» New HRT challenger to run at Barcelona test

Hispania Racing’s brand-new 2011 challenger will make its debut at the final pre-season test at Barcelona next month, according to reports in the Spanish media.

According to the daily newspaper El Mundo Deportivo, the new car – dubbed the F111 – will make its much-awaited first run after the outfit has used two of the first three test sessions (it being absent for the Jerez test) to run its 2010 car designed by Dallara, the F110.

With the team having previously reported that its new car would be ready in time for the now-cancelled Bahrain test session – which was scheduled to take place next week – the team is still seemingly on track to fulfil its promise.

It is understood that the team will field a major upgrade – possibly enough to warrant a ‘B’-design chassis – in time for May’s Monaco Grand Prix.

The team is still to announce the identity of its second racing driver. With just four weeks to go until the season gets underway, it is believed that a total of four drivers – Vitantonio Liuzzi, Pedro de la Rosa, Christian Klien and Giorgio Mondini – are the most likely candidates.

[Original image via HRT]