HRT could miss out on any pre-season testing for the third consecutive year, should it not have time to reorganise its schedule after crash test regulations were modified.
In accordance with the sporting rules laid out by Formula 1 governing body the FIA, all chassis must now pass every crash test before being allowed to run on a circuit.
“Inevitably, we are going to be delayed by this reorganisation period,” Luis Pérez-Sala, HRT’s new Team Principal, explained to Spain’s Radio Marca. “The FIA requires us to pass all crash tests before we can test, so that makes it even harder.
“I hope we can get everything sorted by the end of January to be able to attend the pre-season tests but, if it gets difficult, I just hope we can at least shakedown the car before Melbourne.”
In its maiden season, the shakedown test for HRT – then known as Hispania Racing – effectively took place on the opening Grand Prix weekend of the campaign, with Karun Chandhok not having any track time until qualifying. Last year, the team also failed to make a pre-season track appearance despite being present at the final Barcelona test; with the car launched, several components were not delivered in time.
Also on Wednesday:
HRT: Signing Alguersuari is unlikely
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