Engineer Toni Cuquerella assumes, as of today, the role of Technical Director of HRT Formula 1 Team. Cuquerella, besides being at the head of technical development, will continue to exercise his role as the maximum figure of engineering on the track.

Since Geoff Willis left the team in September of 2011, the position of Technical Director has not been occupied. The decision was then made for the development of the F112 to take place at the team’s technical office in Munich, at the hands of Holzer Group and the Chief of Aerodynamics, Stephane Chosse, under the supervision of the, until last February, Technical Coordinator Jacky Eeckelaert.

With the F112 put on the track, it’s now time to work on its development and evolution and so, the naming of a person to lead this project is necessary. And no one better than Toni Cuquerella, with his experience in Formula 1 and his praiseworthy work at the fore of HRT, to take it on.

The appointment of the Spanish engineer at the head of the technical department is a new step in the new management’s desire to centralize and take control of all the activities related to the design and development of the car. This will optimize the coordination of the different departments, helping to meet the set targets, and also rationalize resources.

Toni Cuquerella, Technical Director: “The role of Technical Director implies a great amount of responsibility in terms of coordination and decision making. That’s why I’m very proud that the management considers me to be the most adequate person to carry it out. Until now there was a lot of dispersion from within the technical team and that had its repercussions in the concept and quality of the F112. My priority is to solve the current car’s problems to then develop it to its maximum potential, whilst also unifying and expanding the technical department, but I’m confident that we have a good work base and a clear direction to advance and have a good project for the future”.

Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal: “Toni Cuquerella has been a key figure in the team since its inception and, above all, in this new stage. The transition from the previous project to this one hasn’t been easy and a lot of work has been carried out that without vital figures such as him wouldn’t have been possible. The position of Technical Director was vacant and the development of the F112 was carried out at the technical office in Munich. But now, with the car already on the track, it was important to take control and count on someone influential at the head of the technical office. And because of his experience, judgment and knowledge, Toni’s profile fitted in perfectly”.

Profile
Date of birth: 14th of April 1973
Place of birth: Gandia, Spain
Nationality: Spanish

Antonio Cuquerella was born in Gandía, Spain 38 years ago. He did a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Universidad Politécnica of Valencia.

In 1999 he had his first role as a race engineer for Campos GP at the Open Nissan. After this he worked in various national and international motorsport categories before becoming Chief Engineer of the Toledo WTCC and Leon WTCC projects at SEAT Sport.

In 2006 he arrived in Formula 1 as a race engineer for Super Aguri F1, where he spent two years before moving to BMW Sauber F1 Team, acting in the same role with driver Robert Kubica.

Towards the end of 2009 he decided to take a risk and back Adrián Campos in a project to establish a new Spanish team in Formula 1, becoming the Chief Race Engineer for Campos Meta. Since the team’s first season, Toni has been the Chief Race and Test Engineer and has been a key figure both in the early days and this new stage of HRT and now he assumes an even more important role as the Technical Director.

Martin Brundle has admitted he is surprised HRT is still struggling so much at the start of its third season in formula one.

Better known then as ‘Hispania’, the Spanish team was founded by Adrian Campos after former FIA president Max Mosley opened up three new places in pitlane for the start of the 2010 season.

But last year, the team’s second group of owners – the Carabante family – passed the baton yet again to Thesan Capital, who have rebuilt HRT in the wake of the management and infrastructure that was brought by former boss Colin Kolles.

Even so, the highly respected British commentator and former grand prix veteran Martin Brundle is surprised that Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan are struggling so much with the team’s Cosworth-powered 2012 car.

“Somebody’s got to be at the front, somebody’s got to be at the back,” the Briton told the BBC motoring programme Top Gear’s website.

“(But) the HRT is particularly poor at the moment, and it confuses me why in year three it’s worse than it was in year one.”

Carlos Gracia, an FIA vice-president and head of Spain’s motor racing federation, doesn’t fully agree.

Speaking to the sports newspaper Marca, he explained that veteran de la Rosa faces a “handicap” as the Spaniard races with HRT this year.

“He knows where he is; in a brand new team, although some people believe it is their third year.

“They have begun again, but it seems that they are in a situation where they have only just started and yet they have to clean up the image of the other years.

“That’s his handicap, but the team will have credibility because of Pedro and also because of a good business investment,” added Gracia.

