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Williams promotes Coughlan to technical director
Williams has announced that it has appointed Mike Coughlan as the team's new technical director, following the departure of Sam Michael to McLaren.
Coughlan previously held the position of chief engineer following an appointment in June this year and he will now take full responsibility for the design of the 2012 challenger.
Although no official statement from Williams has been made, team chairman Adam Parr announced the decision during a Friday press conference at the Buddh circuit.
"The new technical team consists of Mike Coughlan, who we have just confirmed as our new technical director...the head of aerodynamics Jason Somerville and Mark Gillan who is our chief operations engineer," said Parr. "I think they have already had quite an impact on the team in the factory."
Coughlan achieved notoriety when he was embroiled in a 2007 spying controversy concerning leaked Ferrari data to McLaren that cost the team a record $100 million fine and Coughlan his job.