Colin Kolles Goes Home

GwilymJJames · Post by **GwilymJJames** » 14 Dec 2011, 12:04

Spanish outfit HRT F1 Team and Dr Colin Kolles have reached an agreement to end their cooperation and therefore the team principal will abandon his post on the 15th of December 2011.

“This is due to the new direction that the team has taken and the decision of the new management to move the team headquarters to Spain.

“HRT F1 Team would like to thank Dr Colin Kolles for his work and dedication throughout these past two years and wish him the best in his future projects

S951 · Post by **S951** » 14 Dec 2011, 12:10

mixed feelings but he did a good job keeping hrt going

solarcold · Post by **solarcold** » 14 Dec 2011, 12:10

I'm officially depressed after hearing this news. Damn. Damn. Damnit.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 14 Dec 2011, 12:15

I used to be one of the advocates of getting Mr Kolles sent home. Now, considering how long HRT have lasted, I'm neutral on this news.

If only Rupert Murdoch could go home however...

eagleash · Post by **eagleash** » 14 Dec 2011, 12:24

The returning of Herr Kolles to his domicile was a rather silly bandwagon started by Carlos, who didn't like him & jumped on by all & sundry. When all is said & done HRT under his stewardship made it through 2 slightly turbulent seasons...a hell of an achievement for a new team in this era, in itself, & in neither season were they classified last in the Championship.

It will be interesting to see how they fare without him in 2012 & beyond.

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 14 Dec 2011, 12:24

Wizzie wrote:I used to be one of the advocates of getting Mr Kolles sent home. Now, considering how long HRT have lasted, I'm neutral on this news.

I wonder how Carlos is feeling! :lol:

solarcold · Post by **solarcold** » 14 Dec 2011, 12:33

I've sent a little email to HRT, thanking Kolles for all he did. Dunno if this reaches him, but I feel much better now anyway.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 14 Dec 2011, 12:38

I am sad... During many years, the years in which he was in the sport (about 4 if I am not mistaken), Colin Kolles waved the rejectdom flag and contributed, with some antics and drivers, to revive some of the good old days back in the 90s. He was probably one of the most important reject figure in this forum from the current F1 and even was a target of a campaign to send him home. Nevertheless Colin pressed on and actually did an heroic job taking into account the circumstances. Who can forget the dampers stuck in Spanish costums? Or the Australian DNQ? Missing the 2010 pre-season all together and going into the 2011 one with an outdated and very slow car? Nothing of this phased Mr Kolles and he went on to beat a supposedly more professional team in Virgin. Even when he was at Midland and Spiker he showed how special he was, by performing dental surgery on Monteiro in 2005 and on Albers in 2006. Where do you find another team manager who performs dental surgery on his drivers? My friends, let me say that it was Mr Kolles who portrayed the amateurish spirit that once up on a time was the back bone of our sport and he did all this while fighting critics and increasingly professional and supposedly better teams. Colin Kolles is, in the end, the last amateur hero to grace F1 and I am proud to have watched and shared his journey in the sport.

eagleash · Post by **eagleash** » 14 Dec 2011, 13:07

DanielPT wrote: Even when he was at Midland and Spiker he showed how special he was, by performing dental surgery on Monteiro in 2005 and on Albers in 2006. Where do you find another team manager who performs dental surgery on his drivers?

Stirling Moss' Father who replaced his son's front teeth after his crash in Morocco(?) early 50s.

Faustus · Post by **Faustus** » 14 Dec 2011, 13:19

I have a feeling that HRT will regret this in the long term...

solarcold · Post by **solarcold** » 14 Dec 2011, 13:27

I second this. How come in circumstances given they decided the "critical times" are over?

Post by **mario** » 14 Dec 2011, 13:46

GwilymJJames wrote:Colin Kolles has left HRT.

Spanish outfit HRT F1 Team and Dr Colin Kolles have reached an agreement to end their cooperation and therefore the team principal will abandon his post on the 15th of December 2011.

“This is due to the new direction that the team has taken and the decision of the new management to move the team headquarters to Spain.

