Jan.26 (GMM) Two candidates have reportedly fallen off the radar as HRT considers the completion of its driver lineup for 2011.

Arguably the most highly-rated driver in the running for the cockpit alongside Narain Karthikeyan this year was Italian Davide Valsecchi, who was comfortably the quickest of the new team rookies at last November's Abu Dhabi test.

But team boss Colin Kolles admitted recently that Valsecchi's sponsorship budget was not yet big enough for the drive, and Turun Sanomat in Finland now reports that he is no longer on the list of candidates.

Another driver no longer in the running, according to veteran Turun Sanomat reporter Heikki Kulta, is 24-year-old Venezuelan Rodolfo Gonzalez.

"In the next few days there will be several announcements," Kolles said in an interview released on Tuesday.

In the same interview, Romanian-born German Kolles seemed to deny reports that HRT's 2011 car is simply last year's car with some modifications.

"As soon as the 2011 car is ready, we will implement it," he said. "The plan is to use the 2011 car at the Bahrain test. The 2011 car will be a completely new car, and will be called F111."

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version