HRT Not To Take Part In Australian Grand Prix

After failing to set a time in qualifying within the 107% rule, HRT have been declined the opportunity to race in tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix by the race stewards. The Spanish outfit were making no friends during the qualifying hour, as Narain Karthikeyan in particular got in the way of numerous faster cars.

Their weekend has been one of more downs than ups after they initially failed to have all cars ready for scrutineering at the beginning of the weekend. The woes intensified as Pedro De La Rosa’s car wasn’t ready in time for FP1, whilst Narain Karthikeyan suffered an oil pressure sensor failure and ground to a halt on track.

The second practice session was more of a success for HRT, as De La Rosa completed his first lap of the 2012 season whilst Karthikeyan completed 16 laps. In third practice, the two HRT’s completed 25 laps between them as things began to look up for the struggling Spanish outfit.

But after being dangerously slow on parts of the circuit throughout qualifying, notably when Karthikeyan held up Fernando Alonso, the race stewards had no option but to decline their request to race under article 36.1 of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations.

HRT will be hoping for a more successful race next weekend, as they try to continue their improvements at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Picture Copyright © HRT F1 Team