F1 Driver lineup closed: Tonio Liuzzi confirmed in HRT

The driver lineup for the 2011 World Formula 1 Championship has been finally closed as Hispania has announced that Vittantonio Liuzzi will be running for the team as its second driver.

After losing his seat at Force India at the end of 2010, the Italian was still on the market. Last month he tested for HRT at Catalunya, in what was a confirmed as a test for the available seat. Now he is officially a HRT driver.

"I am really happy to have signed this agreement with Hispania Racing," said Liuzzi. "I never lost hope to be in Formula 1 as I knew I have the experience and the right attributes for a young and ambitious team. I face a new challenge now and this excites me. I also face a lot of hard work in guiding Hispania Racing through the development of our new car.”

The option for a more experienced driver is seen by Collin Kolles as great deal for HRT to try to narrow the gap between its’ pace and the one from the established teams.

"I have known Tonio for many years as he raced with me in lower categories," said Kolles. "He is a very professional driver who will bring a lot of benefits to the team. "I am convinced about his skills to develop a car and his speed. He has shown this in the past having contributed to a large extent developing and moving a back of the grid car to the front.”

Liuzzi will be joining Narain Karthikeyan in HRT's 2011 line-up, with the official presentation of the new F111 having been confirmed for Friday.