Kolles relishing Hispania team challenge
HRT team principal Colin Kolles may not have had much to smile about in terms of pure results so far this season, but he insists he is relishing the challenge of trying to move the team forwards
The Romanian was drafted in shortly before the start of the season to try and help the former Campos Grand Prix outfit make the grid - after its failure to secure the necessary funding.
Kolles duly overcame huge difficulties to get the team to Bahrain, and he has since put together the staff and resources to not only get it to the grid but to move it forward.
And although the team still faces its difficulties, Kolles is upbeat about the future - and says he loves the trial of trying to make HRT the best of the new teams this year.
"For me, obviously I enjoy what I am doing," Kolles told AUTOSPORT. "The harder it gets the more I enjoy it - and it is just working. I just want to see progress.
"Every day I want progress, and if you look at the paddock it doesn't look like we were a team that on February 10 did not exist. Look at the garage and everything. It looks that there is a structure in place, everything is there, and you have to know the short timeframe. I have the people I can rely on, the good people, and I am proud of this to be honest with you.
"Of course we are not competitive, but that was not under my control. And obviously this is something that makes me unhappy.
"Therefore we have to push, and push hard - and I don't care how. That means pushing to get more money, pushing to get more development and pushing to move it forward."
Kolles has terminated the team's car deal with manufacturer Dallara, and is having to embark on not only developing this year's machine but designed next year's chassis from scratch.
Despite the limited resources Kolles believes that with quality staff like Geoff Willis on board, he thinks the team has all it needs to go a good job.
"I think we have the expertise. Certain things have been put in place, and of course additional things will be put in place. And we will see.
He added: "Obviously we are a small team and we have to work hard to get every day money in. There is nothing to hide about this - but this is actually the same for everybody. Maybe some other people are acting and they should be nominated for the Oscar's..."
And when asked what he thought was a realistic target for the team in 2010, he said: "Maybe to be the best new team...I know that we have a strong team. This is what I know. But there is a lot of work to be done."
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