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HRT denies Caterham will build 2012 car

HRT: 'The team is confident that the new car will be ready for pre-season testing in February.' © Sutton Images

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HRT has denied that Caterham Technology and Innovation - part of the Caterham Group - is designing its 2012 car.

Caterham Technology and Innovation reportedly took over the former Toyota F1 headquarters in Cologne in November, while HRT has been basing the design side of its operations in Munich. After HRT did not announce an engine supplier for 2012 on the FIA official entry list, Speed Week intimated that the car was being built by Caterham (the group which includes the current Team Lotus) and that as a result the team would switch to Renault engines.

However, HRT denied the claims, insisting that it was designing the car itself and that it intended to have the F112 ready in time for pre-season testing. The statement in full read:

'After the recent information appearing lately in the media, HRT F1 Team is obliged to deny that Caterham Technology and Innovation, a subsidiary company of Caterham F1, will be in charge of the design and fabrication of the F112's monocoque.

'Contrary to what has been published, the development of the car that HRT F1 Team will compete with in next year's Formula 1 World Championship is being carried out at the team's technical office in Munich by a team of designers under the technical supervision of Jacky Eeckelaert and chief aerodynamicist Stephan Chosse.

'Despite the tight deadlines and a rule change for 2012 meaning that crash tests and chassis homologation procedures must be completed before any cars can test, the team is confident that the new car will be ready for pre-season testing in February.'

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