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HRT promote Cuquerella to technical director

Toni Cuquerella: "My priority is to solve the current car's problems" © Sutton Images

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HRT has promoted its chief race engineer Toni Cuquerella to the position of technical director, a role which has been vacant since Geoff Willis left the team in 2011.

Cuquerella will oversee the development of the F112, which failed to qualify at the first round of the season in Australia but made the grid in Malaysia. The car was designed in Munich under chief of aerodynamics Stephane Chosse and ex-technical coordinator Jacky Eeckelaert, who left the team in February, but team principal Luis Perez-Sala is confident Cuquerella is the right man to take on the challenge of improving it.

"Toni Cuquerella has been a key figure in the team since its inception and, above all, in this new stage," Perez-Sala said. "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."

Cuquerella admitted the team's car has problems, but is keen to take on the challenge of rectifying them.

"The role of technical director implies a great amount of responsibility in terms of coordination 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. 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."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.