Heading to Spa with a "lot of hunger and desire", HRT are keen to take the challenge to their fellow newcomers...
Pedro de la Rosa: "Spa is one of the drivers' favourite tracks; it's spectacular and difficult, not only because of the type of corners but also because of the weather, since one part of the track can be dry whilst another is wet, so you have to be able to adapt quickly. We're going to use the same medium downforce that worked so well in Canada so we hope to perform well despite the large amount of high speed corners. We've all returned full of energy from the holidays and I personally arrive in my best physical condition of the season and really looking forward to taking on the second half of the championship".
Narain Karthikeyan: "Spa is a drivers' track. I won here in my Formula 3 days so I have some nice memories and the atmosphere is always great. Even though a lot of run-off has been added over the years, it still has some of the most challenging corners on the calendar. And then there's the classic Spa weather which nearly always plays a part in the final result. We'll be using the same medium rear wing which worked well in Canada so we hope it goes well in Spa and aim to maintain our progress throughout the second part of the championship. We're back after a much deserved break after an especially intense start to the season for us and we're really looking forward to it".
Dani Clos: "Once again I have a chance to step into the car and work for the team and that fills me with satisfaction. Especially after having run in the events leading up to the summer break, for me it is really important to stay active and be able to continue growing alongside my teammates Pedro and Narain. Spa is a circuit where I have great memories. I won my first international one-seater race there, that's something you never forget and it makes me have special feelings for this circuit. I've been able to rest these days, at least by not travelling, but I haven't stopped training and I've stepped up the rhythm since last week to make it to Belgium in prime conditions to be able to give it my all".
Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal: "After the summer we head into the Belgian Grand Prix with a lot of hunger and desire. We're starting the second part of the championship and we will try to continue in the same manner as the first part and improve. Spa is a circuit that the drivers really like because it is the longest in the championship and is made up of a combination of fast and slow corners, besides being located in a beautiful area. It is a medium downforce circuit and the temperatures aren't extreme so we shouldn't have any reliability issues. The weather is always unpredictable in Spa so we have to be ready to take on any situation".
