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HRT launches 2011 car but first run put on hold

The new HRT is unveiled in the pit lane © Sutton Images

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HRT has launched its 2011 car in the Barcelona pit lane, but it may not run until tomorrow due to some parts being stuck in customs at the airport.

Team boss Colin Kolles said the car would run as soon as possible, with initial checks set to be performed in the garage on Friday afternoon.

"There are a small amount of parts that are in customs," Kolles confirmed to reporters in the Barcelona pit lane. "We hope we can get them out somehow. The plan is to run tomorrow, or as soon as possible basically. We will do systems checks, fire ups - the sooner the better."

He said the car was a complete departure from the 2010 model and is confident HRT's crew of engineers, led by ex-Red Bull and Honda man Geoff Willis, had delivered a car that will be in good shape at the first race.

"It's aerodynamically completely different - this is very obvious," Kolles added. "The simulations show that the car should be quicker than last year's car and we hope to make a step forward. We've worked very hard, Geoff and all the engineers worked very hard, and also production worked very hard to finish it in a very short time. I think we will be in Australia quite well prepared."

He said there would not be a repeat of the HRT's debut race in 2010, when Karun Chandhok's car was not ready to run until the first session of qualifying.

"We will have enough spares," Kolles said. "We will have everything in much better shape. This is the point, to make a step forward."

The new car may not get on track until the final day of testing © Sutton Images

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Kolles is also confident his team will not fall foul of the 107% qualifying rule, which requires drivers to set a time within 107% of the pole lap in order to make the grid, but could not say for sure until the car hits the track.

"I am confident," he said. "I think we have the drivers to do the 107%, I think the car is quicker than last year's car. In testing our old car has shown that it was closer to the established teams, we will see. I cannot answer this question at the moment. In simulation the car looks quicker than last year's car, which is all I can say."

He added that Tonio Liuzzi is the most likely to debut the car when it is ready, due to his extra experience.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.