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By Andrew Benson
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 Honda pulled out of F1 in December
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BBC Sport has learned that the former Honda team plans to test in Spain next week, raising hopes that it will start the new Formula One season next month.
Honda pulled out of F1 in December as a result of the global financial crisis, leaving the British-based outfit to search desperately for a buyer.
Team members have been told a deal is close and they should prepare to race in 2009.
The new season starts on 29 March with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
It is unclear who the new owners would be, but speculation has focused on a buy-out led by the current management of chief executive Nick Fry and team principal Ross Brawn.
A senior source at the former Honda team, which is based in Brackley, Northamptonshire, told BBC Sport: "We're carrying on as if we're going to Melbourne."
The source likened the situation to "being in the final stages of buying a house" and said Brawn had told employees that "everything's positive - it's all going ahead".
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There's no way we'd go to any test without an engine deal... if we're going to Jerez, it means it's a done deal
BBC source
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No decision had yet been made on a driver line-up, but BBC Sport has learned that Englishman Jenson Button will definitely race for the team if it gets the official go-ahead.
The second seat is understood to be between two Brazilians - veteran Rubens Barrichello, Button's team-mate since 2006, and novice Bruno Senna, the nephew of F1 legend Ayrton.
The team may also conduct an initial "shakedown" preliminary test - probably at Silverstone - before taking the car to Spain.
Assuming the team attend, Button will conduct the test in Jerez, where the former Honda team will come head-to-head with their 2009 rivals.
The car will be fitted with a Mercedes engine.
 Bruno Senna could partner Button
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"There's no way we'd go to any test without an engine deal," the source said. "If we're going to Jerez, it means it's a done deal."
It is unclear whether any official announcement would be made before the test.
Even if the team make it to Jerez, as well as the subsequent final pre-season test in Barcelona in mid-March, they still face an uphill struggle to be competitive at the start of the season.
At the time of Honda's withdrawal, Brawn expressed his belief that the car could run in the top three in 2009, despite the team's poor form in the last two years.
But the recent uncertainty will have affected development effort, and they have lost running time to their rivals, most of whom have completed at least two full four-day tests already.
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