HRT have announced that Vitantonio Liuzzi will race for them this season. Liuzzi, who was ousted from his seat at Force India by new signing Paul di Resta, joins Narain Karthikeyan in the Spanish team’s 2011 line up.
"I am really happy to have signed this agreement with Hispania Racing,” said the Italian. “I never lost hope to be in Formula One as I knew I have the experience and the right attributes for a young and ambitious team. I face a new challenge now and this excites me. I also face a lot of hard work in guiding Hispania Racing through the development of our new car. I am extremely grateful to Jose Ramon Carabante and to Colin Kolles for giving me such an opportunity.”
Liuzzi started to emerge as a talent in karting in the late nineties. In 2001 he clinched the prestigious FIA/CIK World Karting Championships and made a flying start in single-seater racing by finishing second in the German Formula Renault championships. By 2004 he was competing in F3000 and wrapped up the title with ease after winning seven out of the 10 races.
This impressed Red Bull so much they signed Liuzzi up as their test and reserve driver for the 2005 season. He got his first taste of competitive Formula One that same year when he replaced Christian Klien for the San Marino, Spanish and Monaco Grands Prix. Liuzzi scored his first world championship point on his debut at San Marino.
In 2006 and 2007 he raced for Toro Rosso, before moved on to Force India in 2008 as a test driver. The following season he was promoted to a race seat - a position he retained until the end of 2010. In total he has started 63 Grands Prix and scored 26 points, 21 of which he racked up during the 2010 season.
He was invited to test with HRT at Barcelona in February and impressed the team enough to secure the 2011 race drive.
“I have known Tonio for many years as he raced with me in lower categories,” explained HRT team principal Colin Kolles. “He is a very professional driver who will bring a lot of benefits to the Team. I am convinced about his skills to develop a car and his speed. He has shown this in the past having contributed to a large extend developing and moving a back grid car to the front. I had the pleasure of working with him and I am very happy and proud to have him racing with Hispania Racing.”
Liuzzi is expected at the wheel of the team’s new F111 soon after its Friday launch at this week’s Circuit de Catalunya test. He will then make his race debut for the team at the Australian season opener on March 25-27.
Credit: Formula One Administration Ltd (www.formula1.com)
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