Bahrain will be the equivalent of a 'shakedown' for HRT's new and unnamed Formula One car, according to its Indian driver Karun Chandhok.

When the 26-year-old and his fellow rookie team-mate Bruno Senna begin free practice at Sakhir on Friday, it will be the first time the grey Dallara-built cars have ever turned a wheel.

"There will be problems," two time GP2 race winner Chandhok is quoted as predicting by the Indian tabloid Mail Today. "Even the established top teams have problems in the shakedowns and our shakedown will be FP1 on Friday.

"But we have to stay optimistic and battle through the first few races before we start to see some fruitful results," he said.