The newly-revamped Hispania Racing team have unveiled their 2010 contender at a press event in Murcia, showing off the Dallara-designed and untested car that their pair of rookies will qualify last in at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The team, which recently underwent an internal takeover as stakeholder Jose Ramon Carabante bought out former Minardi driver Adrian Campos, also unveiled it's new Hispania Racing F1 Team identity, which seems to involve a slightly dour grey colour scheme and no sponsors.
The Dallara-designed, Cosworth-powered HRT car will be driven by Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok in the 2010 season, and both F1 rookies face an uphill challenge to be even close to competitive at the start of the season, given that the new car will arrive in Bahrain virtually untested.
Rumours abounded before the launch of the team planning to give the new car a shakedown test at the Imola track before flying to Bahrain, but these were unconfirmed, and it remains likely that the car will make its debut in the first practice session at the Sakhir circuit.
The new car boasts a Red Bull RB5-esque dimpled nose, but eschews the other traditional design feature of the 2010 grid so far in not having an airbox 'anvil wing'. The pointed nose is also reminiscent of the Virgin VR-01.
Earlier today, new owner Carabante said that: "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."
At the launch, the car was almost devoid of sponsorship, apart from some decals from Senna's personal sponsors, but Chandhok's signing today is reported to be backed by sponsor money from JK Tyres and Punj Lloyd, as well as a significant amount from his father and manager Vicky.
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