HRT owners eye sale to richest man Carlos Slim

**CNR** · 9th Feb 12, 06:55

HRT owners eye sale to richest man Carlos Slim

[QUOTE]

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.

Read more: HRT owners eye sale to richest man Carlos Slim]

if this is true will they have a new car ready for the first race ?

**steveaki13** · 9th Feb 12, 08:01

Its a shame Kolles couldn't find a way to leave without damaging an already struggling team.

I know some people think HRT are a waste of space, but I hope they can be ready on time. After all their problems

**Jefe Máximo** · 9th Feb 12, 09:05

Hmmm.... I guess it's slim pickings.

**Robinho** · 9th Feb 12, 12:16

they have 2 chances, Slim, and none

**Robinho** · 9th Feb 12, 12:20

seems like rumours anyway, HRT are at Jerez test and the new car is being crash tested today ahead of unveiling at the Barcelona test. that doesn't sound like a team with no staff. And what exactly would Kolles be doing with 120 staff and no money to pay them and no job to work on

RS · 9th Feb 12, 13:06

That would be a shame if true as I thought HRT were just starting to get things together with a proper Spanish identity (Spanish base, manager, and driver)

**truefan72** · 9th Feb 12, 13:53

Originally Posted by Robinho

they have 2 chances, Slim, and none

LOL
well said

last year I thought they would get their act together but I'll eat my humble pie
they seem in constant dissaray

we would have had 3 other proper teams in F1 today, if mosley
1. did not try to blackmail candidates to use cosworth engines
2. did not waste an entrant on F1USA
3. allowed that group to enter the already 2010 spec ready Toyota's
4. as promised, filled that 14th team slot was expected

Our only hope is that Virgin and HRT show some signs of life this year

**truefan72** · 9th Feb 12, 13:55

Originally Posted by RS

That would be a shame if true as I thought HRT were just starting to get things together with a proper Spanish identity (Spanish base, manager, and driver)

who cares about an all spanish base if you are running dead last
I hope that a national identity is not your sign of achievement or "getting things together"

**Garry Walker** · 9th Feb 12, 16:15

Originally Posted by aki13

I know some people think HRT are a waste of space

That would be me.

But I like PDLR as a driver, so hopefully they will at least make it to some races.

RS · 9th Feb 12, 16:46

Originally Posted by truefan72

who cares about an all spanish base if you are running dead last
I hope that a national identity is not your sign of achievement or "getting things together"

I didn't say they achieved anything yet but they appear to be trying to build some kind of proper team as opposed to the last couple of years where they have outsourced almost everything. Also taking PDLR instead of a pay driver is a promising sign even if he isn't the fastest guy out there.

Regarding the Spanish base, I just like to see a team actually living up to their identity in some way, ie. not like 'Force India' or 'Lotus' (Norfolk Motors) which are just branding exercises.

**N4D13** · 9th Feb 12, 17:32

Originally Posted by RS

I didn't say they achieved anything yet but they appear to be trying to build some kind of proper team as opposed to the last couple of years where they have outsourced almost everything. Also taking PDLR instead of a pay driver is a promising sign even if he isn't the fastest guy out there.

Whereas I believe that PdlR is somewhat underrated - he's obviously not a top drawer driver, but neither is he a slow one -, I don't think this is a promising sign. A Spanish team signing a Spanish driver? Not quite impresive IMHO. I'd have agreed with you, though, if they had gone for Fisichella -probably faster than Pedro, but obviously not a top driver either- or someone like that.

**Malbec** · 9th Feb 12, 17:40

Originally Posted by RS

I didn't say they achieved anything yet but they appear to be trying to build some kind of proper team as opposed to the last couple of years where they have outsourced almost everything.

They're still outsourcing everything. The monocoques are going to be made in Germany and Austria by the same company that makes the carbon tubs for the McLaren MP4-12C. HRT don't even have a proper base with their premises in Valencia being a couple of warehouses. The cars may be ready but they'll have difficulty getting a team together now they've lost Kolles.

Ultimately HRT was founded on misguided assumptions and none of their subsequent owners have managed to find a way of making the project sustainable.

Neither of the Carlos Slims (father or son) will look at HRT, they're in bed with Sauber which will always be the more attractive prospect if they want to actually buy a team.