HRT announce Narain Karthikeyan to partner Pedro de la Rosa for 2012 season – Formula 1 news
Narain Karthikeyan has been announced as the second driver to take up the Hispania Racing Team race seat.
Karthikeyan will be partnering Pedro de la Rosa for the second time. The India-born driver drove for HRT for the first half of 2011 but was replaced by Daniel Ricciardo for the remainder. He did however return for a one of Indian Grand Prix race due to some
serious financial backing for his appearance in front of his home crowd.
Tonio Liuzzi has not done anything wrong in the season to lose his race seat but such is the nature of the sport at the moment that pay drivers are being preferred. Karthikeyan brings in a lot of financial backing through his Indian background now that India
has taken serious notice of the sport after a successful inaugural Grand Prix in the 2011 season.
Karthikeyan is delighted at the news and has said that he cannot wait for the season to begin and prove that he is still good enough for Formula 1. He also said that he wants to do well for the team and help to improve the standings.
“It has taken a lot of hard work to make this happen but I am absolutely elated to feature on the 2012 grid with HRT F1 Team,” Karthikeyan said.
“With the new management, Pedro, and the team, there is definite potential for progress. We need to understand that F1 is new to India, we hosted our first race only last year which was a resounding success. To build on that momentum, an Indian driver will
certainly keep the interest engaged throughout the season. I am proud to secure an opportunity to forge a stronger connection between India and Formula 1 once again,” he said.
Hispania Racing Team principal Luis Perez-Sala also praised Karthikeyan and said that the Indian has proved to be good behind the wheels in 2011 and the team hopes that he can continue his good showing.
HRT is still not yet ready to take part in the first pre-season test and may not be able to take part in second test either which is going to make things dodgy for the team going into the 2012 season.
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