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Ferrari, Gascoyne and Kolles split with FI
By Karl King
November 7 2008
Force India have today announced details of an 'amicable termination' of their contract to race with Ferrari engines next year, with a McLaren Mercedes engine and technical support deal expected in the future. As well as this news, though, comes details of a management reshuffle within the team, most notably with Mike Gascoyne leaving his post as chief technical officer.

His role will be assumed by Mark Smith, design director, and James Key, technical director, the pair continuing in their roles.

Dr Vijay Mallya is also to step up his involvement within the team, taking on the Team Principal role, leaving Colin Kolles, who was one of the key brains behind the Midland F1 project, out of a job. Mallya will be assisted by Robert Fernley who will become Director of Force India.

Also leaving the team is Dr Patrick Missling, who was the team's Corporate and Business Director.

In the wake of the changes, Vijay Mallya, the now Chairman and Team Principal of the team, explained, "Force India is my most difficult project to date and it has become clear that it requires more direct input from my side and greater performance accountability. We have come a long way this season, but we need more and that requires some radical reorganisation of the management structure to ensure the maximum productivity."

He went on, "I would like to thank Colin Kolles for his tireless efforts in keeping such a small team alive and to Mike Gascoyne for bringing his wealth of technical expertise. Both have played an instrumental part in making the team what it is today. On Monday November 10th,I will announce the new Technical direction of the team as well as the appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer who will assume overall responsibility for our Silverstone and Brackley facilities, Race and Test operations."

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