 HRT’s tumultuous history could be set to continue, if a report in an authoritative German newspaper is right.
Die Welt claims Thesan Capital, the Madrid-based investment company that bought the Spanish team from Jose Ramon Carabante last year, is already on the lookout for a new buyer.

Originally known as Hispania, HRT was actually founded as Campos by former Spanish F1 driver Adrian Campos when the FIA opened up the grid ahead of the 2010 season.

Die Welt claims that the latest owner Thesan’s desire to sell follows the departure of team boss Colin Kolles, who left with almost every one of the team’s 120 employees back to his Greding based company.

Kolles also took all of HRT’s technical equipment back to Greding, Germany, leaving the team on a desperate struggle to be ready for the forthcoming season.

Nonetheless, HRT announced on Wednesday it is establishing a permanent base at the Spanish tennis open headquarters Caja Magica in Madrid.

But Die Welt claims the team may soon be sold to Carlos Slim, the richest man in the world who already backs Sauber through Sergio Perez and his Mexican companies.

HRT has reportedly bought Japanese carmaker Toyota’s former formula one team.

The new Spanish team has struggled with its Dallara-built car and a lack of development in 2010.

It was initially believed that Hispania Racing, bought by Jose Ramon Carabante from Adrian Campos before the start of its debut season, had agreed a deal to base its 2011 car on the unraced Toyota TF110.

It is for this reason, according to paddock speculation, that Toyota Motorsport only made available its 2009 car for Pirelli’s tyre testing programme.

It has been subsequently reported that HRT could buy hydraulic systems and gearboxes from the British team Williams for 2010.

But Auto Motor und Sport, citing “reliable sources”, reports that HRT has bought “the expertise, equipment and facilities” of Toyota’s Cologne based team.

At the same time, the magazine notes rumours that Hispania is behind in its payments to engine supplier Cosworth.

Ex-Sauber driver Pedro de la Rosa to bring in his fellow countrymen of HRT to continue his racing career in position
Originally, Pedro de la Rosa as a prime candidate for a Campos-Formula 1 cockpit, but tilted as the project and was later renamed the HRT was no place for him anymore. He also opted for the Sauber team, which he could at the time the supposed offer better prospects.

Sauber has thrown out the 39-year-old now – and lack of alternatives can imagine the current Pirelli test driver means, 2011 to drive for HRT. He was in contact with the family Carabantes, who runs the Spanish cycling team, he says, and adds to the news agency ‘EFE’ to: “If your project is sporty interesting and ambitious, then I will gladly come to them.” Currently, there is but “no hurry”.
De la Rosa would probably not bring their own sponsors, but his salary was reportedly financed at least in Sauber by the bank Santander. Could also cause a Spaniard in a Spanish team of national interest and bring in this way be indirectly sponsors. It is striking in any case, how much the veteran currently ingratiate the worst team of Formula 1.

“For Spain, it is important to a Formula 1 team to have, and their investment is worth something,” de la Rosa says of the Carabantes. “We have a team, but we do not receive the best value within a few months they have brought a car to the starting line and next year they will again have a car, but the project needs more support -. Not only for companies but also by riders like me and the fans. We need to stand behind them! “

Pedro de la Rosa has expressed interest in returning to the formula one grid next year with HRT.

After a long stint as McLaren tester, the Spanish driver returned to F1 with Sauber this year but was ousted recently and is now testing tyres for Pirelli.

De la Rosa, 39, was in talks with Hispania’s former guise Campos-Meta before signing with Sauber last winter, and he has told Spanish radio Onda Cero he is once again interested in joining the struggling team.

“If their sporting project is interesting and ambitious, I’ll be happy to be with them. So far there is no hurry,” he is quoted as saying by the EFE news agency.

“I am in contact with the Carabantes,” added de la Rosa, referring to the team’s owners.

“We talk a lot. For Spain it is very important to have a formula one team and what they have done so far has much merit,” he said.

“Now we (Spain) have a team but we are not getting the best value. They succeeded in just a few months to have a car on track at the start of the season and will have another car next year.

“But the project needs more support, not only from companies but also drivers like myself, and the fans. We have to get behind them,” added de la Rosa.

GP2 championship leader Pastor Maldonado claims Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez wants him to debut in formula one.

The well-sponsored 25-year-old has been linked with F1 seats several times, including when he was close to inking a deal with the hopeful Serbian outfit Stefan GP.

“We were nearly ready to sign … but at the end it didn’t get an entry,” he told Reuters at Valencia on Friday.

The news agency said Maldonado is backed by the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA.

