Narain Karthikeyan feels Hispania Racing Team will qualify in Melbourne with ease - Formula 1 Update
Narain Karthikeyan of Hispania Racing Team has stated optimistically that his team will qualify for the Melbourne Grand Prix with ease. He was discussing the 107 per cent qualifying rule and said that it will be 5.8 seconds behind the pole sitter’s time,
which is quite achievable.
Karthikeyan was discussing the team’s performance and said that the team will do well in the coming 2011 Formula 1 season. He said, “Based on the 107 percent rule, we have to be within 5.8 seconds of the pole time in Melbourne, which I think we are pretty
capable of doing.”
The TATA sponsored Narain is also eyeing a contract extension when he said, “Given the resources, the team [HRT] has a good chance of making it up the grid, so I don't see why my long-term future couldn't be with them. I want to grow with the team.”
HRT are moving in to their second Formula 1 season. They were the underdogs last season, as they never tested their new car and had some of the slowest times in the season. They finished the 2010 season without having scored a single point. HRT had four
drivers last season which included Christian Klien, Sakon Yamamoto, Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok. None of these drivers performed well and they managed to remain scoreless during the season.
For 2011, HRT has changed its driver’s line-up once again, as Narain Karthikeyan and Vitantonio Liuzzi has taken over the reins. HRT’s new car, the F111 has not been tested for a single lap, as the team missed two out of the four pre-season tests due to
the delayed launch. The car looks out of shape and lacking important components, as the team has the smallest budget in Formula 1.
Formula 1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, commented that one of two teams, Virgin and HRT, can be out of the Formula 1 arena, as this sport is not for ‘spare parts’. Virgin was the slowest car in the pre-season tests, but their car was at least more reliable
than McLarens. This leaves HRT under the radar to be eliminated at the end of 2011.
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