Narain Karthikeyan has confirmed reports that HRT will not race an entirely new car in 2011.
The struggling Spanish team with its car designer Dallara in 2010, and a new partnership for this year with Toyota Motorsport GmbH also foundered.

It recently emerged that HRT would begin pre-season testing at Valencia next month with the 2010 car, but a report by the Indian news agency PTI claimed that an “upgraded version” of the F110 will in fact contest the 2011 season.

“They (HRT) will participate with an upgraded version of their 2010 chassis, mated to the Cosworth engine, and a gearbox sourced from the Williams team,” 2011 driver Karthikeyan is quoted on Tuesday by sport360.com.

Christian Klien will be back in action for the HRT team at this weekend’s Brazilian grand prix.

The Austrian also replaced Japanese Sakon Yamamoto in Singapore due to food poisoning, but no reason has been given for the change of drivers ahead of the Interlagos event.

“I am very happy to get a second opportunity to do another grand prix here after Singapore and I hope that we are doing a good weekend with positive results,” said Klien, 27.

He has raced at Interlagos twice before, most recently in 2005 with Red Bull.

The Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung said recently Klien might return to the Cosworth-powered F110 cockpit in Brazil or Abu Dhabi in a last-ditch effort to help HRT beat Lotus to tenth place in the constructors’ championship.

HRT has reportedly bought Japanese carmaker Toyota’s former formula one team.

The new Spanish team has struggled with its Dallara-built car and a lack of development in 2010.

It was initially believed that Hispania Racing, bought by Jose Ramon Carabante from Adrian Campos before the start of its debut season, had agreed a deal to base its 2011 car on the unraced Toyota TF110.

It is for this reason, according to paddock speculation, that Toyota Motorsport only made available its 2009 car for Pirelli’s tyre testing programme.

It has been subsequently reported that HRT could buy hydraulic systems and gearboxes from the British team Williams for 2010.

But Auto Motor und Sport, citing “reliable sources”, reports that HRT has bought “the expertise, equipment and facilities” of Toyota’s Cologne based team.

At the same time, the magazine notes rumours that Hispania is behind in its payments to engine supplier Cosworth.

After Sunday’s Korean grand prix, Christian Klien could return to the wheel of the HRT for one or both of the remaining races of 2010.

That is the claim of the Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung, recalling the 27-year-old’s strong performance with the struggling Spanish team in Singapore recently.

With his apparent food poisoning gone, Japanese pay-driver Sakon Yamamoto returned to the Cosworth-powered car in Japan and Korea.

But Kleine Zeitung said HRT is now considering putting reserve driver Klien back in the car for Brazil or Abu Dhabi, in a last-ditch effort to beat Lotus to tenth place in the constructors’ world championship.

Lotus has been the best of the three new teams in 2010, but neither it, HRT or Virgin has scored a single point.

Lotus is currently tenth due to Heikki Kovalainen’s 12th place finish at Suzuka, but an eleventh for HRT or Virgin at Interlagos or Yas Marina next month would see Lotus overhauled.

Only the top ten constructors share in the annual distribution of prize-money under the provisions of the Concorde Agreement.

Klien said in Yeongam that 2010 has shown that some pay-drivers are not necessarily the best value for F1 teams relying on the lucrative Bernie Ecclestone income.

“There is one at Virgin and Renault, and possibly two at Hispania,” he said.

But Klien acknowledged that a surprise result for HRT with the F110 car is unlikely.

“We are the only team that, since the season opener in Bahrain, has not aerodynamically improved its car,” he said.

He is therefore more hopeful about 2011.

“In March next year, I definitely see myself in a formula one cockpit,” said Klien.

Another possible reason for Christian Klien’s graduation to the HRT race cockpit became clearer at Singapore on Saturday.

On Friday, team boss Colin Kolles announced that the Spanish team’s reserve driver would be taking over from Sakon Yamamoto for this race due to the Japanese driver suffering from food poisoning.

Asked if Yamamoto will be back in the car at Suzuka in two weeks, he said: “This is what we expect, yes.”

But it should be noted that Klien’s surprise chance in Singapore coincided with the emergence on the car of a new sponsor sticker.

The ‘Upsynth’ branding on the rollhoop of the Cosworth powered F110 under the Singapore lights was not present two weeks ago at Monza.

Upsynth is an Austrian brand of absinthe, a highly alcoholic beverage, hailing from Vorarlberg. Klien, 27, was born in the same west Austrian state.

“It’s nice that we succeeded in getting at very short notice a new partner like Upsynth,” he confirmed.

His HRT race cockpit debut has been very successful so far, outqualifying team regular Bruno Senna by more than a second on Saturday night.

