HRT close to Toyota technical deal

UPDATE #3 (GMM) Colin Kolles has confirmed that a technical partnership with Toyota's former Cologne-based F1 team is an "option" for Hispania. At Hockenheim on Friday, HRT driver Bruno Senna indicated the two parties are in talks but insisted that no agreements are signed yet.

A Toyota Motorsport spokesman also would not confirm the reports.

"Toyota is an option," HRT team boss Colin Kolles is quoted by Spain's AS newspaper at Hockenheim. "I think it might be good for us," he added.

Reports said the HRT/Toyota deal would involve use of Toyota's Cologne headquarters, staff and designs of the unraced 2010 car. Before the money arrives from Spain, Toyota is reportedly rehiring engineers including by publishing announcements in specialist magazines.

07/23/10 (GMM) Bruno Senna will not confirm whether HRT is set to collaborate with Toyota's former formula one team. Earlier, Cologne based Toyota Motorsport also refused to comment, and now Brazilian Senna added: "I don't think anything is signed.

"There is a lot to plan. First, the team needs to get to its feet. Everybody is working hard to have the right support and the best staff. Making plans is good. How it will be put into action is not yet sure," he is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Senna said at Hockenheim on Thursday that, after sitting out Silverstone, he is only cautiously optimistic that he is now back in the Hispania car for the remainder of 2010.

"The most important thing for me is to have a cockpit for next year. We need to wait," he continued, explaining that he arrived at Silverstone on Thursday expecting to drive, but ended up watching the race from home on the internet.

For now, he is happy to be back to work, but disappointed that earlier expectations for mid-season car upgrades have not come about.

"Our plans depend increasingly on the financial situation," he said.

"If Virgin are really three or four tenths faster here, as they claim, then we will not be able to fight them," added Senna.

07/22/10 (GMM) Toyota has refused to comment on reports it is close to collaborating with the struggling Spanish team HRT. It emerged this week that Hispania, whose current car was built by former partner Dallara, will shortly sign a deal with the Japanese carmaker's former formula one team based in Cologne, Germany.

The reports said the arrangement will involve use of Toyota Motorsport's impressive headquarters, staff and designs of the unraced 2010 car, the TF110.

"We can neither confirm or deny that," the Toyota spokesman said on request by the German news agency DPA. "Generally we don't comment on that sort of thing," added the spokesman.

07/21/10 (GMM) HRT is reportedly close to finalizing an agreement with Toyota's former Cologne based formula one team. Italy's 422race.com said the struggling Spanish outfit will sign the deal "in the next few days" after a long period of negotiation.

The team's current car, the slowest in the 2010 field, was built by its former partner Dallara.

The website said the HRT deal will involve use of Toyota Motorsport's Cologne headquarters, staff and designs of the unraced 2010 car, the TF110.

Before the money arrives from Spain, Toyota is reportedly rehiring engineers including by publishing announcements in specialist magazines.