Pedro de la Rosa confident ahead of his 100th Grand Prix

Pedro de la Rosa is confident that HRT can be competitive at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, as the Spaniard prepares to start his 100th Grand Prix in Formula 1. The 41-year-old made his Formula 1 debut back in 1999 with Arrows, and has since driven for the likes of Jaguar, McLaren and Sauber.

After a tough season with HRT, which saw the team not even qualify for the season opening Australian Grand Prix, Pedro de la Rosa has remained positive all season regardless of the setbacks he and the team have faced. With the Spaniard only retiring from two races all season, it has definitely been a highly consistent season, albeit at the back of the pack.

As the HRT outfit prepare for the thirteenth round of the 2012 Formula 1 World Championship around the legendary and historic Autodromo Nazionale Monza, the Spaniard explains that he and the team are once again confident of another positive result as the Madrid-based outfit continue to improve and reel in their nearest competitors Marussia.

"Making it to 100 Grands Prix is something very special and I’m very motivated ahead of Italy, not only because of the 100 mark, but because I’m certain that we can be even more competitive.” Explained Pedro de la Rosa, “Monza is a similar circuit to Canada, where maximum speed and brake stability are important; and these are our strengths. I’m really excited ahead of this Grand Prix”.

After the carnage caused by the HRT of Vitantonio Liuzzi at the start of last season’s Italian Grand Prix, the team will undoubtedly be striving to bring both cars home cleanly after the 53-lap race on Sunday. Narain Karthikeyan has failed to finish the last two races at Hungary and Belgium, and will be striving to avoid trouble this weekend as the team aim for a double finish at Monza.

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