NEWS // VIRGIN RACING'S VR-01 UNVEILED

Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Racing has just launched their 2010 Formula One entry, the VR-01. The first of the new teams to unveil their 2010 car, Virgin Racing's VR-01 was designed by Nick Wirth using only Computational Fluid Dynamics computer modeling. This is not new technology, however relying on it, as opposed to a wind tunnel, is certainly a different approach... [read more]

Wirth believes CFD is the best way to develop a car given Formula One's current design and manufacturing restrictions: "Today is a very proud day for everyone involved with Virgin Racing, however on this occasion, where the car is the star, I want to pay tribute to all the amazing people at Wirth Research who deserve so much of the credit for the VR-01. Putting together an F1 team, assembling an engineering group and designing a new car from scratch is an epic task in the timeframe we have been working to."

Wirth went on to say, "I have been fortunate to have worked with the very best designers in F1 and I am well aware of exactly what it takes to be successful in this sport. When you see what the existing teams have achieved using the conventional but proven design approach, it is unsurprising that there is a great deal of scepticism about our all-CFD approach. But we are competing in a sport that is undergoing significant change having come face to face with today’s harsh economic realities. Under resource restriction, convention will become too costly and necessity really will be the mother of invention. I have absolute belief in the digital design process and the opportunity to put the all-CFD approach to the test at the highest level – to demonstrate that this could be the way for the future of F1 – is very, very exciting."

The team, which was originally called Manor Motorsport, will use Cosworth’s CA2010 V8 engines for the 2010 season.

Tim Booth, Virgin Racing team principal had this to say, "Not only do we have a great bunch of people at Virgin Racing, we also have a great-looking car. We are delighted with our fantastic new livery which provides a fitting integration of our racing brand with our important commercial partnerships. All in all, we have a lot to look forward to as we progress towards our racing debut in Bahrain next month."

Booth went on to say, "The first stage in our on-track evaluation programme is our two-day shakedown at Silverstone on Thursday and Friday this week, where we will conduct systematic testing and confidence-building of all car parts and on-car systems. It was always intended that we would miss the first all-team test in Valencia this week and very early on we targeted the second Jerez test in two weeks’ time for our public testing debut. It is a testament to our methodical approach and the sheer hard work of the team that we are heading to Spain a week earlier than planned to take part in the first Jerez test next week."

Virgin Racing's chairman, Sir Richard Branson, added: "I’m sure we will be measured by how fast the car is on the track in Jerez next week, but I hope that doesn’t overshadow the far bigger achievement of pulling an entire racing team together and taking a brave step that defies convention. In many ways this is an exploration, but given the absolute self-belief we have seen, I can’t help but feel very excited about what we can go on to achieve in the years ahead."

For a look at all of the 2010 Formula One cars unveiled thus far, click here

Images and Info: F1Fanatic
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey