Hispania Racing Team name Vitantonio Liuzzi as second driver for 2011 Formula 1 season
Formula 1 team Hispania Racing Team has announced that Vitantonio Liuzzi will be their second driver for the 2011 season.
The team selected him along with Narain Karthikeyan because both drivers completed their successful run over the testing sessions.
The 29-year-old driver was a part of Force India in the 2010 Formula 1 season. With the team, he drove 19 races and got 21 points during the season. He started his career in karting, although Red Bull brought him into the world of Formula 1, in 2005 where
he started his stint with the team as a test driver.
In 2006 and 2007, he remained with Scuderia Toro Rosso while he moved to Force India team in 2008. He drove for the team as a race driver, until the end of 2010 season.
For the 2011 season, he signed an agreement with HRT and said, “I am really happy to have signed this agreement with Hispania Racing. I never lost hope to be in Formula One as I knew I have the experience and the right attributes for a young and ambitious
team. I face a new challenge now and this excites me. I also face a lot of hard work in guiding Hispania Racing through the development of our new car. I am extremely grateful to Jose Ramon Carabante and to Colin Kolles for giving me such an opportunity.”
The team owner invited him to test with HRT at Barcelona in February where he made an impressive run and the team confirmed him for the 2011 season.
On the other hand, the team principal Colin Kolles praised Liuzzi’s performance and said, “I have known Tonio for many years as he raced with me in lower categories. He is a very professional driver who will bring a lot of benefits to the Team. I am convinced
about his skills to develop a car and his speed.”
Other than his confirmation into the team, HRT delayed its new F111 car to March 11, 2011. The team has missed both days of the Barcelona pre-season test session as they are still waiting for new updates on their car.
Liuzzi will join the Friday test session if HRT unveil their 2011 car before that day. Otherwise, he will start his first race at the Australian Grand Prix that is scheduled to be held on March 27, 2011.
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