It's possible the 2012 HRT car won't be ready ahead of the season opener. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

HRT Hopes To Test New Car Before Melbourne: New team boss Luis Perez Sala has admitted HRT might struggle to get its 2012 ready for preseason testing. With a change of ownership during 2011, the Spanish team has now split with boss Colin Kolles and installed former Minardi driver Sala as principal. In the background, HRT is also reorganizing its scattered headquarters and Sala admitted that it will be a tough winter for the former Hispania team. "Inevitably, we will be delayed by this reorganization," he told Radio Marca. "Additionally, the FIA now requires us to pass the crash tests before we can test, which sets the bar even higher. I hope it is all done in late January and we make the preseason, but if it gets difficult then at least I hope we make the shakedown before Melbourne."

Alonso Announces Split With Singer Wife: Fernando Alonso and his wife Raquel del Rosario have announced they are splitting. Then a Renault driver and reigning back-to-back World Champion, Spaniard Alonso married del Rosario — lead singer for the Spanish rock band El Sueno de Morfeo — in 2006. Earlier this year, 30-year-old Alonso — who now drives for Ferrari — moved from Switzerland to return to his native Asturias. "We are separating from marriage, but never as friends," a joint statement issued by the couple said. "We ask that the media respects our personal lives which, as you know, we have always been keen to protect."

Berger's Nephew On Track For F1 Future: Gerhard Berger's nephew is speeding down the road to follow his famous uncle into Formula One. Two decades ago, 10-time winner Berger shared the McLaren garage with Ayrton Senna, whose own nephew Bruno went on to race in F1 with HRT and Lotus/Renault. Now, 17-year-old Lucas Auer — the son of former BMW motor sport director and Toro Rosso co-owner Berger's sister Claudia — is getting serious about his single seater racing. This year, he raced in the JK Racing Asia Series and was recently crowned champion. "It's really important for my future," he said of the title. "I had to win this season and now I can see what I will do in the future." Last week, according to motorline.cc, the young Austrian tested a F3 Euroseries car at Valencia, with 52-year-old Berger looking on.