Breaking News – Campos Meta is now Hispania Racing Team and Karun’s made it to F1!

Posted by Harry on March 4th, 2010 | 2 Comments

After days of speculation, we can confidently reveal that Karun Chandok has been confirmed to drive alongside Bruno Senna for the Hispania Racing Team (formerly Campos Meta). This is a big moment for Indian fans who were waiting to see an Indian make it to the F1 grid after Narain’s historic debut in 2005. Both the drivers will be present at the official unveiling in Murcia, Spain. Colin Kolles, HRT’s team principal, said: “I am very pleased to use the Murcia site to officially unveil our car livery today. We also complete the driver’s team line-up with the Indian Karun Chandhok at the wheel of the car for our first ever season.”

“We have been very impressed with Karun’s performance in GP2. India is a great country. It will be great for the sport to have an Indian driver on the grid for the first Indian Grand Prix. Murcia is part of the roots of the team.”

This was the moment Karun was always waiting for. Coming from a lacklusture 2009 season in motorsports, Karun will hope to change all that and silence his critics with his drive. “Everything is now in place after an impossible race against time to register the team’s name and I truly believe that we have an excellent platform to build on and move forward for a strong 2010 performance. Now, we need to work together. We need to learn together and keep developing as a team.”

The team has done all the hard work they can to make it to the 2010 grid. US F1, Virgin and Lotus were the other new entrants for the 2010 season. While Lotus and Virgin have already tested, US F1 have left the 2010 season with no possible return. This leaves Campos as the only team without any sort of running/testing of their new car. They will directly take part in the Bahrain GP.

Jose Ramon Carabantes, the team chairman, added: “The new HRT F1 Team, Hispania Racing F1 Team is born in Murcia. I am proud to welcome you in Murcia where the team has its roots and to have given to my country the pride of the first ever Spanish Formula 1 team.”

“The name of the team contains the word Hispania, which is not only the name of one of my companies, but Hispania was also the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula. That reflects now our team’s new identity. 2010 will be a major debut for the team and drivers at the wheel of our HRT F1 Team car.”

Hispania Racing F1 Team, known formally as HRT F1 Team,and previously as Campos Meta 1, is a Spanish Formula One team initially founded by former driver Adrián Campos, before being taken over by José Ramón Carabante. The team was granted entry to the 2010 Formula One season. It will be the second Spanish F1 team after the failed Bravo F1 in 1993.

On February 19, it was announced that majority shareholder José Ramón Carabante had taken over full control of the team from Adrián Campos, who was also replaced as team principal by Colin Kolles. The team has been re-named to HRT ahead of their first race. On March 4, Karun Chandhok was confirmed as the team’s second driver.

Source and Wikipedia