After weeks of speculation, AirAsia boss Tan Sri Tony Fernandes (pic) and his partners have sold the Caterham F1 team to a group of Swiss and Middle Eastern investors -
The announcement also sees F1 veteran Colin Kolles back in the pitwall.
Former Dutch F1 driver, Christijan Albers, assisted by Manfredi Ravetto, will take over the day-to-day running of the team, replacing Cyril Abiteboul.
Caterham's new owners intend to "remain in the background", even though the news had been made official ahead of the British Grand Prix, German daily Bild said.
"Kolles is the man in the background, pulling the strings," Bild reported.
"He wants to give Caterham a polish and achieve at least 10th place in the world championship, getting money from Bernie Ecclestone's TV pot."
Kolles’ F1 history includes stints with the team now known as Force India, previously known as Jordan, Midland, MF1 and Spyker, reported NBC Sports.
Albers and Kolles have been reportedly linked to F1 and in sports car racing in recent years.
Albers drove for Spyker in 2007, when Kolles was the team principal.
In Caterham's official announcement, there was no mention of the team's line-up.
Kamui Kobayashi and Marcus Ericsson remain drivers while Alexander Rossi, Rio Haryanto and Will Stevens are scheduled to test.
In May, AFP reported that Fernandes the owner of airline AirAsia and London football club Queens Park Rangers, which next season will be back in the lucrative English Premier League, said he would not sell Caterham but was keen to attract additional investment. – July 2, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sports/article/tony-fernandes-sells-caterham-f1-veteran-to-oversee-ops?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed#sthash.ELbSXP8w.dpuf
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