Rookies Hispania Racing were pleased with their Grand Prix debut in Bahrain today, despite failing to get either car to the chequered flag. Following a disruptive winter without a single day of pre-season testing under their belt, Hispania made their track debut on Friday in Bahrain and despite very limited mileage, managed to start the race from the pitlane.

Brazil's Bruno Senna completed 17 laps before retiring with an overheated engine following some water loss, while Karun Chandhok lasted only until lap 2 when he was caught out by the bumpy circuit and collided with a barrier. The race was only Karun's second time at the wheel of the F110, having got his first taste of F1 in qualifying on Saturday afternoon.

Team principal Colin Kolles, who has been influential in getting the team to the grid having had its future secured only a fortnight ago, said he was satisfied with their performance but is hoping for major improvements in the forthcoming Australian Grand Prix.

“I am satisfied the way things went. Karun Chandhok stopped early in the race, but it was not a mechanical failure, he could not know that the bump was there having too few miles in his car and had just never experienced that the bump was where it was on this track,” said Colin after the race. “We will go home with lots of important data to make step forwards as the season moves into the second Grand Prix and continue making consistent improvements.

“The focus today for the team was to start the race and run both cars on track. I would like to thank everyone for their dedication and we have taken an historic first step.”

On the drivers' side, Bruno Senna was relieved to get so many miles under his belt during the race, boosting his total for the weekend to 54 laps. He too is looking forward to Melbourne in a fortnight's time.

“It was certainly a relief to have been in the race for so many laps. Everything was going well. I felt I had a little too much understeer,” explained Bruno after the race. “I had a good base set-up now after these laps and my engineers will have a better starting point to work from for next race.

“There was a vibration from the back of the car a lap earlier and then the car suddenly stopped. We'll have to investigate what happened. But I am very happy for the whole team for their incredible hard work to ensure we are in a position to be racing again in Melbourne.”

Karun Chandhok meanwhile apologised to his team for crashing on the second lap, after hitting a bump in the new part of the track. He went head-first into a barrier, ripping the front wing from the car, but thankfully the Indian emerged unhurt from the incident.

“Sorry, this was my fifth lap on this track. I hit a bump in the new part of the circuit, I was not that much experienced in that part of the track as I had driven only 4 timed laps over the weekend,” said Chandhok. “I was pushed on the exit curb, trying to bring the tyres in gently, I did not know that part of the circuit.

“I want to thank my mechanics for accompanying my first laps on this track and the whole team for a great week-end and long sleepless hours. Now let's look forward to start again in Melbourne.”