No pre-Melbourne shakedown for new HRT car

HRT’s new car for 2011 will turn a wheel for the first time next Friday in Melbourne.

After the struggling Spanish team launched the F111 in Barcelona late last week, it could not then be tested due to parts supposedly being held up in customs.

It has therefore been suggested that a prudent move would be for Hispania to at least roll out the Cosworth-powered car at a private venue, rather than in the world’s glare in Melbourne.

But a team spokeswoman told Dutch website f1today.nl: "The first run of the F111 will be the first free practice on Friday in Australia."