Toni Cuquerella, HRT's Chief Engineer, has been promoted to the role of Technical Director, the Spaniard assuming both roles with immediate effect.

Since Geoff Willis left the team in September, the position of Technical Director has not been filled. The decision was then made for the development of the F112 to take place at the team's technical office in Munich, at the hands of Holzer Group and the Chief of Aerodynamics, Stephane Chosse, under the supervision of - until February - Technical Coordinator, Jacky Eeckelaert.

With the F112 finally on track, it' was felt that now is the time to work on its development and evolution and so, the naming of a person to lead this project was necessary, and Cuquerella is seen as the man to do the job.

The appointment of the Spanish engineer at the head of the technical department is a new step in the new management's desire to centralize and take control of all the activities related to the design and development of the car. This will optimize the coordination of the different departments, helping to meet the set targets, and also rationalize resources.

"The role of Technical Director implies a great amount of responsibility in terms of coordination and decision making," said Cuquerella. "That's why I'm very proud that the management considers me to be the most adequate person to carry it out. Until now there was a lot of dispersion from within the technical team and that had its repercussions in the concept and quality of the F112. My priority is to solve the current car's problems to then develop it to its maximum potential, whilst also unifying and expanding the technical department, but I'm confident that we have a good work base and a clear direction to advance and have a good project for the future."

"Toni Cuquerella has been a key figure in the team since its inception and, above all, in this new stage," added Team Principal, Luis Perez-Sala. "The transition from the previous project to this one hasn't been easy and a lot of work has been carried out that without vital figures such as him wouldn't have been possible. The position of Technical Director was vacant and the development of the F112 was carried out at the technical office in Munich. But now, with the car already on the track, it was important to take control and count on someone influential at the head of the technical office. And because of his experience, judgment and knowledge, Toni's profile fitted in perfectly."