Legal dispute threatens Kolles’ Formula One team bid
Colin Kolles’ application for a 2015 Formula One entry faces disruption as a court case over unpaid design fees heads to a Nuremberg hearing.
Colin Kolles’ attempt to return to Formula One as a team boss has been put at risk by a court action brought by former designer Stephane Chosse, with a hearing scheduled in Nuremberg for Friday. The dispute centres on claims of unpaid fees totalling €2 million for design and development work, casting doubt over Kolles’ application for a 2015 grid slot.
Dispute over unpaid design work
Chosse, who previously worked with Kolles both in sports car racing and during the HRT F1 project, alleges that his company SCE is owed €2.2 million by Kolles’ Kodewa operation for work carried out in 2012 and 2013. The sum includes €400,000 for subsequent modelling and wind tunnel development. The disagreement escalated last year when French police seized Kodewa’s cars ahead of the Le Mans 24 Hours, reportedly in connection with the same unpaid debts.
Chosse’s lawyer, Horst Becker, has confirmed the action, which will be heard in a Nuremberg court. The outcome could affect Kolles’ ability to meet the financial and operational requirements set by the FIA for new Formula One entrants.
Implications for Kolles’ F1 bid
Kolles, who previously led both Force India and HRT, is among at least three parties known to have submitted formal applications for a place on the 2015 F1 grid. The other two are Gene Haas, owner of a successful NASCAR operation, and Zoran Stefanovich. The FIA is due to announce its decision on which, if any, of the bids will be accepted at the end of February 2014.
Kolles’ entry has attracted attention due to reported links with Romanian manufacturer Dacia, now part of Renault, which is said to be interested in using the F1 project to promote Romanian industry. The legal action, however, raises questions about the stability and funding of Kolles’ operation at a critical moment in the selection process.
Next steps for the FIA and applicants
The FIA’s decision on the new team entry is expected within weeks. Any unresolved legal or financial issues could weigh against Kolles’ bid, given the governing body’s criteria for new entrants. The outcome of the Nuremberg hearing may therefore have a direct impact on whether Kolles’ team makes it onto the 2015 grid.
