Karthikeyan to test new car only a week before Bahrain opener
January 26th, 2011 - 8:27 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Jan 26 (IANS) India’s Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan will test drive Hispania Racing Team’s (HRT) new car only a week before the season opener in Bahrain. The car named F111 was earlier expected to be ready for the third pre-season test in Barcelona but HRT prinicipal Colin Kolles Wednesday confirmed that it would be introduced at the fourth and final winter test in Bahrain. The opening race is scheduled from Mar 11-13.
That also means the lower-ranked team will go with the 2010 car for three European tests in Jerez, Valencia and Spain.
“The 2010 car will be utilised at the first tests, and as soon as the 2011 car is ready, we will implement it. The plan is to use the 2011 car at the Bahrain test. It will be a completely new car, and will be called the F111,” said Kolles.
The Hispania outfit had a lacklustre season last year as it failed to score a point. But with the arrival of Karthikeyan and an upgraded car, the team is hoping for a better show this time around.
“Last year we did not have the opportunity to do the tests, and this new season we are able to give our drivers the opportunity to do more mileage and to get used to the new Pirelli tyres.”
On the F111 he said: “The car is being made with several groups of engineers. At the moment, there are approximately 40 designers finalising the first spec. It looks more developed and improved. I would say it is a package that was able to qualify in the top ten last year,” said Kolles.
The team is yet to decide on a second driver’s spot and has ruled out the name of last year’s driver Karun Chandhok, the second Indian to driver a F1 car.
- Team Hispania have high hopes with Karthikeyan - Jan 12, 2011
- Chandhok says no to F1 team Hispania, Narain yes - Jan 07, 2011
- Karthikeyan returns to Formula One - Jan 06, 2011
- Chandhok eyeing test driver's spot in F1 - Jan 28, 2011
- We'll race Karthikeyan entire season: HRT - Feb 17, 2012
- Painful to watch race from sidelines: Karun Chandhok - Oct 25, 2011
- Karun's hopes of Indian GP still hang in balance - Oct 23, 2011
- Chandhok confirmed for F1 - Mar 04, 2010
- Karun to test with GP2 teams - Nov 26, 2010
- HRT fails to get car ready for pre-season testing by Karthikeyan - Mar 03, 2012
- F1 driver Ricciardo enthralls fans in the capital - Oct 01, 2011
- I'll try to be in F1 as long as I can: Chandhok (Interview) - Oct 27, 2011
- Narain Karthikeyan to make F1 return with Hispania - Jan 08, 2011
- Karun Chandhok moves to touring cars - Jan 12, 2012
- Karthikeyan to warm-up in Singapore ahead of Indian GP - Sep 17, 2011
Tags: barcelona, designers, f111, final winter, formula one, hrt, India, karun, kolles, mileage, new car, New Delhi, pirelli tyres, prinicipal, ranked team, s driver, season opener, spain, winter test