Hispania cars won't race

Hispania Racing will not take part in the Australian Grand Prix after falling foul of the 107 per cent qualifying rule.

Backmarkers fall foul of 107 per cent qualifying rule

Hispania Racing will not take part in the Australian Grand Prix after falling foul of the 107 per cent qualifying rule. The rule was reintroduced to Formula One this season and bars any car from taking part in the race if it is more than 107 per cent slower than the quickest car during the first qualifying session. HRT drivers Vitantonio Liuzzi and Narain Karthikeyan both fell into that bracket in Melbourne's Albert Park on Saturday and despite the team's appeal to the FIA to race under 'exceptional circumstances', they must now pack up and leave the paddock. The decision thus ends a disappointing and rather embarrassing weekend for the team, whose new car had failed to turn a wheel prior to Friday practice. On that occasion, Liuzzi only managed a single lap, with Karthikeyan taking to the track for the first time during Saturday morning's final practice session.