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HRT secures Williams KERS deal

HRT will use Williams' KERS in 2012 © Sutton Images

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• Drivers:
• Colin Kolles

• Teams:
• HRT
• |
• Williams

HRT will use Williams KERS units in 2012 as part of a new agreement with the British team that will also extend the existing gearbox-supply deal.

The new deal will provide HRT with a KERS power boost for the first time in its two-year history and will see a "greater technical collaboration" with Williams. Team boss Colin Kolles is hoping the extended agreement will boost performance next season.

"In these past two years we have established a fruitful collaboration with Williams F1 and are pleased to continue having them play an important role in the development of our team," Kolles said. "Apart from the experience we have accumulated in these years together, they will not only provide us with the latest technology in gearboxes but we will also reap the benefits of having KERS for next year, this being an important step for our team.

"We have grown as a team with Williams F1's support and we are pleased to continue counting on them in the future, given their trajectory, prestige and renowned experience in Formula One. This agreement strengthens the development of the 2012 car that is currently taking place at our technical office in Munich. At HRT we are working on thoroughly improving the performance of our cars and our target is still to finish in the top ten in 2012. This deal brings us one step closer to that objective."

Williams CEO Alex Burns added: "I am delighted that we are extending our agreement with HRT, in both its scope and duration. We have enjoyed a good working relationship with HRT in 2011 and look forward to continuing this in 2012 and beyond. The fact that they have selected Williams F1's gearbox and KERS technology for their car is a credit to all of the Williams F1 people involved in our cost-effective engineering and manufacturing in these areas."

The team also confirmed that Jacky Eeckelaert and aerodynamicist Stephane Chosse are now leading the design of the 2012 car after Geoff Willis left his post as technical director earlier this year.

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