Midland Appoint Managing Director

The newly-founded Midland Formula One team, which is being linked to a takeover of ailing Jordan, appointed German Formula Three team owner Colin Kolles as managing director on Wednesday.

A spokeswoman said Kolles, active with Kolles Racing in the Formula Three Euro Series, would be team principal working with British Formula Three team owner Trevor Carlin of Carlin Motorsport as sporting director.

"I am well aware of the challenges involved in bringing a Formula One team to the grid and I would have never accepted Mr Shnaider's offer to run his team if I wasn't sure that we will be successful," said Kolles in a statement.

Midland, owned by the Russian-born Canadian businessman Alex Shnaider, announced last October that they were planning to enter the 2006 Formula One championship with a car built by Dallara in Italy.

However, recent media reports have suggested they are now looking at an immediate entry by buying into British-based Jordan.

Eddie Jordan confirmed on Monday that he had been talking to Shnaider and liked him. Autosport.com said an announcement was expected at the weekend.

"There are many rumours but nothing is settled yet," said the Midland spokeswoman.