“HRT F1 Team would like to thank Dr Colin Kolles for his work and dedication throughout these past two years and wish him the best in his future projects

I guess that it isn't entirely surprising given that the relationship between Kolles and the current owners of HRT has been a little strained - he had already been partially sidelined some time ago, and with the new owners investing in a facility in Valencia as part of their plans to make the team identifiably Spanish, I guess that they saw his facilities in Cologne as surplus to requirements. It's a shame that he has gone, given that he had won a sort of grudging respect because he managed to hold the team together against the odds not once, but twice - not only that, but with the team brokering a deal with Mercedes, the team are on a much more stable footing (which is probably why Thesan Capital have taken the decision to kick him out now).

Given this change, the next question is who might be called in to replace Kolles - I expect that the most likely scenario is that a senior manager will be promoted from within the company, but Thesan might appoint somebody from within their own organisation to "protect their investment", as they'll probably see it (if the latter occurs that could be a big mistake).

Pointrox · Post by **Pointrox** » 14 Dec 2011, 14:43

I wonder who will be his successor?

cbbcisace · Post by **cbbcisace** » 14 Dec 2011, 14:50

Agag from Barwa Addax + if van der Garde is really the 2nd driver for HRT next year, don't forget him and Kolles had a huge falling out a few years ago.

S951 · Post by **S951** » 14 Dec 2011, 14:55

stoddie shock comeback

solarcold · Post by **solarcold** » 14 Dec 2011, 15:35

S951 wrote:stoddie shock comeback

I second this.

"Paul Stoddart HRT comeback taking Luca Badoer with him" petition anyone?

Pointrox · Post by **Pointrox** » 14 Dec 2011, 15:41

Stoddy can even bring HWNSNBM with him

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 14 Dec 2011, 16:42

One Carlos Ferreira who doesn't post around here anymore will be extremely happy. He's been wanting this for well over a year.

Post by **Londoner** » 14 Dec 2011, 16:49

redbulljack14 wrote:One Carlos Ferreira who doesn't post around here anymore will be extremely happy. He's been wanting this for well over a year.

Maybe this news will make him return? 8-)

eagleash · Post by **eagleash** » 14 Dec 2011, 16:51

redbulljack14 wrote:One Carlos Ferreira who doesn't post around here anymore will be extremely happy. He's been wanting this for well over a year.

Carlos has not been here for a year now. He's really busy with his doctorate (amongst other things). I've posted to him on Fakebook. (To which Phoenix has responded). Ring for a mod & they'll send the wrong one!

Edit: Carlos responded a bit later & said almost exactly what I did above....said he might drop by here one day.

Ferrim · Post by **Ferrim** » 14 Dec 2011, 21:02

I actually think this is good news from HRT. Kolles is the kind of guy I would sign to keep an operation afloat, but nothing else. While his reject-like antics, like swapping drivers around, are the kind of stuff appreciated at this site, I believe HRT need someone else to move the team forward.

That said, it remains to be seen whether the new owners have the kind of plan needed to do that.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 14 Dec 2011, 21:23

Pointrox wrote:I wonder who will be his successor?

A team reshuffle leading to Daniele Audetto being the new team principal? I know he's in the system there somewhere but don't know his current role in the team.

cbbcisace · Post by **cbbcisace** » 14 Dec 2011, 21:46

kostas22 wrote:
Pointrox wrote:I wonder who will be his successor?

A team reshuffle leading to Daniele Audetto being the new team principal? I know he's in the system there somewhere but don't know his current role in the team.

I don't believe Audetto is with the team anymore.

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 14 Dec 2011, 22:47

eagleash wrote:
redbulljack14 wrote:One Carlos Ferreira who doesn't post around here anymore will be extremely happy. He's been wanting this for well over a year.

Carlos has not been here for a year now. He's really busy with his doctorate (amongst other things). I've posted to him on Fakebook. (To which Phoenix has responded). Ring for a mod & they'll send the wrong one!

Hey! I just wanted to respond to make a joke about how Vitantonio Liuzzi was the next in line to go home after taking a beating from Ricciardo (disclaimer: I was actually joking), and Carlos did respond and said he'd drop by one of these days

eagleash · Post by **eagleash** » 14 Dec 2011, 23:23

Phoenix wrote:
eagleash wrote:
redbulljack14 wrote:One Carlos Ferreira who doesn't post around here anymore will be extremely happy. He's been wanting this for well over a year.

Carlos has not been here for a year now. He's really busy with his doctorate (amongst other things). I've posted to him on Fakebook. (To which Phoenix has responded). Ring for a mod & they'll send the wrong one!

