Perez-Sala appointed HRT team principal

Dec 15, 2011, 12:06 GMT

Madrid - Former Spanish racing driver Luis Perez-Sala has taken over as team principal of the struggling HRT Formula One team.

HRT said in a statement on Thursday the naming of the former Minardi F1 driver Perez-Sala as team principal in succession of Colin Kolles opens a new chapter.

'With the naming of Luis Peez-Sala at the fore of the team, HRT F1 Team closes one chapter and begins a new one ... Having Pedro de la Rosa at the helm, headquarters in Spain and the design of next season's car being carried out internally, this is an exciting project,' the statement said.

Perez-Sala, whose best finish in two years of Formula One was a sixth-place finish at the 1989 British Grand Prix, said that his appointment was an honour, but also a great responsibility.

'The simple fact that Spain has a team in the pinnacle of motorsports is already a great feat; we are a part of the G12. And that, apart from being an honor, means a greater development to the structure and everything surrounding it,' he was quoted as saying in the statement.

The team, which last year failed to pick up a championship point and finished 11th in the standings, announced in November that veteran Pedro de la Rosa would be one of its drivers next year. The second driver is yet to be named.

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