Hispania Racing Team (former Campos) News

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 01 Apr 2010, 19:26

It is great! It's very a reassuring presence, I've missed having the little team at the back that any old Tom, Dick or Harry can become a driver for. Even the crap ones like Force India (used to be) and Toro Rosso seem pretty corporate - the Algesuaris of this world seem more boringly adequate than excitingly rejectful. I've missed the Karun Chandocks being given a chance. I'm still upset Lopez didn't get a shot.

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 01 Apr 2010, 19:39

fjackdaw wrote:It is great! It's very a reassuring presence, I've missed having the little team at the back that any old Tom, Dick or Harry can become a driver for. Even the crap ones like Force India (used to be) and Toro Rosso seem pretty corporate - the Algesuaris of this world seem more boringly adequate than excitingly rejectful. I've missed the Karun Chandocks being given a chance. I'm still upset Lopez didn't get a shot.

Chandhok really is an amiable character, isn't it? AutoSport interviewed him after Bahrain and were nice enough to stick to his statements, swearwords included. And he sounded just like a regular bloke.

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 01 Apr 2010, 23:21

CarlosFerreira wrote:
fjackdaw wrote:It is great! It's very a reassuring presence, I've missed having the little team at the back that any old Tom, Dick or Harry can become a driver for. Even the crap ones like Force India (used to be) and Toro Rosso seem pretty corporate - the Algesuaris of this world seem more boringly adequate than excitingly rejectful. I've missed the Karun Chandocks being given a chance. I'm still upset Lopez didn't get a shot.

Chandhok really is an amiable character, isn't it? AutoSport interviewed him after Bahrain and were nice enough to stick to his statements, swearwords included. And he sounded just like a regular bloke.

Yeah, they spoke to him at length on the BBC coverage too, and he just spoke like a normal person, rather than a corporate drone. I don't think he even said "for sure" once!

Waris · Post by **Waris** » 02 Apr 2010, 04:12

I agree with what's being said about Chandhok. I didn't think much of him at first, but he really does seem like a pretty cool guy (drives for Horrible Racing Team and doesn't afraid of anything). Of course, I also like Bruno Senna as well. This means Hispania have two likeable drivers, so, as much as I hate to admit it, they're starting to become a bit of a favourite for me. I already like them better than Virgin!

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 02 Apr 2010, 08:11

Waris wrote:I agree with what's being said about Chandhok. I didn't think much of him at first, but he really does seem like a pretty cool guy (drives for Horrible Racing Team and doesn't afraid of anything). Of course, I also like Bruno Senna as well. This means Hispania have two likeable drivers, so, as much as I hate to admit it, they're starting to become a bit of a favourite for me. I already like them better than Virgin!

Ha ha, same here. Stealthily, they're finding a way in out hearts. I hope the don't run out of cash soon.

Aerond · Post by **Aerond** » 02 Apr 2010, 08:43

HRT will get into the points this year; believe me!

danardif1 · Post by **danardif1** » 02 Apr 2010, 13:52

CarlosFerreira wrote:
fjackdaw wrote:It is great! It's very a reassuring presence, I've missed having the little team at the back that any old Tom, Dick or Harry can become a driver for. Even the crap ones like Force India (used to be) and Toro Rosso seem pretty corporate - the Algesuaris of this world seem more boringly adequate than excitingly rejectful. I've missed the Karun Chandocks being given a chance. I'm still upset Lopez didn't get a shot.

Chandhok really is an amiable character, isn't it? AutoSport interviewed him after Bahrain and were nice enough to stick to his statements, swearwords included. And he sounded just like a regular bloke.

He seems to have friends everywhere in the F1 'circus' too... he knows the BBC guys well, he knows guys up and down the paddock... and it's not a poncy I'm rich sort of air about him, he must actually get on with all these people... And Bruno Senna as well, coming from a good family like the Senna's (Lalli's), he seems really grounded and realistic about his life and career... If you follow Karun on twitter too you will see that him and Senna get on famously too... they spend lots of time together and there's some nice pics of them out and about in KL that show really that they're just normal guys, which I like!

Post by **mario** » 02 Apr 2010, 21:15

danardif1 wrote:
CarlosFerreira wrote:
fjackdaw wrote:It is great! It's very a reassuring presence, I've missed having the little team at the back that any old Tom, Dick or Harry can become a driver for. Even the crap ones like Force India (used to be) and Toro Rosso seem pretty corporate - the Algesuaris of this world seem more boringly adequate than excitingly rejectful. I've missed the Karun Chandocks being given a chance. I'm still upset Lopez didn't get a shot.

