[Team] HRT - The Discussion Thread.

[cmotd]

Originally Posted by davyboy

Well they're there with working cars and they managed to get Liuzzi out for some installation laps in second practice. Good news.

Autosport second practice report

We saw the HRT appear with about 2 minutes left in the session and gave it a big cheer, but we didn't see it again so it didn't even do one full lap, hence the lack of a time in the stats on that page. It looked smaller than all the other cars, and sounded like it had a tug boat engine in it

[kylekosir]

Originally Posted by Marbot

VW have already said that they aren't interested in getting into F1, even with the new engine rules.

VW currently put turbos on all of their petrol engined cars from 1.2 litres upwards.

Hmm, Ive seen both yes and no around the Net about VW getting in F1.

Last I heard, it was a maybe, because they wanted F1 to confirm the rules and such before they get into F1

[ECW Dan Selby]

There's a link somewhere stating that VW are strictly not interested in 2013.

Selby

[Juarez Jed]

James Allen said the new nose failed the crash test so they had to draft the nose from last year onto the new bodywork at late notice so the balance of the car's aero was all out of whack.
Of course aero wouldn't have been an issue today , but will make qualifying an even bigger hurdle, although they seem to be having basic installation problems don't they .

[steve nielsen]

a rare thing indeed, a HRT on track

[Wims]

Originally Posted by cmotd

We saw the HRT appear with about 2 minutes left in the session and gave it a big cheer, but we didn't see it again so it didn't even do one full lap, hence the lack of a time in the stats on that page.....

Well, I saw it again. It did a complete outlap (installation lap), but no flyer, so thats the reason for the lack of time

[Moneyseeker]

VAG not interested in F1, they want to focus on racing that aligns with road car models and endurance racing which fits their core values.

Regarding HRT clearly they are not going to be anywhere near the 107% rule. James Allen is reporting that they are running the 2010 front wing as the 2011 version has issues with the crash test. The 2010 wasn't designed to run with the other developments on the car so that will make it even more difficult.

Personally, I'n not in favour of the 107% rule - having cars and teams tool around the world at vast expense (and CO2 footprint!), only to not make the cut and be sent home is plainly ridiculous and unsustainable.

If Formula One wants to be tougher on slow cars perhaps the way round this is for the slowest cars from the previous year (or new entrants) to submit their cars for a balanced performance test, in the same way they have to perform crash tests - benchmarked against the fastest car at the time - using the same driver as the control aspect. The team can then develop the car away from the races and submit it again for further testing at a given interlude.

Performance balancing is used in GT's to determine equivalency, there is no reason why it can't be used to determine the 107% rule cars pre-season.

I know that HRT are doing their best, but to turn up at what would have been the 2nd GP without the car even turning a wheel beforehand is daft and should be discouraged IMO.

[davyboy]

Yes this is a far from ideal situation and the 107% threshold will be a real problem tomorrow. Still, they're in Oz with two cars and a team. This thread was titled around their demise some time ago... and only this week it was rumored that their staff had left. They must be commended for getting this far on what's got to be the bar fumes of cash.

[Super Hans]

Indeed.

Credit to the boys at HRT, who probably haven't slept for days and are unlikely to do so tonight.

[nobster]

Afraid this will be like the mastercard lola cars, very much off the pace and the last time we will see them... ( hope it is not the case but one year later and it is still a big mess!)

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by nobster

Afraid this will be like the mastercard lola cars, very much off the pace and the last time we will see them... ( hope it is not the case but one year later and it is still a big mess!)

Yep and the 'this space could be yours' style branding on the car doesn't give much confidence either..!

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by nobster

Afraid this will be like the mastercard lola cars, very much off the pace and the last time we will see them... ( hope it is not the case but one year later and it is still a big mess!)

They ran a whole season last year. Mastercard Lola never ran a single race, so there's a sea of difference between the two. HRT are a team struggling for money... to a greater degree than anyone else in the pitlane at the moment. Down the years Formula One has had a large number of such teams running on a shoestring, often for very long periods of time e.g. Osella, Minardi.

[newlaprecord]

Originally Posted by cmotd

We saw the HRT appear with about 2 minutes left in the session and gave it a big cheer...

