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HRT behind closed doors

Mar.11 (GMM) One notable anomaly in the Bahrain pitlane on Wednesday was that the new Spanish team HRT's garage doors remained uniquely closed.

The situation coincided with rumours that Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok's cars had yet to arrive at the Sakhir circuit.

"We only knew we were going to Bahrain on Saturday when the car was loaded with half an hour to spare," Senna admitted to reporters.

The Brazilian said the schedule for Friday's 180 hours of free practice is essentially a 'shakedown' for the two virginal single seaters, with setup work to not take place until the day of qualifying.

Also noticed in pitlane on Wednesday is that Ferrari has revived what it describes as a "more sophisticated and safer" pitstop traffic light system for 2010.

1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve was hoping to have been racing this weekend with Stefan GP, but instead he will commentate with the British radio broadcaster BBC.

Kazuki Nakajima was also lined up to race for Stefan, and he said on his website that his future plans are now "unclear".

Meanwhile, it is rumoured that Red Bull has made an application to the FIA for its Renault engine to be upgraded in order to come closer to the performance development of the leading Mercedes.

And British visitors to Bahrain have been warned about their safety, following demonstrations in the wake of a meeting between the British ambassador and the radical opposition party al-Wifaq.

The logo of the German sports brake company Mov'It will be seen on the nose of the Renault single seater throughout 2010.

Written: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:14:39