Chandhok really is an amiable character, isn't it? AutoSport interviewed him after Bahrain and were nice enough to stick to his statements, swearwords included. And he sounded just like a regular bloke.

He seems to have friends everywhere in the F1 'circus' too... he knows the BBC guys well, he knows guys up and down the paddock... and it's not a poncy I'm rich sort of air about him, he must actually get on with all these people... And Bruno Senna as well, coming from a good family like the Senna's (Lalli's), he seems really grounded and realistic about his life and career... If you follow Karun on twitter too you will see that him and Senna get on famously too... they spend lots of time together and there's some nice pics of them out and about in KL that show really that they're just normal guys, which I like!

He is indeed a very nice guy by all accounts - Jake Humphrey said that he is "a very cool customer", as he is so calm when in the pit lane, yet is also very friendly and willing to chat to the presenters. Bruno Senna also seems to be friendly, and getting on well with everybody. I guess that when you consider that they are both lucky to be in the sport, then they are simply enjoying everything as much as they can. It makes for a very refreshing change from the curse of drivers having to tow the company line to keep the sponsors happy.

However, it looks like discontent is already starting to brew within the management at HRT - Geoff Willis (who is their technical advisor) has stuck the boot in, saying that he is disappointed with the design of the car, and is deeply critical of both Dallara's efforts and the team itself. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/82630

To quote from the article:

Geoff Willis wrote:"But fundamentally I'm disappointed at the level of engineering in the car and I don't think it reflects current F1 practise by quite some margin. Now you put that down to time, some of it down to experience, some of it down to finance, but I think overall, even allowing for those things, I'm disappointed with what I see. [...]And I'm thinking just of the built quality, the design quality, the refinement of the design. I think it's missing a lot of tricks that would be taken for granted by anybody in the pitlane now."

Nor is he nailing his colours to the mast there, judging by this:

Willis admitted he is yet to decide if he is going to continue working with the team, with a decision to be based on what the Spanish squad's plans for the future are. "I'm not particularly interested in staying with a car that's at the back of the grid," Willis said. "I'm interested in making cars go faster and manage the whole thing."

All in all, it makes for quite a strong rebuke by Willis.

danardif1 · Post by **danardif1** » 02 Apr 2010, 21:51

Looking at Willis' comments regarding the car: I think that Kolles would've made sure this car got to the grid by utilising his other teams more mechanical knowledge, perhaps using cheaper and heavier materials on components (I've heard that the suspension wishbones are carrying 20kg too much weight, just through them being steel with carbon shrouding... and also steel brakes rather than the carbon ones seen throughout the pitlane) There's lots of time to be found in that, rather than looking specifically at aero, which seems to be stronger, or at least on par than the other new teams if you take into account the other compromises on the car... Maybe Willis is trying to kick start Dallara into putting some effort in and taking pride in their car, or he's just being a bit of a snob having been at bigger, richer teams like Williams and Red Bull...

I think they could get some decent pace out of the car, if they can upgrade some of the parts, both mechanically and aerodynamically...

Ross Prawn · Post by **Ross Prawn** » 02 Apr 2010, 23:33

Maybe Willis is trying to beat Gasgoines record for designer sacked by the most teams. 8-)

Popi_Larrauri · Post by **Popi_Larrauri** » 03 Apr 2010, 01:59

fjackdaw wrote:It is great! It's very a reassuring presence, I've missed having the little team at the back that any old Tom, Dick or Harry can become a driver for. Even the crap ones like Force India (used to be) and Toro Rosso seem pretty corporate - the Algesuaris of this world seem more boringly adequate than excitingly rejectful. I've missed the Karun Chandocks being given a chance. I'm still upset Lopez didn't get a shot.

That´s the Spirit, CARAJO! :lol:

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 03 Apr 2010, 02:45

If you want racing drivers with personalities, get Jacques Villeneuve or Takuma Sato an F1 drive to replace Sebastien Borat and Jaime Alguersuari. Hell with that, get Sebastien Bourdais in a Ferrari instead of Felipe Massa and move Paul Tracy in the second Ferrari. Put Fernando Alonso in one of the Red Bulls, replacing Webber, perhaps, and move Webber to some midfield team so he can pretend to be better than he really is when the car finally breaks down. Also, get rid of boring old Kubica and put in Ho-Pin Tung.