Thats good sportmanship, way to go! They are an easy target, but big-up for them for trying and parts not arriving on time is just bloody fustrating (I guess something like when you really need something of ebay, but it gets "lost" somewhere in Hong-Kong.. times 10000)

Hope they put in some milage tomorrow.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by newlaprecord

big-up for them for trying and parts not arriving on time is just bloody fustrating

Hope they put in some milage tomorrow.

They had already admitted that the shock absorbers held up in customs was not true, and that there was a long list of parts still not ready being the real reason that they did not do ny mileage with the new car in pre-season testing. A few of us stated at the time that they would not have used airfreight to send parts to Catalunya from their (Kolles) factory and that all deliveries are quicker by road transport given the potential for customs delays and the like that haunt any 'non accompanied' delivery.

But yes I also wish them the best of luck to complete (or even get a start given the 107% rule) the weekend. Given that it is likely the top teams will be even quicker by the time it comes to Q1. (Unless the top teams use Q1 as an excuse to use hard tyres in order to save the softer and quicker rubber for Q2 and Q3 thus making the 107% potentially more reachable.

At this stage, given their lack of any mileage I can't see them qualifying within 107% (Virgin are in the same boat with I believe neither of their cars currently within 107%) It will take a dispensation from all of the other teams for it to even be able to be put to the FIA for consideration.

Given the likleyhood that the lower teams that might be seeking dispensation and lenience with this year's 107% rule will be in the way of the leaders who will be lapping them very quickly, and thus potentially not going to approve the cars starting regardless of the 107% rule. Last year however, HRT did gain that dispensation from all the other teams, although that was on the basis of not the 107% rule, but their not having turned enough laps in both cars to even take their place in qualifying.

Good luck to them anyway. They have got this close to making it and it would be a pity for them to fall at the last hurdle.

[ensign14]

Originally Posted by davyboy

Down the years Formula One has had a large number of such teams running on a shoestring, often for very long periods of time e.g. Osella, Minardi.

Williams...Toleman...

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by davyboy

They ran a whole season last year. Mastercard Lola never ran a single race, so there's a sea of difference between the two. HRT are a team struggling for money... to a greater degree than anyone else in the pitlane at the moment. Down the years Formula One has had a large number of such teams running on a shoestring, often for very long periods of time e.g. Osella, Minardi.

Simtek, Pacific, Forti

[ASCII Man]

Arrows, Coloni, Zakspeed, Eurobrun...

Quite a lot of shoestrings, tbh.

[Hawkwood]

Super Aguri, Tyrrell (towards the end at least).

The argument could be made of course, that any team not at least challenging for the titles is underfunded seeing as those who aren't challenging usually have less money to spend than those who are (I'm discounting Toyota, obviously).

[Born Racer]

I have some sympathy with Hispania, but why can't they get a car ready for the start of the season two years running? What would have happened had the season begun in Bahrain?

Hopefully there is at least a second or more's potential in that car.

[Super Hans]

A waste of talent and a waste of petrol, according to Brundle. Glad to see his new role hasn't tamed him.

[tux]

Putting everything apart from track performance aside, to be within 2 seconds of D Ambrosio in the Virgin after Virgin have spent all winter testing is pretty good. Keep in mind that Hispania wont have a good setup for the car, the drivers will be learning how to drive it and that really the car only did its first laps 3 hours ago.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by tux

Putting everything apart from track performance aside, to be within 2 seconds of D Ambrosio in the Virgin after Virgin have spent all winter testing is pretty good. Keep in mind that Hispania wont have a good setup for the car, the drivers will be learning how to drive it and that really the car only did its first laps 3 hours ago.

True but it's probably more realistic to compare best driver with best driver in each team (Liuzzi & Glock) which is a 3 second gap.

Given the lack of testing etc as you say not so bad - still don't deserve to get a race start at Albert Park though.

[Born Racer]

It's the fact they haven't managed to get the car ready that is an issue to me.

[kylekosir]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

It's the fact they haven't managed to get the car ready that is an issue to me.

At least they showed up to the race, confident in getting the car ready. Its like the USF1 where they pulled out

[Mr V]

I hope the other teams don't allow HRT in for tomorrows race, it would make the 107% rule redundant and to be frank, the car doesn't deserve to be on the grid.