No testing for new Hispania Racing Team F111 car - Formula 1 Update
Formula 1 Hispania Racing Team did not test their new F111 car, as the team delayed its debut into the final Barcelona test session. The team does not have enough time for testing as the 2011 Formula 1 season is right around the corner. Most of the other
teams are now done with testing and will be heading to Australia for the first race of the season.
HRT unveiled its upgraded package very late, as a result, the team missed the last Barcelona test session. Both team drivers, Narain Karthikeyan and Vitantonio Liuzzi were present at the car launching ceremony, as they seem happy with the new car. Indian
driver Karthikeyan, accepted the F111 car as a big challenge of the season and stated that he will try his best to achieve his goals for the team.
Liuzzi is the second driver of HRT, as he was confirmed in the last week and has admitted that a lot of work is still needed on the new car to get it up to a competitive status. Liuzzi said, “Driving a team to success is much like making a puzzle, you must
try to build it in the best possible way in order to work in harmony and quickly to make up for lost time. I believe we have all the right ingredients needed to be successful."
HRT owner Jose Ramon Carabante accepted that the delay was not ideal for the team, as they can face several problems in their initial races that will definitely push down their progress during the season. He referred to Virgin and Lotus and went on to say,
“Maybe we will not finish the first race, we'll see, but the car will develop from here with the clear aim of fighting with and beating the other two teams that started last year."
At the event, HRT chief engineer Toni Cuquerella admitted that only 5 per cent of the car is similar to last year Dallara’s, as 95 per cent of the car is new and the Cosworth engine has been introduced with the latest specifications. He also informed the
media about HRT’s 2011 budget that is EUR 45 million.
On the other hand, the team Principal Collin Kolles is confident ahead of the 2011 races and is looking forward to a successful season as the team featured the car with the new upgrades.
The team delayed its new car debut, due to various technical customs issues, as an HRT spokesperson told the media, "The first run of the F111 will be the first free practice on Friday in Australia."
It might be difficult for HRT to be competitive with their new car at the beginning of the season, due to the lack of testing time available to them. It will be interesting to see how the team manage to perform against the other top teams in the 2011 Formula
1 season due to start on 25 March, 2011.
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