There's your problem. All the drivers with actual personalities are better suited to other forms of racing, or are past their best-use-date. F1 has the same problem NASCAR does, driver personalities have no place in the sport unless your name is Fernando Alonso or Lewis Waaaahmilton.

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 03 Apr 2010, 10:20

You're saying that Jacques Villeneuve, one of the laziest drivers F1 has ever seen, has personality? Not quite up to the father's, that's for sure.

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 03 Apr 2010, 10:23

Phoenix wrote:You're saying that Jacques Villeneuve, one of the laziest drivers F1 has ever seen, has personality? Not quite up to the father's, that's for sure.

But his bickering against Schumacher used to be hilarious...

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 03 Apr 2010, 10:33

Klon wrote:
Phoenix wrote:You're saying that Jacques Villeneuve, one of the laziest drivers F1 has ever seen, has personality? Not quite up to the father's, that's for sure.

But his bickering against Schumacher used to be hilarious...

Meh. Eddie Irvine was hilarious as well and even so it wasn't all that great apart from 1999.

Yannick · Post by **Yannick** » 11 Apr 2010, 19:02

Recently, I've read an interview with Colin Kolles of the former Team Campos in which he stated that they soon will begin to run experienced Friday drivers to help with the development of the car. It may be merely pay drivers but it could also turn out to be a Klien among them, couldn't it?

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 11 Apr 2010, 19:18

Yannick wrote:Recently, I've read an interview with Colin Kolles of the former Team Campos in which he stated that they soon will begin to run experienced Friday drivers to help with the development of the car. It may be merely pay drivers but it could also turn out to be a Klien among them, couldn't it?

Maybe the Fire King will emulate Chanoch Nissany at some point this season?

Myrvold · Post by **Myrvold** » 12 Apr 2010, 10:06

Sauce?

Waris · Post by **Waris** » 12 Apr 2010, 11:50

Myrvold wrote:Sauce?

It was on pitpass somewhere, I think.

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 12 Apr 2010, 17:20

kostas22 wrote:
Yannick wrote:Recently, I've read an interview with Colin Kolles of the former Team Campos in which he stated that they soon will begin to run experienced Friday drivers to help with the development of the car. It may be merely pay drivers but it could also turn out to be a Klien among them, couldn't it?

Maybe the Fire King will emulate Chanoch Nissany at some point this season?

They said "experienced drivers" so they'll turn into Nissany himself.

Post by **mario** » 12 Apr 2010, 17:38

Yannick wrote:Recently, I've read an interview with Colin Kolles of the former Team Campos in which he stated that they soon will begin to run experienced Friday drivers to help with the development of the car. It may be merely pay drivers but it could also turn out to be a Klien among them, couldn't it?

Surely, given that the drivers have not had a change to truly settle into the cars, due to the absence of pre-season testing and limited running during the first few races, it would make more sense to give the main drivers the majority of the practise time instead of giving it over to a test driver? Additionally, given that a third driver would stretch resources a bit further, it would only make sense if they found a driver who could also bring in a fair amount of sponsorship (i.e. a good old pay driver) - but who would be available and willing to do that?
Nakajima is one possibility that comes to mind, but he wasn't especially noted for his development skills, and given his involvement in Stefan GP, he might well be cautious of the other new teams. Davidson might be interested in the position (he is still interested in F1), and was reputedly a reasonably good development driver, but he is tied up with the Peugeot Le Mans program, and would be unlikely to bring much in the way of sponsorship. Not that many other drivers come to mind who would bring both experience and cash.
However, seeing how the team has a pretty modest budget, and only just pulled through for this season, I expect that the size of the wallet the pay drivers can sit on will be of more interest then their talent...

Equally, given the inexperience of the team, they could probably find a fairly large chunk of time simply through improving their strategy and set up work (since I suspect that the team is only now starting to fully understand the car, and probably have still not quite got the most out of the car). Surely directing resources into that area would be the best course of action, and where you could make up the most performance quickly, especially when you consider that Dallara is doing most of the development work?

danardif1 · Post by **danardif1** » 13 Apr 2010, 15:53

Phoenix wrote:They said "experienced drivers" so they'll turn into Nissany himself.

It's just a shame that Nissany's 'experience' is only in life, not in his 'driving'

Also @mario, are Dallara doing the development work, because I have heard repeatedly over the last couple of months that Dallara essentially handed over the completed car and washed their hands of it (which would tie in with Willis' comments about some shoddy practices on this car)... Kolles has to find the facilities and money to develop it... Perhaps he could pay a visit to Joan Villadelprat up at Epsilon Euskadi!?!