“If I manage to help the team as reserve driver, then my mission is fulfilled for the time being,” said Klien.

“It has been quite difficult because it is a new track and practically a new car for me. But we are a long way from Lotus and Virgin.”

Klien told German television Sky that he is hoping to secure a full race seat for the 2011 season.

“You have to make the best of your chances and I think I did that in qualifying. Of course my goal is a race seat and for sure this weekend is very important,” said the Austrian.

His new sponsorship should help pay for a whopping EUR 14,400 in FIA fines for twice breaching the 60kph pitlane speed limit.

Bruno Senna at Monza said he is expecting to keep his race seat at HRT for the rest of the 2010 season.

The Brazilian sat out the British grand prix in July in deference to the highly-sponsored Sakon Yamamoto, but after returning at Hockenheim insisted he will finish the season with the struggling Spanish team.

But Yamamoto, now replacing earlier HRT regular Karun Chandhok, said recently that while he is staying put in 2010, he is not sure whether Senna or Chandhok will be in the sister car.

“I am assuming I will be in the car until the last race,” Senna said.

“I have a firm place all the way to Abu Dhabi.”

But beyond that, he admitted his place for the 2011 season is not yet secure.

“I would like it to be in the bag, but that’s not the case,” said the 26-year-old. “Hopefully I can find a place soon.

“All I can do is my best, as I have done, and hope it’s good enough to continue in formula one,” added Senna.

He also said he is refusing to look on the negative side of HRT’s situation, with a lack of finances meaning the F110 is not being developed.

“It’s not really ideal but I’m making the best of it,” Senna explained. “That’s the only way to be in this situation.

“If I look at it negatively, I’ll lose motivation. I need to be doing my best for whoever will hire me (for 2011).”

HRT on Tuesday confirmed that Sakon Yamamoto has retained his race seat for the weekend’s Hungarian grand prix.

The Japanese, reportedly with $5 million in sponsorship to pay to the struggling Spanish team in 2010, raced initially in Bruno Senna’s cockpit at the recent British grand prix.

He then replaced Karun Chandhok in Germany, but the Indian rookie – whose new sponsor Japyee was on the Cosworth-powered F110 at Hockenheim – said it is possible he will be back in the car this weekend in Hungary.

But in a media statement, Hispania Racing announced its Hungaroring lineup as Yamamoto, 28, alongside Senna.

“I can’t wait to go back to the Hungaroring as I know the circuit already very well from my formula one races with Super Aguri, Spyker and with ART in the GP2 series,” said Yamamoto.

Sakon Yamamoto looks set to retain his race seat at HRT for now.

The Japanese, reportedly with $5 million in sponsorship to pay to the struggling Spanish team in 2010, raced initially in Bruno Senna’s cockpit at the recent British grand prix.

He then replaced Karun Chandhok in Germany, but the Indian rookie – whose new sponsor Japyee was on the Cosworth-powered F110 at Hockenheim – said it is possible he will be back in the car this weekend in Hungary.

“After the (Hockenheim) race we are going to talk about the next race,” said Chandhok in Germany before returning to his home in England.

Senna said in Germany that he will keep his seat at all the remaining races in 2010, but Finland’s Turun Sanomat suggested that HRT’s fourth driver Christian Klien is expecting to race the dark grey car before the season is out.

But the publication added: “It is probable that money talks and Senna and Yamamoto will be (in the cars) in Hungary.”

In Hispania’s post-race statement on Sunday, Yamamoto sounded confident.

“We tried some adjustments on the set up (at Hockenheim) which will help us already for the next races.”

Christian Klien on Friday said he is expecting to be back at the wheel of HRT’s F1 car in Valencia.

Although fellow reserve driver Sakon Yamamoto was in regular Bruno Senna’s car at Istanbul, the Austrian had said 24 hours ago that he expects to appear again in free practice sessions in 2010.

Klien, 27, drove in Karun Chandhok’s F110 in Barcelona, but he will be unable to travel to the forthcoming Canadian grand prix due to the clashing Le Mans 24 hours.

“I had a very good debut in Barcelona, where I was immediately faster than Bruno Senna, who has been sitting in the car all season,” Klien is quoted by German Sky television.

“It is expected that I will sit again in the car in Valencia, and then we will see.  As they say, step by step.”

(GMM)

HRT is interested in moving into Toyota’s F1 headquarters in Cologne, and is also eyeing the departed Japanese teams’ 2010 car, according to reports.

Spain’s sports newspaper Marca said the Spanish team’s owner Jose Ramon Carabante has already visited the German site on two occasions.

Italiaracing, meanwhile, reports that the Hispania team is also interested in taking over Toyota’s unraced 2010 chassis, the TF110.

