HRT young driver test report day 2

Josef Kral and Davide Valsecchi drive a Formula 1 car for the first time with Hispania Racing on Bridgestone's last day in Formula 1

09.00-12.30 YOUNG DRIVERS F1 TEST - MORNING SESSION
Josef Kral F110-03 #60 12th (52 laps, 288.808 km) 1.44.752

13.30-17.00 YOUNG DRIVERS F1 TEST - AFTERNOON SESSION
Josef Kral F110-03 #60 13th (9 laps, 49.986 km) 1.44.143
Davide Valsecchi F110-03 #80 11th (32 laps, 177.728 km) 1.43.013

The second and last day of the Young Drivers Test got underway today in Abu Dhabi. GP2 Series drivers Josef Kral and Davide Valsecchi where in action today for Hispania Racing and completed their first ever day at the wheel of a Formula 1 car. The Czech driver was first in the car this morning at the Yas Marina Circuit, covering a total of 61 laps (338.794 km). Josef Kral has shown a strong comeback after having suffered an accident in the GP2 sprint race in Valencia at the end of June, and today he did a good performance driving with Hispania Racing. The 20 year old got used to the car and kept on improving his lap times during the morning session, but it was minutes after the lunch break when he clocked his best time of the day on prime tyres (1.44.143). It was then turn for the 2010 GP2 Asia Champion Davide Valsecchi to jump into the HRT F110 car and experience driving a Formula 1 car for the first time. It didn't take him long to feel comfortable and start improving his lap times straight away, driving at a constant pace during all an afternoon that was interrupted in various occasions due to the red flags, and clocking a best time of 1.43.558. This was the last day the Formula 1 cars were using Bridgestone tyres, and Hispania Racing want to thank them for everything during the first season in Formula 1.

Dr. Colin Kolles, Team Principal:
"Josef Kral showed a good performance, just like Pastor Maldonado did yesterday. He got used to the car very quickly, improved continuously and completed the whole intended testing program. He had some problems with his seat position, but he managed to complete 61 laps. Davide Valsecchi, who sat in the car in the afternoon, found his way immediately. He was very fast after only four laps and he kept on improving the lap times. We are very happy to have given these two young talents the opportunity to do their first laps in a Formula 1 car. We want to thank Bridgestone for all its support during our first year in Formula 1."

Josef Kral:
"I am very happy to have had the chance to make my debut with Hispania Racing in a Formula 1 car during the Young Drivers Test in Abu Dhabi and I am very thankful for that. The car was great and I really enjoyed doing 61 laps today. The first ones were a bit difficult but then I got more and more used to driving around and could go quicker. Unfortunately, I didn't sit properly in the car as I am taller than the regular drivers of the team, so my head was further up and it made it harder to drive. But it was a successful day for me and I hope to be in a Formula 1 car again in the future."

Davide Valsecchi:
"Driving a Formula 1 car for the first time today was a moment I will always remember the rest of my life. After waiting for this moment to arrive for so long, when I finally got in the car I concentrated on getting as much experience as possible and therefore I took it easy. I couldn't put the sectors together on my fastest lap otherwise I could have done even better, but I am happy with the result. I had to get used to the option tyre and couldn't really use it. But with more time to work on the set-up of the car and more experience with this tyre compound I think that I could have been even quicker. I want to thank the team for giving me this incredible and unique opportunity to do 32 laps in the HRT F110 and to have made my dream come true and being able to do my debut in a Formula 1 car."

-source: hrt