Hey! I just wanted to respond to make a joke about how Vitantonio Liuzzi was the next in line to go home after taking a beating from Ricciardo (disclaimer: I was actually joking), and Carlos did respond and said he'd drop by one of these days

It's not a problem...

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 14 Dec 2011, 23:43

BTW, how will he cope with the fact that I've blown his posting record into Alpha Centaurus? Once upon a time, we used to joke about his obsessiveness :lol:

eagleash · Post by **eagleash** » 14 Dec 2011, 23:57

Phoenix wrote:;)

BTW, how will he cope with the fact that I've blown his posting record into Alpha Centaurus? Once upon a time, we used to joke about his obsessiveness

I imagine he'll send you home.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 14 Dec 2011, 23:57

Phoenix wrote:;)

BTW, how will he cope with the fact that I've blown his posting record into Alpha Centaurus? Once upon a time, we used to joke about his obsessiveness

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago I was giving both of you a run for your money in total posts terms - I shot from 0 to 2000 in no time, but after about 18 months I still haven't broken 3000 and I have no idea how! :roll:

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 15 Dec 2011, 00:13

Phoenix wrote:;)

BTW, how will he cope with the fact that I've blown his posting record into Alpha Centaurus? Once upon a time, we used to joke about his obsessiveness

And now I've DRSed my way through the one word association game into second place. :mrgreen:

eagleash · Post by **eagleash** » 15 Dec 2011, 00:16

kostas22 wrote:
Phoenix wrote:;)

BTW, how will he cope with the fact that I've blown his posting record into Alpha Centaurus? Once upon a time, we used to joke about his obsessiveness

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago I was giving both of you a run for your money in total posts terms - I shot from 0 to 2000 in no time, but after about 18 months I still haven't broken 3000 and I have no idea how!

Same here; got to 1,000 in 6 months, but 18 months later still not reached 2,000.

tristan1117 · Post by **tristan1117** » 15 Dec 2011, 01:19

eagleash wrote:
kostas22 wrote:
Phoenix wrote:;)

BTW, how will he cope with the fact that I've blown his posting record into Alpha Centaurus? Once upon a time, we used to joke about his obsessiveness

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago I was giving both of you a run for your money in total posts terms - I shot from 0 to 2000 in no time, but after about 18 months I still haven't broken 3000 and I have no idea how!

Same here; got to 1,000 in 6 months, but 18 months later still not reached 2,000.

Ha, I was the seventeenth forum member to register and I still haven't reached 1,000. Anyway, I'm sad to see Kolles go. As everyone has said, he brought back amateurism back into F1 for an all-too-brief moment, bringing back the spirit of Peter Montverdi and Andrea Sassetti.

Jeroen Krautmeir · Post by **Jeroen Krautmeir** » 15 Dec 2011, 10:21

I'll admit I'm a little sad at this decision. In my opinion, Colin has done a superb job of holding the team together for these 2 seasons. Here's hoping his replacement does a good job...

...LUIS PEREZ-SAAAAAAAALA!

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 15 Dec 2011, 10:21

I'm currently with 20 posts of overtaking Carlos... :shock:

(Look right -> and compare to Carlos's total of 4537...)

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 15 Dec 2011, 10:39

AndreaModa wrote:I wonder how Carlos is feeling!

Vindicated?

Djmeak · Post by **Djmeak** » 15 Dec 2011, 11:46

Breaking News

F1 Reject Luis Perez Sala is now team manager of HRT!!!

seleucid23 · Post by **seleucid23** » 15 Dec 2011, 11:51

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula ... 194591.stm

A reject driver in charge of a reject team.....Reject-ception?

solarcold · Post by **solarcold** » 15 Dec 2011, 11:52

Well... Hope.

AdrianSutil · Post by **AdrianSutil** » 15 Dec 2011, 11:52

Am not surprised. Talk about turning it into a totally Spanish team.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 15 Dec 2011, 11:55

Great news, and following the oft-proved rule that good drivers make crap team principals in theory, Little Luis should perform.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 15 Dec 2011, 12:34

CoopsII wrote:Great news, and following the oft-proved rule that good drivers make crap team principals in theory, Little Luis should perform.

Exception: Jackie Stewart?