Colin Kolles has revealed that HRT will use an all-new chassis in 2011 and not just a modified version of the Dallara-built F110 it used last season.
When Narain Karthikeyan was announced as one of the team's drivers earlier this month, he said: "For 2011, HRT has established strong technical partnerships. It will have an upgraded version of its 2010 chassis, mated to a Cosworth engine and a gearbox from Williams F1."
But Kolles insists the 2011 chassis will be more than a simple upgrade and is being designed with the help of "several groups of engineers" working under HRT's technical director Geoff Willis. However, he did confirm Karthikeyan's more recent comments that the new car will most likely debut at the final pre-season test in Bahrain.
"The 2010 car will be utilized at the first tests, and as soon as the 2011 car is ready, we will implement it," he said. "The plan is to use the 2011 car at the Bahrain test. The 2011 car will be a completely new car, and will be called F111.
"The F111 is being made by Hispania Racing with several groups of engineers. At the moment, there are approximately 40 designers finalizing the first spec, under the leadership of Geoff Willis as Technical Director and Paul White as Chief Designer."
Kolles said just being at the pre-season tests would give the team a huge advantage over its debut season in 2010, when the car first ran during practice at the opening race.
"Last year we didn´t have the opportunity to do the tests, and this new season we are able to give our drivers the opportunity to do more millage and to get used to the Pirelli tyres. So, yes, the Spanish tests are very important for us."
As for the identity of HRT's second driver for 2011, Kolles said nothing was certain yet but promised an announcement soon.
"In the next few days there will be several announcements," he said. "The second driver has not been decided yet, because we have to make sure that we are making the best choice. We are making progress in all areas which is positive, working very hard, and the results will be shown and be announced very soon."
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