineers is 'do all these things, come up with the ideas but try to remember the cost'.

"When you consider that Honda have got 700 people working there to put two cars on the starting grid, it's a little bit cranky to be honest with you."

The head of Honda's Formula One team Nick Fry said he was hopeful a buyer would step in.

"We've had two or three global players contact us already who are interested in a top level team... I think there's good reason for hope for the future," he said.

"Formula One is up there with the Olympics and the World Cup in terms of global popularity and that's why there are so many huge companies involved because it is a global stage where they can present their products."

Fry recognised, however, that times were tough for the sport.