Richard Branson’s Virgin Group has invested in the new Manor Formula 1 team, which will compete in the 2010 F1 World Championship.
Manor is one of the top teams in the hotly competitive Formula 3 Euroseries. Lewis Hamilton is a former Manor team driver.
Virgin Racing unveiled its new logo and showed off its drivers in public at a launch in Notting Hill, London on Tuesday.
The has confirmed that former Renault test driver Lucas di Grassi is to race alongside Timo Glock at the team next year.
Portuguese pay-driver Alvaro Parente, previously linked with Campos, was announced as the reserve driver, and 20-year-old Brazilian GP2 driver Luiz Razia is a test driver.
Virgin Racing said it would operate with a mere 40-million pounds sterling budget, with Virgin Galactic's Alex Tai as team principal and Manor’s John Booth as team sporting director.
Virgin Racing directors have promised to bring some innovative approaches into F1 next year.
The Cosworth-powered VR-01 car is on schedule to run for the first time in February. It has already passed most of the mandatory FIA crash tests, Virgin revealed.
The car has been designed by Nick Wirth’s company, Wirth Research, which has already produced the class-winning American Le Mans Series Acura LMP1 and LMP2 prototypes.
Wirth began his career in F1 back with Team Benetton before he got involved with the Simtek team in the early ‘90s.
photo:Wirth Research
Manor is one of the top teams in the hotly competitive Formula 3 Euroseries. Lewis Hamilton is a former Manor team driver.
Virgin Racing unveiled its new logo and showed off its drivers in public at a launch in Notting Hill, London on Tuesday.
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| Timo Glock, Richard Branson and Lucas di Grassi. |
The has confirmed that former Renault test driver Lucas di Grassi is to race alongside Timo Glock at the team next year.
Portuguese pay-driver Alvaro Parente, previously linked with Campos, was announced as the reserve driver, and 20-year-old Brazilian GP2 driver Luiz Razia is a test driver.
Virgin Racing said it would operate with a mere 40-million pounds sterling budget, with Virgin Galactic's Alex Tai as team principal and Manor’s John Booth as team sporting director.
Virgin Racing directors have promised to bring some innovative approaches into F1 next year.
The Cosworth-powered VR-01 car is on schedule to run for the first time in February. It has already passed most of the mandatory FIA crash tests, Virgin revealed.
The car has been designed by Nick Wirth’s company, Wirth Research, which has already produced the class-winning American Le Mans Series Acura LMP1 and LMP2 prototypes.
Wirth began his career in F1 back with Team Benetton before he got involved with the Simtek team in the early ‘90s.
photo:Wirth Research