Mumbai: Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan completed the first laps aboard the new HRT F112 at the Barcelona circuit ahead of its Formula 1 debut in Australia in less than two weeks.
Having passed all the mandatory crash tests last weekend, the Spanish squad was racing against time to put the car on track by taking advantage of `filming day` regulations to shake down the new car.
Filming day regulations limit the running to 100 kilometres and only demo-spec Pirelli tyres are allowed, which bear very different characteristics compared to the normal racing rubber.
Despite these limitations, the team was able to ensure that the Cosworth-powered car functioned well from mechanical and aerodynamic standpoints.
Once out on the track, Karthikeyan`s immediate objective was to ensure that all the systems were functioning appropriately and there were no major niggles.
"The first impressions are quite good; it is definitely a step up from last year," said Karthikeyan immediately after emerging out of the cockpit.
"We couldn`t do any set-up work or stuff like that but everything seems to be working fine and there are no major problems, so we can look forward to the season now," he added.
Despite the fact that over 90 per cent of the HRT F1 staff has been freshly recruited, it was clear that the team is already at a level several notches higher compared to the last two years.
"Everyone has worked hard and the new team management has put everything together in a very short period of time," said Karthikeyan.
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.