“Venezuela is pushing very hard for me, to have me in formula one,” he confirmed.  “All my sponsors are from Venezuela so that’s a big support.

“He (Chavez) is pushing.  I know that,” Maldonado, also a contender for a Campos/HRT seat in 2010, added.

He said president Chavez is also interested in hosting a grand prix, possibly off the northeastern coast of the country on Margarita Island.

May 6 (GMM) Colin Kolles on Thursday moved to dispel persistent rumours that HRT might not see the end of its debut season.

After struggling to survive in the winter before even turning a wheel, the new Spanish team is currently the least competitive of F1′s new outfits including Lotus and Virgin.

HRT, standing for Hispania Racing Team but founded as Campos Meta 1, even changed ownership before the season opening Bahrain grand prix, and the Dallara-built F110 car is not heavily sponsored.

Asked in Barcelona to dispel rumours that the team could fold before this year’s 19-race schedule is complete, team boss Kolles answered: “I don’t anticipate that the season is not guaranteed.

“I don’t know who has been saying that,” he added.

When informed by Germany’s Motorsport-Magazin.com that numerous sources are reporting the speculation, Kolles insisted: “I’m not aware of that.”

Asked to confirm that HRT is planning to race in 2011, the Romanian-born German replied: “Of course.”

Kolles said he is working “day and night” to secure more funding for the team, and baulked at reports that the return of KERS systems for 2011 is supported by established teams including McLaren, Ferrari, Renault and Williams.

He believes the energy recovery technology is “nonsense”.

“I cannot say it more clearly. I believe there are more important things than KERS,” Kolles said, insisting that use of the systems should not be compulsory.

“As a team we cannot be made to use KERS. And I think that if we do not use it, we are being more environmentally friendly,” he added, referring to the waste produced by the batteries.

May 6 (GMM)  HRT will build its own car for the 2011 season, according to the new Spanish team’s boss Colin Kolles.

After the car commissioned by the team’s founder Adrian Campos and designed and built by Dallara was heavily criticised, Kolles confirmed that the contract with the Italian constructor has ended.

HRT’s Romanian-born chief is believed to be close to announcing a deal with a wind tunnel, so the team can develop the Dallara car throughout 2010.

Kolles told sport1.de in an interview: “The next step is that we get our own development programme running and then for 2011 build our own car.

“We are going to try to improve this car as much as possible.  But eventually we will have to draw a line and focus on next year,” he added.

Kolles likened his vision for HRT to the team he formerly led at Silverstone, which since being sold by Jordan in 2004 is now a respected midfield outfit called Force India.

“For Force India it took five years.  We are going to try to do it in three,” he said.

Kolles said he is the right man to be in charge of a fledgling F1 team.

“I cannot afford to do F1 personally, so I create value for other people.  I did it for Midland, for Spyker and the Mol family, and so on.  The team always sold for more money because it had developed.

“And people who know about it know that I am the only one who can do it.  I don’t mean that arrogantly, it’s quite simply because no one else has the infrastructure and the know-know,” added Kolles.

He said James Key, the new technical director at Sauber, is a good example.

“I made him from simply an engineer into a technical director.  This is the strategy,” said Kolles.  “We cannot afford superstars.”

This season start is on its way to become a real soap opera drama.  Even though, last week, Adrián Campos, angry with all that was being published hit the table with his fist assuring the Monday everything would be worked out, today the opposite was confirmed.

The Valencian is trying to save the Spanish team, but days go by without a solution to his financial difficulties –in spite of the time extension granted by Dallara until nest Wednesday-, and everything gets more and more complicated.

Even so that the agreement between the South African manager and Adrian Campos might be forgotten.

According to close sources, Tony Teixeira, has not been able to have the necessary liquidity to close the deal, thus leaving the Campos Meta 1, almost without options.  And if we say, ‘almost without options’ it is because those same sources have mentioned a possible purchase of the complete team, but with the condition that Adrian Campos would not lead the ‘scuderia.’

With this purchase, the team would leave Spain and the team’s personnel would not have a sure job position any longer.

Petrov needs a loan?

To continue with the soap opera, at Renault ranch, there are problems also, because if the French ‘scuderia’ initially officialized, Vitaly Petrov due to economic interests, the 15 million Euros per season that the Russian was supposed to contribute with are nowhere to be seen, at least that is what his father Alexander gave to understand, when he declared that Vitaly’s position is in jeopardy: “If we do not pay the first quota before March 1^st he may be substituted by another pilot.”

