Scorpion Racing Eying Up HRT Takeover
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It has been confirmed that a group of Canadian and American investors are eying up a possible takeover of the HRT Formula 1 Team, after the Madrid-based outfit failed to stay afloat in the expensive world of the sport. The group of investors, known as Scorpion Racing, are allegedly striving to secure the twelfth slot on the grid for the 2013 season.
Although Formula 1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone appears to be backing Scorpion Racing’s bid to purchase the ailing Spanish team, it is widely believed by many within the paddock that the planned resurgence will have to wait until the 2014 season. With the forthcoming season only weeks away, it is highly unlikely that the sports governing body, the FIA, will permit the team to compete in the new season.
When HRT entered liquidation at the end of last season, it is believed the final slot on the 2013 grid was closed. This naturally means that Scorpion Racing will have to wait until 2014 before they can begin competing in the sport. Although Scorpion Racing is only in the early stages of its purchase of the HRT F1 team, German newspaper Bild is already linking former Force India driver Adrian Sutil to the outfit. However, F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes it is too late for Scorpion Racing to be included in the forthcoming season.
“I’ve spoken to them and told them to get in touch with the FIA and ask for an entry,” explained Mr. Ecclestone to the Press Association. “They want to buy all the bits from HRT, then form a company and ask for an entry, but I personally don’t think it will happen. It’s all a bit too late. Maybe they could do it for next year.”
It has been rumored that Scorpion Racing would operate out of a base within Silverstone, instead of utilizing HRT’s still relatively new factory in Madrid. It is expected that the investors will complete the takeover of HRT towards the end of the week, enabling them to begin preparations for their endeavor into the tough world of Formula 1.
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Pedro de la Rosa Incurs Five-Place Grid Penalty
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Pedro de la Rosa has incurred the 100th penalty of the season, after the Spaniard’s mechanics were forced to change his gearbox ahead of this afternoon’s final race of the season around Sao Paulo’s Interlagos circuit. Despite this penalty officially issuing de la Rosa with a five-place grid penalty, he has already qualified 24th and last for the race.
With HRT currently up for sale and searching for potential buyers, the general consensus within the paddock is that the team are preparing for what will be their last race in Formula 1. Rumors circulating the paddock indicate that HRT have already issued redundancy to several members of the team, as they will close down after the Brazilian Grand Prix. Whether these rumors are true or not remains to be seen, however it’s unquestionable that the team have a rather sombre approach to today’s season finale around Sao Paulo.
Pedro de la Rosa will start 24th and last on the grid, with team-mate Narain Karthikeyan set to start alongside the Spaniard in 23rd position. The HRT duo only just scraped through qualifying, with Karthikeyan and de la Rosa setting times 105.995 and 106.159 percent within the 107% qualifying rule.
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Pedro de la Rosa Proud Of HRT’s 2012 Achievements
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Pedro de la Rosa has explained how he is very proud of HRT’s achievements so far this season, after the Spaniard outfit suffered a tough start to the season. The team initially failed to partake in pre-season testing, and then failed to qualify for the opening race of the season at the Australian Grand Prix.
However, since the team’s rocky start to the season, they have undeniably steadily improved at each race weekend, at one stage even battling with Marussia on a weekly basis. However, finance has always been the achilles-heel of the outfit, and they have recently been put up for sale by current owners Thesan Capital. Despite these change of events, the team have remain focused on their efforts out on track.
Last time out at the United States Grand Prix around the Circuit of the Americas, the team initially struggled to qualify for the race. However, after successfully qualifying within the 107% rule, the team managed to bring both Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan to the finish of the race. This was unquestionably an enormous achievement for the team, after rumors throughout the media suggested the team could be running low on spare parts.
“It is incredible how time flies and for us to get to Brazil for the last race of the season, after everything we’ve achieved, makes me very proud.” Explained Pedro de la Rosa, “The race in Brazil is always a very special Grand Prix, not only because of the track’s layout but also for the Formula 1 history and the fans. It is a short but challenging track where it is possible to overtake. But the weather and the possible showers can also play an important role in the race’s outcome. If that would be the case, we will be ready to take our chances. It is the last race of the season and we will do our best to achieve a good result.”
Rumors circulating throughout the paddock indicate the team is poised to be purchased by Chinese buyers, a move which would undoubtedly benefit the team’s development driver Ma Qing Hua. Pedro de la Rosa has been confirmed with the outfit for next season, however the second seat alongside the Spaniard remains vacant as the 2012 season draws to a conclusion.