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 13 Apr 2010, 21:01

danardif1 wrote:
Phoenix wrote:They said "experienced drivers" so they'll turn into Nissany himself.

It's just a shame that Nissany's 'experience' is only in life, not in his 'driving'

Well, he's been a 3rd driver before (in 2005 to be precise), so he's not bananas anymore.

Post by **mario** » 13 Apr 2010, 21:44

danardif1 wrote:
Phoenix wrote:They said "experienced drivers" so they'll turn into Nissany himself.

It's just a shame that Nissany's 'experience' is only in life, not in his 'driving'

Also @mario, are Dallara doing the development work, because I have heard repeatedly over the last couple of months that Dallara essentially handed over the completed car and washed their hands of it (which would tie in with Willis' comments about some shoddy practices on this car)... Kolles has to find the facilities and money to develop it... Perhaps he could pay a visit to Joan Villadelprat up at Epsilon Euskadi!?!

My understanding was that originally Dallara were going to help the team develop the car as part of the agreement between them, with the design rights eventually being handed over to the team. However, since then, it appears that HRT are becoming increasingly frustrated at what they see as a total lack of support from Dallara; it seems that you are right about Dallara simply handing the car over to HRT and leaving them to it.
Judging by their latest comments, if anything, they seem to be accusing Dallara of actively hindering them by refusing to give them any of the chassis data.

To quote from their business affairs spokesman, his opinion on the situation is pretty clear, and he is not at all happy:

Manfredi Ravetto wrote:"They delivered the cars and that was it. To develop the car further, we will have to do it"

In fact, HRT are becoming increasingly hostile towards Dallara in their public statements - see this article here on F1Technical http://www.f1technical.net/news/14622 Take this comment, for example, disparaging the quality of work that Dallara have carried out:

Manfredi Ravetto wrote:"Dallara delivered a total mess. They built a Formula 1 car with quality that you no longer even see in Formula 3."

What I find odd, though, is that Dallara have not responded to any of the criticism, as far as I am aware. You'd have thought that, given that they have been getting a very public kicking in publications like Autosport (which is a fairly high profile publication), and further attacks today, that they would have put out some sort of statement giving their version of events?

Alianora La Canta · Post by **Alianora La Canta** » 13 Apr 2010, 22:27

I think Dallara's used to it - this sequence is eerily similar to their last attempt at F1 in conjunction with Midland. Started off with an exciting all-chassis multi-year deal and ended with Dallara only contributing a bit of aero work to the M16 due to a combination of money and personalities.

karsten · Post by **karsten** » 14 Apr 2010, 08:58

i consider the HRT as "overperforming" so far, and that is certainly due to the quality work of dallara... Surely after all the payment problems they had they are not going to research for free in HRT's name... :mrgreen:

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 14 Apr 2010, 09:24

All good points. I'm thinking development can only happen if HRT and Dallara have the feedback structures in place. Well, if HRT are hitting at Dallara through the media, they probably don't.

Checked Dallara's website; they hardly mention the thing at all (I think the last piece of news regarding Campos dates from somewhere in November).

watka · Post by **watka** » 14 Apr 2010, 22:24

Dallara have clearly taken pride in their work. However, I guess because Campos gave them so much trouble in paying up, then they felt obliged to hold back on the car.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 17 Apr 2010, 03:28

Original dodgy neck guy gets test drive
This keeps getting better and better

Post by **mario** » 17 Apr 2010, 08:00

CarlosFerreira wrote:All good points. I'm thinking development can only happen if HRT and Dallara have the feedback structures in place. Well, if HRT are hitting at Dallara through the media, they probably don't.

Checked Dallara's website; they hardly mention the thing at all (I think the last piece of news regarding Campos dates from somewhere in November).

The last article is all about the handover of the car to HRT - they have basically ignored the car from then on, it seems. They have no section on their website about their efforts in F1 (yet can find a place on their site to go on about their 4th place at Le Mans with Oreca nine years ago), and only mention HRT in passing at best.
At the moment, the attitude of Dallara does seem to indicate that HRT might be telling the truth when they say that Dallara aren't being co-operative - whether that is down to Dallara's frustration with the former Campos team for slow payment or for other reasons remains to be seen.