The 15 million Euros were supposed to be paid in two dates: one on March 1^st and the second on July 1^st.  However, it seems that his country’s sponsors were not aware of that.  The problem being that the manager of the Russian pilot has been knocking on the doors of 500 companies and getting the same answer: “He has been rejected every time,” confessed the pilot’s father indicating that: “Fortunately, a friend of mine, responsible for a bank in Saint Petersburg has given me a credit for 7.5 million Euros, but the bank has requested time to evaluate the guaranties.”

“Our hope is Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin who has received letters asking for help from the Russian Motor Federation, from the motoring sport and from the Sport Minister and the Parliament.”

The next episode of this soap opera “The Life of the F1″remains to be seen soon.

The F1 ex-pilot, Christian Klien and the F2 champion, the Spaniard Andy Soucek are still battling for the two remaining positions of the Formula One grid for this season.
USF1 and Campos have not confirmed yet their second pilots, and both Klien and Soucek assure to be in negotiations with the teams before the opening of the season in Bahrain, on March 14th.
“The possibilities are still good,” declared Klien. “Until there is an actual possibility I’m going fight to participate in the F1. Another year as reserve driver would not be a catastrophe.”
On the other hand, Soucek, has announced that his negotiations with the Spanish team are in an “advanced” stage, while his conversations with USF1 are more casual.
“Right now it is not signed, but during the negotiations new options have come up,” said Soucek and added that he does not discard participating as test driver, but naturally, without paying seat.
They are both competing with champion Adrián Vallés, who many consider one of the favorites for the USF1 seat. The Spaniard was already very near in 2007; maybe this is his chance.
“I’m sorry. I cannot talk. I only hope things don’t go wrong.“ declared Valles, last week.
We are still waiting for Campos to comment on the solution of his financial problems and centers in the vacant seat, as well as submit his plans as the beginning of the season is approaching

Bernie Ecclestone added more fuel to the fire when he made statements regarding the possibility that USF1 and Campos Meta 1 get a place in the grid of the first race at Bahrain. The F1 boss went even further by suggesting the both teams will miss the three first races of the season.
Ecclestone himself revealed there is a clause in the Concord Agreement which allows the teams to be absent at three races during the season. Even though most of the teams will not make use of it –due to the sponsorship contracts-, this could offer an extra period to Campos and USF1 to prepare for their debut in the Formula One.
“I think we won’t be seeing Campos nor the Americans, who are going to request to be absent to three races,” declared Ecclestone to Express. “According to the Concord Agreement the teams are authorized to be absent from three races.”
Both teams have insisted several times that they will run the first race of the season, even though Campos has admitted he is still looking for investors to pay the debts he has with the Dallara chassis manufacturer. On the other hand, the USF1 is ready for his final crash tests, and a number of reports suggest that the chassis is in a very advanced phase.
However, the Serbian, Stefan, who is developing the Toyota’s team F1 2010, is ready to intervene if necessary, suggested Ecclestone, saying that Stefan GP has gotten enough funds to be in conditions to participate in the races. “They have the Serbian government money. I have talked with the Prime Minister.” declared Ecclestone.
Formula One ex-pilots, Schumacher, Kazuki Nakajima and Jacques Villeneuve have been associated with the new team, that will make tests at the Algarve Portimao Race Circuit in Portugal, at the end of the month.

In spite of learning that the opportunity for participating in the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship with Renault has vanished with the confirmation of the Russian, Vitaly Petrov, the Spanish pilot, Andy Soucek is far from giving up. “For the time being, there’s nothing closed.  Negotiations have taken place and we have opened new options.  The two vacant seats are USF1 and Campos, but there are other alternatives that are also tempting me quite a lot, and all in Formula 1″, said Soucek.

“To be the first-team pilot is something that attracts all pilots –regardless of the team-, because what we want is to be in the grid.  But to be a reserve pilot is more important than being a test driver, because if something happens to the first-team pilot you take his place.  So this is something I have in mind if it would be a large team.  It would help me a lot and give me time to prepare for 2011, with one more year of experience in Formula 1.  It’s a role one should not rule out;” declared the Spanish pilot.

“I think I deserve the position of third pilot and I don’t think I have to pay for it.  That’s what interests me.  As a first-team pilot you have to have a big sponsor behind you, but as third pilot you can have a small sponsor or not even that, because they’re counting on you since you’re going to contribute with something to the team,” assured the Spaniard-Austrian pilot.

