HRT to survive debut season insists boss Kolles

Team boss Colin Kolles has played down paddock rumours that HRT is on the verge of collapse.

The new Spanish outfit has struggled with the slowest car in 2010, and the rumour at Monza last weekend was that the Cosworth engines were set to fall silent due to unpaid bills to Cosworth.

“We discussed our budget in Italy and it was approved,” Kolles is quoted by the French language L’Equipe website.

“We still need to complete certain objectives, but there is no cause for concern,” he told German-language Motorsport-Total.com.

“The bill for the engines has been paid for to the end of the season.  I think we are in better shape than some others,” said Kolles.

“We will see who finishes the season and who does not, and we’ll see who is on the grid next season.

“I am used to these rumours.  When I arrived at Midland, everyone thought we would not survive, and it was the same with Spyker and Force India, but the team is still there,” he said.

Elsewhere, the team’s technical coordinator Jacky Eeckelaert has ruled out reports of a merger with Epsilon Euskadi, and also quietened rumours that HRT is turning to Cologne-based Toyota Motorsport for a 2011 collaboration.

“That’s a delicate question to answer,” he told French-language toilef1.com.  “It is true there were contacts with Toyota, but I don’t think it’s going to happen for 2011.

“As for a merger with Epsilon Euskadi, I’m not aware of that,” added Eeckelaert.

© RIF | GMM