F1: Chandhok completes F1 grid

Karun Chandhok has been confirmed at the new HRT Formula 1 Team, and completes the 24-car grid ahead of the season-opener in Bahrain this month.

The Indian was presented by the team at the squad’s official unveiling in Murcia, Spain, today and joins Brazilian Bruno Senna at the outfit formerly known as Campos Meta.

"I am very pleased to use the Murcia site to officially unveil our car livery today,” said HRT team principal Colin Kolles. “We also complete the driver's team line-up with the Indian Karun Chandhok at the wheel of the car for our first ever season.”

Having won the Formula Renault V6 Asia title in 2006, the 26-year-old Chandhok has spent the past three seasons racing in GP2 and was a race winner in 2007 and 200, before a difficult season with Ocean Racing Technology last year.

"We have been very impressed with Karun's performance in GP2. India is a great country. It will be great for the sport to have an Indian driver on the grid for the first Indian Grand Prix. Murcia is part of the roots of the team.

"Everything is now in place after an impossible race against time to register the team's name and I truly believe that we have an excellent platform to build on and move forward for a strong 2010 performance. Now, we need to work together. We need to learn together and keep developing as a team."

Meanwhile, new team owner Jose Ramon Carabantes explained his squad’s recently-announced name change to Hispania Racing Team (HRT).

"The new HRT F1 Team, Hispania Racing F1 Team is born in Murcia. I am proud to welcome you in Murcia where the team has its roots and to have given to my country the pride of the first ever Spanish Formula 1 team.

"The name of the team contains the word Hispania, which is not only the name of one of my companies, but Hispania was also the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula. That reflects now our team's new identity. 2010 will be a major debut for the team and drivers at the wheel of our HRT F1 Team car."

Keep up-to-date with all the latest F1 news by watching Inside GP on Motors TV (Sky Channel 413, Virgin Media 545) – Bahrain special on Monday 8 March at 9pm (GMT).


Andy Wilkinson