Struggling Hispania Racing Team are set to collaborate with Toyota as team owner Jose Ramon Crabante confirmed the deal at Hockenheim this weekend. Toyota who pulled out of Formula 1 last year, is now outsourcing their services including the use of their wind tunnel, staff, design of the TF110 car and their headquarters which is based in Cologne.
This in turn has got Carabante reassuring his team that the outfit will not be moved from its Murcia base to Cologne. Speaking to a Spanish news agency, the team boss said that notwithstanding the arrangement with Toyota, the team will remain in Murcia “because the project was born here.”
Carabante went on to say that the deal which is worth 15 million Euros “will strengthen Hispania in the battle to be the best of the new teams, which is our first goal”. That title is currently unofficially held by Lotus Racing. According to the Spanish news agency, HRT’s contract with Toyota Motorsports will be for 2011 and 2012.
HRT have also recently underwent driver changes with Karun Chandok being replaced by Sakon Yamamoto. This was due to the fact that Yamamoto brought in about $5 million in sponsorship money. The Japanese driver originally replaced Bruno Senna at the British GP, but then pushed Chandok out of the hot seat for Germany.
Due to technical problems the 28 year old retired, while Bruno Senna finished in 19th position behind the whole pack. Yamamoto has also been confirmed a seat for the Hungarian GP and will race alongside Bruno Senna.
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Welcome back Toyota. Looking forward for more actions. HRT should consider to recruit Kobayashi since his last driving action in Toyota was outstanding, although he only managed to race for last few races.
I am sure next year Toyota got more outsourcing contracts to deal with if HRT runs well for these last few sessions.
Stay tune, guys.
rumors had it sakon paid 2.5million per race for that hispania seat. which say alot about the cost of a formula one team. and sakon himself…my god thats 2.5million.
poor karun. maybe hes run out of juice.