The new Virgin Racing VR-01 has hit the track for it's first flying laps in a brief shakedown at a somewhat damp Silverstone track, with the team's new CFD -designed car making final preparations to join the F1 testing circus next week.
Virgin became the first of the new F1 teams to reveal their car in a shambolic online launch yesterday, and conducted their first shakedown tests at Silverstone's Stowe circuit today.
Team leader Timo Glock took the wheel as the VR-01 to complete a few laps of the track in front of a few hardy, and probably rather wet fans.
Speaking at the track, technical director Nick Wirth grinned that the moment represented the culmination of nearly a year's hard work.
"After 10 challenging months, all the commitment and determination has finally paid off," he smiled, adding that: "Today was all about those tentative first few steps but the programme really gets underway tomorrow with a full day of on-track evaluation for both Timo and Lucas [di Grassi]."
After the test, Glock said that: "It was a fantastic moment for myself and the whole team to see the VR-01 come alive. It's great to be back in a racing car."
Virgin designed the VR-01 completely on computer using CFD software, and the final design has met with general approval for the lines and shape of the car. Whether or not it actually works or not, the team will find out next week when they join in the second pre-season test of the year at the Jerez circuit.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