The thing being that more doors are closing every time, and more so with the possible arrival of Adrián Vallés to the USF1 team, which has a vacant seat.  Soucek said: “I don’t know if he has signed; I understand he hasn’t.  But, Adrián has always been ahead; he has raced very fast in all the championships he has participated.  He has been my team-mate and cannot say anything bad about him.  He’s very fast and he deserves it.  We haven’t talked and I cannot give more information.”

This way, it is confirmed that there is contact with USF1.  “Yes, there have been conversations, but this is like everything else: at the end, everybody talks with everybody else, and much more in a moment like this, when the teams are desperate for a pilot, as well as the pilots for a team.”

“I’m not going to allow desperation to get to me, and if I sign I want it to be something that helps me in my sport career; not that jeopardizes it.  So, whatever step I take is going to be well thought out, and I’ll see that the team with whom I sign gives me a guarantee of playing a decent role within the Formula One,” the pilot pointed out.

And what about Campos Meta 1 which has only confirmed the Brazilian, Bruno Senna? “For a month I’ve been in very advanced negotiations with Campos.  As has been announced in all media, Adrian is going through a very difficult moment.  I thing the same indecision and uncertainty we all have is what he’s experimenting, too,” Soucek reflected.

Based on Adrián Campos statements, today we have confirmed, that before next Monday, he will take care of the financial problems.  “Right now, he doesn’t know what’s going to happen.  He’s wishing that his team succeeds.  We all do.  It’s a Spanish team and it would be very important for motoring, but unfortunately there’s an economic problem with all the new teams, and besides, maybe the media is taking it out on him a bit too much.  Let’s hope he can solve the problem and then, it will be known who his second pilot will be,” he explained.

Adrian Campos, Campos Meta Director has admitted to having problems that have affected the team and that they should be solved before Monday.

The permanent rumors of these last days have had a negative effect.  Speculation on different media about financial problems and the alleged inability to pay the Italian manufacturer, Dallara (for the single-seater production).  Nevertheless, Minardi’s ex-pilot is confident that the team can still be in Bahrain starting grid.

“We’re trying to solve everything for Monday, but people are saying a lot of crap,” he said to BBC Sport.  “Some are true, but some aren’t.  We’re working very hard to be in Bahrain.“

The most probable rescuer of the team is the entrepreneur, Tony Teixeira, who backed-up the now extinct A1GP Series.  Nonetheless, Campos wouldn’t confirm the rescue plan and who in the partial sale of the team.

“The problem is we have confidentiality clauses for all the actions we’re taking,” he explained.

However, the Spanish Director recognized that the payments to the Dallara have not always been on time.  “Sometimes we delay a part of the payments to Dallara and, at times, we don’t have the money available.  We’re trying to solve the problem,” he declared.

Adrian Campos also denied that Dallara has gotten tired of waiting for the money and consequently, sold the 2010 car to Stefan GP.

“No, they (Dallara) cannot do that.  We have an agreement with them,” informed Adrían Campos

Speculation has begun because the Campos Meta ‘scuderia’ condition is unknown. According to a press conference by the Stefan GP’s team itself, headed by the Serbian entrepreneur Zoran Stefanovic, who today announced that they have reached an agreement with Toyota for the technical assistance as they allegedly incorporate to the Formula One.

“Stefan GP has clarified its intention to compete in the Formula One.  It has reached a basic agreement with Toyota Motorsport so that it (Stefan GP) receives technical support from the Japanese manufacturer,” the press release indicates.

Stefan GP was one of the teams that did not enter this year.  However, the ‘scuderia’ has not remained isolated; from the time of its refusal to enter as one of the new teams, it has had negotiations with Toyota.

That being so, the Serbian team is shaping up as one of the main reserve teams to take the place that would be left vacant by any of the new teams that have joined the Formula One this year, if any of them withdraws, of course (it is understood that due to financial problems.)

Last year, the current McLaren team CEO, Martin Whitmarsh, suggested the possibility that any of the new teams would be made up with the Toyota place, buying its chassis.  “Many of these teams had the chance to buy a chassis from Toyota.  The Japanese brand built two cars that were available before Christmas, and I’m quite surprised that some of them didn’t (buy a chassis).” Well, this seems to be the case of the Serbian team.

The funny thing is that the team itself gave the press conference.  Do they want to press due to the delays of some teams?