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Karthikeyan Remains Adamant He Did Nothing Wrong To Vettel
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Narain Karthikeyan has remained adamant he did nothing wrong when he was lapped by Sebastian Vettel during the United States Grand Prix, only moments before the German driver lost the lead to Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages of the race. At the time, Vettel vented his frustration towards the Indian driver over the team radio.
With Lewis Hamilton swarming over the back of Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull, the duo closed up upon the slow moving HRT of Narain Karthikeyan. Unfortunately for Sebastian Vettel, the opening sector of the Circuit of the Americas is exceedingly difficult to overtake on. This therefore saw Vettel loose an enormous amount of time behind Karthikeyan, and allowed Hamilton to close the gap and eventually overtake the Championship leader with DRS-assistance down the back-straight.
However, Narain Karthikeyan has remained adamant that he did nothing wrong during the race, and that he did not impede Sebastian Vettel purposefully. Prior to the race, Karthikeyan spoke with race director Charlie Whiting on the matter of traffic, and Whiting confirmed to the Indian driver that lapped traffic would not be required to move over during Turns 3 to 7.
“I spoke to Charlie before the race because I knew a situation like this could come up,” explained Narain Karthikeyan to Autosport. “It’s impossible to get out of the way in that part of the track unless we drive off the circuit. Charlie said that it was absolutely fine not to move over from Turns 3 to 7 so I did not do anything wrong. Once I was through there, I let him past and he overtook me at the exit of Turn 7 into 8. You cannot go anywhere else and it’s impossible to get out of the way before. You tell me where we can drive off the track? If he complains, it’s too bad.”
After a difficult race weekend at Austin, both HRT drivers were able to make it to the end of the race, albeit in 21st and 22nd position. Rumors circulating the paddock indicate that a Chinese buyer could be interested in purchasing the team, after current owners Thesan Capital put the team up for sale last week. This would greatly assist the team’s development driver Ma Qing Hua, who could well receive a full-time drive should the team become Chinese-owned.
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HRT Confirm Ma Qing Hua For United States Grand Prix Practice One
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HRT have confirmed that development driver Ma Qing Hua will get his fifth outing for the team during the opening practice session ahead of the United States Grand Prix, once again replacing Narain Karthikeyan. This comes amid strong speculation linking the Chinese driver to a full-time drive with the team for 2013, should they find a buyer.
Ma Qing Hua became the first Chinese-born driver to compete in an official Formula 1 event during practice one for the Italian Grand Prix back in September, partnering Pedro de la Rosa within the team. Earlier in the season, the team’s reserve driver Dani Clos also replaced Narain Karthikeyan during opening practice sessions at numerous race weekends. Other teams have also used this ability to run other drivers during practice one, including Williams, Force India and Caterham.
“It’s fantastic to be able to step back into the car for a free practice session and to do so at a new circuit for every team and driver makes it even more special and fun.” Enthused Ma Qing Hua, “Being the first out on track to help the team is a great responsibility and I want to thank them again for the opportunity they’re giving me. Little by little I’m racking up more miles and gaining the necessary experience to grow as a driver, and the continuity I’m getting is also important to help my confidence.”
As has been the case for the majority of the season, Narain Karthikeyan will return to his driving duties within the team for the second practice session later in the day. This could well put the Indian driver at a slight disadvantage for the remainder of the race weekend, as he’ll still be learning the new circuit during practice two whereas the majority of his competitors will already have 90 minutes of track knowledge under their belts.
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Pedro de la Rosa: “The Car Is Slow But It’s Safe”
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Pedro de la Rosa has insisted that the HRT F112 is slow but safe, amid speculation from Spanish media that the team are running low on spare parts for the final two races of the season. If true, this would severely hamper the teams running throughout the weekend, however the Spaniard has assured the media that there is no such issues within the team.
HRT have once again endured a frustrating season in Formula 1, with the outfit initially failing to appear at pre-season testing and then failing to qualify for the season opening Australian Grand Prix. Since then the team has improved gradually throughout the due course of the season, however it has recently come to light that current owners Thesan Capital are selling the team. This means the team desperately require a buyer, before they can begin preparing for next season.
With only two races of the season remaining at the United States and Brazil, rumors had begun to circulate within the paddock that HRT were running dangerously low on spare parts. This would put the team at a tremendous disadvantage, with any incidences between now and the end of the season potentially ending their season. However, Pedro de la Rosa has firmly denied these allegations, stating that the F112 car is slow but safe.
“It’s something that I’m not aware of.” Admitted Pedro de la Rosa, when questioned about the reports from the Spanish media. “All I can say is that we might be modest, we are small and we are what we are – but we are a professional Formula One team and for sure when we start running it’s because the car is safe. I’m experienced enough to… y’know, I would never jump into an unsafe car because of parts being too old. So no, the answer is, the car is slow but it’s safe.”
