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Hispania Owner Points Finger at Spanish Companies

For some time now, constant rumors and several reports in Spain have been announcing the probably death of Hispania Racing F1 Team. It seems that the squad doesn't get any support or credit for safeguarding itself from bankruptcy prior to the 2011 season, and owner Jose Ramon Carabante confirmed it during a recent interview with Radio Marca in Spanish.

After setting the record straight from the get go about his plans to keep the team alive though the 2011 campaign, Carabente referred to the difficulties he's encountering while trying to convince sponsors to step aboard his ship.

In F1 these days there is no need to spend 5 or 10 million. You can come in with 1 million or 500,000 euros,” said Carabante, hinting that the offers made to several Spanish sponsors have been more than acceptable, from a financial standpoint.

You go to large companies in this country and tell them that with their support you can have the car of Toyota, the use of their facilities and be in the top eight from time to time but they don't support you. We have a Spanish team which would be even more Spanish with a driver like Pedro de la Rosa, but the companies did not come in.

However, on a more positive note, he announced that HRT's management is on the verge of securing a huge financial deal with one of the five most important companies in Spain, a commitment that would help the team build on their rather disappointing 2010 campaign and develop stronger for next year.

He also addressed fears that his team will not have a decent racer next year, since HRT ended its partnership with chassis manufacturer Dallara last season and also failed to secure a deal with Toyota in recent months. He revealed that former technical director Geoff Willis has already completed the design of Hispania's 2011 single-seater “and the car he has designed will give us many joys”.

"The car is being made partly in Germany and partly in England and it will be ready. We have been working on it for some time and it will be in Bahrain for sure. This year was much more difficult. This time we will be in the winter tests,” added Carabante.
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