HRT team principal Luis Perez-Sala is hoping hard work will pay dividends when the team begin the 2012 season in Melbourne.
Spanish team confident teething problems are behind them
HRT team principal Luis Perez-Sala is hoping hard work will pay dividends when the team begin the 2012 season in Melbourne.
After delaying their test programme because their chassis failed the mandatory FIA crash tests, HRT eventually unleashed their new F112 at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya last week and head Down Under full of confidence in their latest model.
Perez-Sala said: "It doesn't seem true but the first race of the season is already upon us. We've spent three months working relentlessly, but the team and the car are ready for the great task ahead of us.
"We have done a lot of things since the last race of 2011 in Brazil and I'm very proud of the entire team but, without a doubt, the hardest part comes now.
Important
"We know where we are but also where we wish to be and with the team spirit and sacrifice that we have shown, I'm convinced that we can achieve it."
Driver Narain Karthikeyan got 10 laps under his belt after taking advantage of one of the available filming days in Barcelona.
And, while admitting that pre-season hasn't exactly gone according to plan, the Indian is confident that the team are heading "in the right direction".
Karthikeyan added: "I'm feeling positive ahead of the Australian Grand Prix after having completed 10 laps with the new F112 last Monday. Of course this was only a first contact and we didn't push it to the limit but the important thing was to get the ball rolling.
"It's not ideal to miss testing but we must look forward now. The new management have done an incredible job putting everything together and we'll do the best we can to continue progressing. We're in the right direction.
"Last year we only managed to complete five laps in the third practice session and failed to qualify for the race, so I'm looking to etch out that memory."
