Liuzzi joins Hispania; Vettel sets pace for Red Bull

Mar 9, 2011, 16:50 GMT

Barcelona - Vitantonio Liuzzi was named Wednesday as Hispania Racing Team's second driver to fill the last remaining seat on the Formula 1 grid for the new season.

The 29-year-old Italian, who was dropped by Force India, will partner India's Narain Karthikeyan at HRT.

'I am really happy to have signed this agreement,' said Liuzzi.

'I never lost hope to be in Formula One 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.'

World champion Sebastian Vettel meanwhile underlined Wednesday Red Bull's speed by setting the fastest time on day two of the final pre-season testing in Barcelona.

Vettel posted a fastest lap time of one minute 21.865 seconds, beating team-mate Mark Webber's fastest time on the Circuit de Catalunya Tuesday by more than half a second.

Sebastien Buemi in a Toro Rosso was second fastest, 0.531 seconds slower, ahead of Vitaly Petrov in a Renault.

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton was fourth but just over a second behind Vettel, with Ferrari's Felipe Massa almost a further half a second back in fifth place.

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