Dani Clos to replace Karthikeyan for first practice

Madrid, 29 June 2012: Formula 1 is coming back home as Silverstone is where it all began in 1950 when the first race in the history of the World Championship took place. This circuit has hosted every British Grand Prix since 1950, barring periods between 1964 and 1986 when it took place at Brands Hatch and 1955 to 1962 when it was raced at Aintree. Silverstone is a fast, flowing track which combines very quick turns at the start with a number of slow ones towards the end of the lap. Maggots, Becketts and Chapel stand out as one of the most demanding combination of corners in the championship.

HRT Formula 1 Team arrives in Silverstone showing clear signs of improvement and aims to continue in this line at the legendary British track. Spanish driver Dani Clos will step into the F112 for the second time this season to take part in the first practice session. Clos will replace Narain Karthikeyan and accompany Pedro de la Rosa for the first 90 minutes of practice at the British Grand Prix. Pirelli have elected their soft and hard tyres for this Grand Prix.

Pedro de la Rosa: “Silverstone is a beautiful and classic circuit; it’s a place I really like. I’ve raced in many categories there: Formula Ford, Formula Renault, Formula 3 and Formula 1. It’s a quick, high downforce track with a lot of quick corners linked together. It’s very demanding on the tyres, so the logical thing is to go for three stops. Strategies will play a big part. It’s not the most favourable circuit for us so we’re going to have to grind our teeth because, apart from that, it’s also one of the toughest tracks for a driver. We’re going to try and continue the good work from the last grands prix, finish this race and improve on our result in Valencia. That is our objective”.

Talking about the circuit Narain Karthikeyan said: “I’ve got very good memories of Silverstone as I’ve raced a lot there in the past in junior categories, it’s one of my favourite tracks on the calendar and a place I expect to do well. Copse and the Becketts complex are special corners and are up there with the most exciting ones in the championship but I don’t know the new part of the circuit as I didn’t race at Silverstone last year so it will take me a few laps to adapt. After a positive weekend in Valencia, with a good performance in qualifying, I’m hoping to continue from there and build on it in Great Britain”.

Meanwhile, Test driver Dani Clos said: “I’m very happy to step into the F112 once again in Silverstone, a place where I’ve got good memories since I’ve made the podium every time I’ve been in GP2. After Barcelona I’ve really been looking forward to this new opportunity. The work we’re carrying out with the team is positive and I think that I can make a good contribution. I will be able to run in better conditions than in Barcelona because the car was new back then and I had to carry out various aero tests. Now I’ve got a new opportunity, not to prove anything but to work with the team and evolve as much as we can”.

Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal: “In Valencia we had a positive weekend and were able to confirm the good sensations we’d felt in the last few races. Silverstone is one of the most emblematic and historic circuits in the Championship and racing there is always something special. We want to see how our car performs at the British track with the latest upgrades because it’s a track that contains various quick turns and that’s where we suffer most. On another note, I’m happy that Dani will have a new opportunity to sit behind the wheel of the car for the first free practice session. This time he’ll be able to get more out of the session because in Barcelona there were many things to test and he had to focus on them, but now he’ll be able to get the most out of the experience. Besides, it will be the second time he drives the F112 this season so he won’t be stepping into the unknown and won’t need a period to adapt”.