The new Midland Formula One team have announced Englishman James Key as their new technical director.
Key, 33, steps in as the full-time successor to Mark Smith, who quit last winter soon after Midland took over the Jordan team.
Next season will be the first for Midland after their winter rebranding and Key, who has worked his way through the ranks at Jordan after starting his Formula One career with Lotus, is optimistic.
He said: “Having gone through a transitional period this year, following the team’s acquisition by Midland, we are now very busy with the design of next year’s car.
“I am looking forward to the challenges we face next season and there is a great deal of work to be done.
“This team has a lot of very good people and, given this new opportunity, I am confident we will progress as the year unfolds.
“Personally, I look forward to the challenge of moving our technical efforts forward and gaining ground on the teams currently ahead of us.”
Midland managing director Colin Kolles, is confident Key has the ability to step up to the daunting task of running a Formula One team’s technical department.
He added: “He has been working with the team for several years and has built up an impressive level of experience and knowledge of motorsport.
“I am sure his organisational skills and innovative ideas will be of great value to us with the ongoing development of our cars in 2006 and beyond.”