If HRT can find a buyer for next season, it is believed Pedro de la Rosa will continue with the team for another season, although his team-mate has yet to be confirmed. The team’s development driver Ma Qing Hua has been greatly linked to the vacant seat for 2013, however nothing seems certain as the team continue to struggle towards the back of the pack.
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HRT Up For Sale After Tough 2012 Season
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It has been officially confirmed that Spanish Formula 1 team HRT have been put up for sale by Spanish investment company Thesan Capital, only just over a year after the company bought the team from previous owner Jose Ramon Carabante. This comes only several days before the penultimate race of the season at Austin in Texas.
The 2012 season has been a bittersweet affair for HRT, after the team initially failed to qualify for the opening race of the season in Australia. Since then, the team have gradually improved and have also moved in to their new headquarters at Madrid. However, this has failed to see the team raise themselves off of the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship, remaining considerably behind their nearest competitors of Marussia and Caterham.
Whilst the team strive to end the season on a positive note on the track at the United States and Brazilian Grands Prix, the team are also endeavoring to announce their new owners in the near future. Speculation over who this might be is ripe within the Formula 1 community, with rumors of a Middle Eastern-based buyer a strong possibility.
“The current owners of HRT Formula 1 Team, TC II S.a.rl., would like to confirm that they are currently in talks with a number of groups interested in buying the team,” read an official statement from the team. “HRT Formula 1 Team’s current management hopes to conclude the sale in the upcoming weeks and, with it, enable the team to continue progressing and become a reference in modern-day Formula 1 after the important achievements already accomplished in this 2012 season.
“HRT Formula 1 Team hopes to communicate the name of its new owner in the upcoming weeks. We believe the moment to let new investors come through for HRT Formula 1 Team has arrived. We’re very proud of the work done by the entire team and of the excellent sporting evolution achieved but the time has come for the team to continue growing with new financial backing. We’re convinced that the sporting potential of the team is huge and that the presence of new investors can give it a big boost.”
Currently the team have only confirmed one driver for next season, with Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa set to continue with the team for what be a second successive season. However, de la Rosa’s team-mate for 2013 has yet to be confirmed with drivers including Narain Karthikeyan, Dani Clos and even Ma Qing Hua rumored as likely candidates.
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Hydraulic Issues Caused Karthikeyan’s Violent Incident With Rosberg
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Narain Karthikeyan suffered a hydraulic issue on his car throughout the early stages of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which greatly effected his steering and forced him to slow down on the track. Unfortunately for the Indian driver, the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg was right behind him, and flew over the top of his car in violent fashion.
Luckily both drivers were unscathed after the heavy incident, which saw Rosberg slam into the retaining barriers after making contact with the slow moving HRT of Karthikeyan. The Mercedes driver was running towards the back of the pack after a minor collision with the Lotus of Romain Grosjean at the start of the race, which damaged his front wing. This forced Rosberg to pit, and saw him plummet through the order. Despite not scoring a point since Singapore, the German is pleased that both himself and Karthikeyan were uninjured after the crash.
“My car felt competitive today so it’s a real shame not to have finished the race and scored some points.” Explained Nico Rosberg, “Unfortunately that chance was gone after the first lap incident with Romain [Grosjean], after which I had to come into the pits for a new nose. Then there was the accident which put me out of the race. Narain told me that his steering broke and he needed to brake which I didn’t expect in that high-speed corner. There was no time for me to react, and I’m very thankful that we are both fine. I went to the medical centre for a precautionary check but everything is good.”
Narain Karthikeyan was naturally equally disappointed with the incident, however he is now focusing on the next race in two weeks time at the brand-new Circuit of the Americas in Texas. This was the Indian driver’s seventh retirement of the year, which has been extremely tough for HRT.
“On lap 9 we had a problem with the hydraulic pressure and steering of the car went rock solid, so I had to lift my foot off the accelerator.” Said Narain Karthikeyan, who was lucky to walk away unscathed after the incident. “Unfortunately, Rosberg was coming from behind and couldn’t avoid me. It was tremendously unlucky but we have to leave it in the past and think about the United States Grand Prix in two weeks.”
Although Narain Karthikeyan struggled all weekend around the Yas Marina circuit, HRT remain confident of ending the season on a positive note, with only two races now remaining in the Championship. Throughout the year, HRT have greatly improved at each event, and will be aiming to continue doing so in two weeks at time when F1 ventures into the unknown at Texas.
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