Wizzie wrote:Original dodge neck guy gets test drive
This keeps getting better and better

It probably could have only got better if Takuma Sato had got the drive. I like the fact that Brundle was commenting on the HRT, and after watching Bruno Senna having terrible oversteer through the last corner, said "He deserves a point for driving that car - it looks terrifying to drive" (which it did - the car had a very unstable rear end, and was constantly sliding at the rear). Probably Yamamoto is the only guy who is mad enough to take a look at the car and think "Yeah, I'll have a go with that".

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 17 Apr 2010, 10:50

Wizzie wrote:Original dodge neck guy gets test drive
This keeps getting better and better

Respectability has just been thrown off the window. There.

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 17 Apr 2010, 14:27

mario wrote:
Wizzie wrote:Original dodge neck guy gets test drive
This keeps getting better and better

It probably could have only got better if Takuma Sato had got the drive. I like the fact that Brundle was commenting on the HRT, and after watching Bruno Senna having terrible oversteer through the last corner, said "He deserves a point for driving that car - it looks terrifying to drive" (which it did - the car had a very unstable rear end, and was constantly sliding at the rear). Probably Yamamoto is the only guy who is mad enough to take a look at the car and think "Yeah, I'll have a go with that".

He was probably only bored.

watka · Post by **watka** » 17 Apr 2010, 14:47

mario wrote:
It probably could have only got better if Takuma Sato had got the drive. I like the fact that Brundle was commenting on the HRT, and after watching Bruno Senna having terrible oversteer through the last corner, said "He deserves a point for driving that car - it looks terrifying to drive" (which it did - the car had a very unstable rear end, and was constantly sliding at the rear). Probably Yamamoto is the only guy who is mad enough to take a look at the car and think "Yeah, I'll have a go with that".

Legard also asked if Brundle had been linked to the HRT testing spot, to which he replied to the effect of "not in a million years".

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 17 Apr 2010, 14:50

watka wrote:
mario wrote:It probably could have only got better if Takuma Sato had got the drive. I like the fact that Brundle was commenting on the HRT, and after watching Bruno Senna having terrible oversteer through the last corner, said "He deserves a point for driving that car - it looks terrifying to drive" (which it did - the car had a very unstable rear end, and was constantly sliding at the rear). Probably Yamamoto is the only guy who is mad enough to take a look at the car and think "Yeah, I'll have a go with that".

Legard also asked if Brundle had been linked to the HRT testing spot, to which he replied to the effect of "not in a million years".

Did he forget he had been involved at one point in his F1 career with Zakspeed?

Yannick · Post by **Yannick** » 17 Apr 2010, 15:59

Colin Kolles and the "original dodgy neck guy" go way back until when he hired the guy as a replacement for Christian Albers to drive the Spyker. He's always been a reliable guy but in bad machinery. He positively surprised in the SuperAguri at times. So it's safe to say that he's experienced. He probably brings more sponsorship than Christian Klien would have.

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 17 Apr 2010, 16:04

Yannick wrote:Colin Kolles and the "original dodgy neck guy" go way back until when he hired the guy as a replacement for Christian Albers to drive the Spyker. He's always been a reliable guy but in bad machinery. He positively surprised in the SuperAguri at times. So it's safe to say that he's experienced. He probably brings more sponsorship than Christian Klien would have.

it's good he didn't bring that guy!

but how could they overlook HWNSNBM? He's actually the most succesful F1X2-driver ever.

Jordan192 · Post by **Jordan192** » 05 May 2010, 12:22

Klien gets Hispania reserve seat
That reserve seat's got to be getting pretty crowded by now.

P_Friesacher · Post by **P_Friesacher** » 05 May 2010, 13:16

Especially if you consider that it's probalby the very worst seat you could get in F1 at the moment...

Tealy · Post by **Tealy** » 05 May 2010, 13:54

What does this say of the current race drivers. I am wondering if the only reason they have Chandhok and Senna on board is to pay for the seat on Saturday and Sunday, meanwhile they are getting their 2011 driver pairing used to the car now by sending them out in the practice sessions.

Warren Hughes · Post by **Warren Hughes** » 05 May 2010, 14:30

Tealy wrote:What does this say of the current race drivers. I am wondering if the only reason they have Chandhok and Senna on board is to pay for the seat on Saturday and Sunday, meanwhile they are getting their 2011 driver pairing used to the car now by sending them out in the practice sessions.

It's a theory that seems to make sense in Klien's case, but do you really think they've got Sakon lined up for a 2011 seat in place of either Chandhok or Senna? Seems pretty unlikely to me.