MF1 Racing - one year old and better than ever !

By Huw Alban
January 26 2006

Midland F1 Racing came into being early one morning, and in it's short history has come a long way. The team enters the 2006 season brimming with confidence, a new engine, a new car, young and enthusiastic staff, and a will to succeed and improve.

Through this site the team also has a growing group of fans who are right behind the team and it's drivers...

'There were some last minute delays, and we were waiting at the law firm to get the signature,' recalls team boss Colin Kolles through the MidlandF1.com website on the conclusion of the deal. 'I guess I feel one year older - but the team is younger!'

According to the official team website: The birth of the team can be traced back to the early hours of Saturday, January 22nd 2005, when the detailed negotiations to take over Jordan Grand Prix reached a conclusion. The deal was formally announced on Monday January 24th, and the first steps towards the creation of a new identity for the team were set in motion.

'For sure it was not an easy year,' Kolles continued, "but first of all the situation was difficult all around the team, and we tried to get it more stable. I think it is definitely that now, and we look forward to making it even more stable and more successful.

'We definitely have one of the youngest teams in terms of engineers and aerodynamicists. I think this is always the future, to have new and motivated people who want to show what they can achieve. Other teams may do it a different way, but this is our way.

'I think this was a good thing that also happened in Jordan in previous years, having young engineers and young drivers who developed quite well. If you look at guys like Mark Smith and Mike Gascoyne, and some of the young drivers, I think this was the right strategy. The problems started for Jordan when they took a different route, with more experienced drivers and so-called superstars for engineers!'

'You have to improve every day. Even if you are on the top, if you would be first, you still have to improve. It's a matter of trying to do it better every day. We are definitely not where we want to be, but the pieces are coming together. We have a lot of young people, they are motivated, and everybody is working very hard.

'We have a very clear structure, and this is working quite well. We definitely have to work more efficiently. We are better than previously, but it's never good enough.'

I had the pleasure of meeting Technical Director James Key at the team test at Silverstone last week. Again speaking through the team's website, he states that the new 2006 challenger is right in schedule.

'Last week we tested the complete rear end, the gearbox and suspension and so on, in a hybrid version of the EJ15B. After the launch of the M16 we will test a lot - we will be in Jerez, Valencia and Barcelona. We have 15 days of testing, so there will be a lot to learn. I think we will have a good package.

'We have some new technical partnerships, we have some new people coming from Williams, and some new people coming from BAR. Some have started already, and there are some more to come, and this will hopefully boost the team.

'Our target has to be to improve the position from last year. Last year we were ninth, and if we can be eighth, then it would be an improvement.'