ID :
185633
Tue, 05/31/2011 - 15:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/185633
The shortlink copeid
Manager loss no worry for V8 team: HRT
SYDNEY (AAP) - V8 Supercar outfit Holden Racing Team say the departure of two senior managers within a week is no reason to be concerned.
Rob Crawford, team manager of the six-time Bathurst champions, confirmed to AAP on Tuesday he was no longer with the team, just days after managing director Craig Wilson announced his departure.
But HRT's commercial manager Bruce Stewart says the team is not in crisis and there's no connection between the two departures.
"These are completely unrelated," Stewart told AAP.
"Craig's decision was made for personal reasons.
"We have a confidentiality agreement with Rob so we can't talk about that, all we can say is Rob is no longer with us."
Walkinshaw Racing, who run HRT along with Kiwi driver Fabian Coulthard's Bundaberg Racing, have appointed director Ivan Krizman as acting managing director in addition to his current role.
But Stewart believes Crawford's replacement will be in place within the next seven days, well before the next round of the championship at Darwin's Hidden Valley from June 15-17.
HRT has endured a solid, if unspectacular, start to the 2011 campaign with drivers Garth Tander and James Courtney both winning one race each so far.
But after making the big off-season recruitment of reigning champion Courtney from Ford's Dick Johnson Racing, more was expected from one of the biggest teams on the V8 Supercar grid.
Not that Stewart feels the team's on-track performance is of concern.
"Hopefully by the time we're at Darwin everything will be sorted out," he said.
"Our main focus remains getting HRT back up to the pinnacle of the sport.
"We've been on the podium at every round this year and both our drivers are champions. James is obviously the current champion and GT won in 2007, so we feel we've got the best guys in the cars."
Rob Crawford, team manager of the six-time Bathurst champions, confirmed to AAP on Tuesday he was no longer with the team, just days after managing director Craig Wilson announced his departure.
But HRT's commercial manager Bruce Stewart says the team is not in crisis and there's no connection between the two departures.
"These are completely unrelated," Stewart told AAP.
"Craig's decision was made for personal reasons.
"We have a confidentiality agreement with Rob so we can't talk about that, all we can say is Rob is no longer with us."
Walkinshaw Racing, who run HRT along with Kiwi driver Fabian Coulthard's Bundaberg Racing, have appointed director Ivan Krizman as acting managing director in addition to his current role.
But Stewart believes Crawford's replacement will be in place within the next seven days, well before the next round of the championship at Darwin's Hidden Valley from June 15-17.
HRT has endured a solid, if unspectacular, start to the 2011 campaign with drivers Garth Tander and James Courtney both winning one race each so far.
But after making the big off-season recruitment of reigning champion Courtney from Ford's Dick Johnson Racing, more was expected from one of the biggest teams on the V8 Supercar grid.
Not that Stewart feels the team's on-track performance is of concern.
"Hopefully by the time we're at Darwin everything will be sorted out," he said.
"Our main focus remains getting HRT back up to the pinnacle of the sport.
"We've been on the podium at every round this year and both our drivers are champions. James is obviously the current champion and GT won in 2007, so we feel we've got the best guys in the cars."
