• HRT

Campos admits he almost gave up

Adrian Campos: 'I admit there was a moment when we were completely blocked and I told Bernie that I didn't have the strength to carry on' © Sutton Images

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• Adrián Campos

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Adrian Campos has spoken of his battle to get financing in place in the weeks before the start of the season to secure the future of his team and how he almost gave up the fight.

Only a last-gasp deal which saw Spanish businessman Jose Ramon Carabante buy the majority stake from Campos guaranteed it be able to compete in Bahrain under the new name of HRT.

"All I can say is that it has been a few months in which, after taking the step that was needed after winning all the championships, I have lived the worst nightmare of my life," Campos told Spanish radio. "It's been very, very tough, but what's clear is that everything was ready because otherwise in three days they wouldn't have made it."

Campos stepped down as team boss as part of the deal, but he said he had no regrets. "There are times when you have to make a decision so a project can go ahead," he said. "I am proud to have been a part of something that will be on the grid.

"If you look at the Americans - US F1 - they had a wonderful factory but no car and they won't be in Bahrain. There are a lot of people who have spent a lot of money and whoever planned that must feel responsible.

"I admit there was a moment when we were completely blocked and I told Bernie that I didn't have the strength to carry on because it was a nightmare with all the pressure that we were under."

Colin Kolles, who became the team's managing director, wanted to move the team to Germany "and in that moment he made some unfortunate comments". But, Campos added, "when he arrived he saw the workshop where we had everything ready for the arrival of the cars and the equipment, but of course the cars were in Italy, and so were the trucks and the equipment, that was ready to be shipped to Bahrain."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.