APRIL 2, 2012

Cuquerella is new HRT tech chief

Toni Cuquerella, chief of track engineering, has been promoted to technical director at HRT.

Toni Cuquerella, chief of track engineering, has been promoted to technical director at HRT.

The 38-year-old Valencia engineering graduate arrived in F1 with Super Aguri in 2006, then moved to BMW Sauber where he race engineered Robert Kubica. In 2009 he joined the Campos Meta project, which ultimately morphed into HRT, where he was chief race and test engineer.

The HRT technical director post has been vacant since Geoff Willis left his consultancy position last year to join Mercedes. The F112 was developed at the team's technical office in Munich by the Holzer Group and aero chief Stephane Chosse, under the supervision of Jacky Eeckelaert, who left in February.

"The role of technical director implies a great amount of responsibility in terms of co-ordination and decision making. That's why I'm very proud that the management considers me to be the most adequate person to carry it out," Cuquerella said.

"Until now there has been 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 and develop it to its maximum potential, whilst also unifying and expanding the technical department."

Team principal Luis Perez Sala added: "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."