Colin Kolles | |
|---|---|
 Kolles in 2009 | |
| Born | Călin Colesnic (1967-12-13)13 December 1967 (age 57) Timișoara, Romania |
Colin Kolles (bornCălin Colesnic;[1] born 13 December 1967 inTimișoara)[1] is aRomanian-German former team principal and managing director of theHispania Racing F1 Team, previously holding a similar position at the team known under the namesJordan,Midland,Spyker andForce India from 2005 to 2008. He was an advisor toCaterham F1 and had a part in the unsuccessfulForza Rossa Racing project.
Kolles, who lives inIngolstadt, is qualified as adentist which was the family business. In 2000 he entered racing by establishing a team now known asVanwall Racing Team with his father Romulus in theGerman Formula Three Championship, and later in theFormula Three Euroseries. He was appointed as Managing Director of theJordan Grand Prix team by its new owner,Alex Shnaider, on 19 January 2005.[2]
Despite receiving some criticism in 2005 for his "hard-headed" approach, Kolles kept his position as Managing Director of the team, presiding over the launch of theMidland M16 chassis before the2006 season began.[3] Following the team's takeover by Spyker and thenForce India, he remained as managing director.
Despite running a Formula One team, Kolles has still been called upon to use his dentistry skills. Before the2005 Turkish Grand Prix, he was forced to perform dental surgery on his driverTiago Monteiro, who was suffering from toothache that was severe enough to potentially keep him out of the race.[4] He also performed a similar procedure on Midland's other driverChristijan Albers at the2006 French Grand Prix.
In November 2008, it was announced that Force India chairmanVijay Mallya was to take over the role of Team Principal for2009, leaving Kolles without a major role in the team. He remained contracted to the team until 31 October 2009, when he resigned as a director.[5]
Kolles returned to Kodewa in 2009 where he fielded a pair of ex-worksAudi R10s for sportscar stalwartMichael Krumm,Charles Zwolsman Jr, ex-single seater drivers Andrew Meyrick andChristian Bakkerud, and sometimeFormula One driversChristijan Albers andNarain Karthikeyan in theLe Mans Series and24 Hours of Le Mans. He oversaw Kodewa'e.[6] He left the position in December 2011.[7]
In July 2013, it emerged that Kolles had previously tried to blackmailMercedes-Benz Motorsport bossToto Wolff after he had allegedly recorded Wolff making negative remarks about theMercedes F1 Team's management. The two settled the matter privately.[8]
|
|