The news follows HRT’s confirmation that it has split with its existing chassis maker Dallara.

But the move to buy the Cologne facility would be at odds with HRT’s earlier plans to set up a long-term base in the Spanish region of Murcia, a team sponsor.

The reports could therefore trigger speculation that Carabante is looking to sell the team, even though on Thursday HRT revealed the identity of its new board.

“This shows how (the team) is strongly trying to keep on growing day by day in order to develop to a more strong, lasting and competitive team in formula one,” read a statement.

(GMM)

HRT on Wednesday morning confirmed that its relationship with Italian chassis maker Dallara has ended.

Amid multiple criticisms of the F110 car from within the new Spanish outfit, it has been reported for some time that the Dallara contract was terminated.

“It was clear from the outset that the contract with Dallara is completed,” team boss Colin Kolles was quoted as saying last month.

“It ended on the date on which we ran our cars,” he added.

In a press release on Wednesday morning, the team confirmed the split, insisting it is “on amicable terms”.

But the statement also revealed that after six races in 2010, “no further chassis development was made by Dallara”.

“HRT … will continue to develop and improve the Dallara designed F110 chassis via its own development programme,” the statement added.

Amid suggestions the Dallara split would convince consultant Geoff Willis to sign up as technical director, Kolles said earlier this month that the team will build its own car for 2011.
(GMM)

Karun Chandhok has tersely insisted he is “not worried” about the future of the struggling HRT team.

Recent reports quoted Bernie Ecclestone as suggesting the new Spanish outfit was in financial trouble, amid reports it will run out of spare parts by next month’s Canadian grand prix.

In fact, team officials insist the F1 chief executive is simply helping Hispania with its technical plans for 2011, including the use of a wind tunnel and facilities to design its own car.

Asked about the negative rumours by the Times of India, Chandhok said this week: “That’s a matter between Bernie, Colin (Kolles) and (Jose Ramon) Carabantes.

“It has nothing to do with me,” added the 26-year-old Indian rookie.  “I know what the truth is and I am not worried.”

Although friends with his teammate Bruno Senna, Chandhok insists he has been the quickest HRT driver in 2010 but is keen for a car upgrade in order to ensure he has a seat next year.

“I’ve generally been faster than Bruno,” he said, adding that the Cosworth powered F110 “really needs” a new aerodynamic package.

“But as of now, my objective is to keep pushing as much as I can and secure a good position for 2011.  The rest isn’t up to me,” added Chandhok.

(GMM)

Bruno Senna’s earlier fears have come true in Monaco.

After qualifying in Barcelona less than a week ago, we reported that the Brazilian rookie believed his HRT chassis was carrying an inherent problem.

He was the slowest qualifier in Spain, and he remarked that “there is something wrong at the back” of his F110.

Senna retired into the gravel on the opening lap, and then confirmed to France’s Auto Hebdo that the new Spanish team had not identified the car’s problem in the three-day gap before Thursday’s practice running in Monaco.

He was nearly two seconds slower than his teammate Karun Chandhok in the afternoon session in the Principality, where his famous uncle won no less than a record six times.

Senna, 26, won the GP2 race at Monaco in 2008.

“There is something wrong at the back and we still have not found what it is,” he said.

More than 7 seconds further up the timesheets, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was quickest once again on Thursday afternoon, ahead of Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel.

(GMM)

The Austrian 27-year-old joined the new HRT team earlier this week as a test and reserve driver, and is scheduled to drive Karun Chandhok’s F110 car in Friday morning practice in Spain.

But with less than 14 hours before that practice session kicks off, it emerges that Klien – a veteran of 48 grands prix and years as a test driver – does not possess the mandatory FIA document that would allow him to exit the Barcelona pitlane.

To the APA news agency, team boss Colin Kolles explained the apparent oversight.

“As long as the contract was not signed, we could not even ask for a super license,” he said. “It was all very last minute.”

Kolles said he was hopeful the situation will be resolved by Friday morning.

Christian Klien on Thursday moved to dispel any claims that he has walked into a stormy relationship with his new HRT teammates.

The Spanish team’s new test and reserve driver will take over Karun Chandhok’s F110 car on Friday morning, and fellow rookie Bruno Senna admitted in Barcelona that he is not keen to sit out sessions this year.

But Klien, 27, told Germany’s Motorsport-Magazin.com that the pair have not complained to him.

“No, not at all,” said the Austrian. “We walked the track together and it was a good relationship.”

Klien however admitted that it is “understandable” that the two race drivers “want to sit in the car as much as possible” during the race weekends.

He said he is not sure if and when he will return to the Friday cockpit later in 2010.

“So far Barcelona is the first one planned, then the team will decide whether it will be the same for other grands prix,” explained Klien.