Pedro de la Rosa: We’ve taken a significant step forward

HRT completed a very successful day at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve earlier today, as the Spanish outfit tested both the soft and super-soft tyre compounds, as well as testing the upgrades introduced to the car which were specifically brought for the Canadian Grand Prix.

After an eventful day of track action, both Narain Karthikeyan and Pedro de la Rosa are optimistic that HRT are continuing moving forward after their rocky start to the season. The only problem the team faced throughout the day was a front left brake issue on Karthikeyan’s car, which forced the Indian driver to return to the garage during the afternoon session.

“It looks like we’ve taken a significant step forward here in Montreal.” Explained a confident Pedro de la Rosa. “Our set-up is working well, our top speed is good and, overall, the car is working well. We were quicker than the Marussia’s in the morning and the afternoon but both the car and myself can improve. The rise in temperature expected for tomorrow is good for us we’re struggling to heat up the tyres in the last sector and that will help us.”

However, the day was marred when Pedro de la Rosa’s number 1 mechanic Craig Stubley was injured towards the end of the first session during pitstop practice. He was then flown to hospital with a suspected broken leg, however he was later released from hospital after it was discovered he had only received some bruising and a swollen right knee.

"Before anything I would like to say that we’re very relieved because our mechanic, Craig, is well after this morning’s incident as we were all very worried.” Said HRT team principal, Luis Perez-Sala. “As for the racing, we tried out the wing that we specifically brought for this circuit and it seems like the car’s balance is good and it’s working as expected. We’re comfortably inside the 107%, so this is confirmation that the wing is working well. Tomorrow we will evaluate again how the upgrades are performing but we’re running well.”

It was at last years Canadian Grand Prix that HRT recorded their most competitive race result in their relatively short F1 career, when Vitantonio Liuzzi finished 13th in the rain struck race. With the competitive and unpredictable nature of the 2012 season, HRT could well match or even better that result this weekend.

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