Dani Clos To Drive For HRT On Friday

Dani Clos will make Formula 1 history on Friday as completes the first all-Spanish driving line-up for a Spanish team at the Spanish Grand Prix on Friday morning. The GP2 driver will replace Narain Karthikeyan at HRT for FP1, getting his first taste of the F112 during a Grand Prix weekend.

The Spaniard has had a relatively successful career in GP2, winning one race in 2010 and also partaking in the Young Drivers’ Test at Abu Dhabi last November, clocking up 377.67 kilometers for the team. However, this weekend will see the Spaniard make his first appearance at a Grand Prix weekend for the team, as HRT continue to improve after a dodgy start to the season.

“I’m delighted to have this opportunity.” Explained a delighted Dani Clos, “It’s something I’ve fought for all my life; to make my debut in Formula 1 and, above all, to be able to do it at the Circuit de Catalunya which is something very special for me. Besides, I’m extremely lucky to be able to do it with a Spanish team, alongside another Spanish driver who I admire and at home. I can’t ask for more! I hope to extract a lot of data from this practice session, contribute with positive things to the team and do my job in the best way I can. I feel 100% ready and I can’t wait for the moment I step into the car and hit the track.”

“I’m very proud and happy that this moment has arrived and that we’ve given Dani the chance to get in the car on Friday’s first free practice session at such a special and important Grand Prix as is a home Grand Prix.” Said HRT’s team principal, Luis Perez-Sala. “It’s an important session given the short amount of time on track that we have and more so when you take into account the various aerodynamic upgrades which we have brought. Dani is a great driver and I have no doubt that he will do a good job.”

HRT will run upgrades on their cars this weekend, although they skipped the Mugello test which saw many teams test new updates. The Spanish outfit will be hoping these updates improve their pace, as they continue to reel in their nearest competitors Marussia.

Picture Copyright © HRT F1 Team