Hispania future safe, says Kolles
After a disappointing year in its inaugural Formula One season, Hispania Racing F1 Team (HRT) has responded to speculation regarding its current funding crisis. Rumoured to be on the brink of collapsing,
team principal Colin Kolles asserted that life at HRT is “business as usual,” and discards any doubts about the company’s future.
The team has endured a history of financial trouble since 2009 when F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone conveyed apprehension about its stability in joining the 2010 season. Established by Adrián Campos as Campos
Meta 1, it was later bought out by José Ramón Carabante and re-dubbed as the Hispania Racing F1 Team. Yet despite the co-operation of several prestigious shareholders, the company has been fraught with funding difficulties, performing as lacklustre in the
account books as on the F1 circuit where they currently rank eleventh in the constructor’s championship. As a result, little confidence has been placed in the team’s ability to survive.
Yet Kolles has downplayed the worry. “We had budget discussions over the Monza weekend and it has been approved,” he insisted, according to AUTOSPORT.com. “And it is business as normal. We have to achieve
certain targets and to be honest with you, there is nothing special.”
Kolles stated that the 2010 season would continue as planned for HRT, explaining that the majority of the most pressing financial obligations had been fulfilled. “The [Cosworth] engine bill is paid in
full for the whole year. I think actually we are in a better financial situation than many others. That we need more money is very clear, but there are others who have many more debts and many more creditors than we have.”
When faced with the question of which rookie team will make it to 2011, Kolles replied with determination: “We will see who will finish the season and who doesn't finish the season, and we will see who
will be on the grid next year and who isn't on the grid next year. I am used to this. When I came in after Jordan [with Midland] everybody was saying we [were] not going to survive. [But] the team is still here, it is competitive and others, like Toyota, BMW
and Honda, who never were questioned that they would be here, aren't here anymore due to financial reasons.”
HRT is currently seeking a permanent team-mate for driver Bruno Senna, and has expressed interest in Spanish talent Pedro de la Rosa, who was recently dropped by Sauber. Japan’s Sakon Yamamoto is temporarily
filling in, replacing India’s Karun Chandhok.
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