12 – Virgin Racing

Stats

• Team Principal: Alex Tai
• Factory: Dinnington, UK
• Website: virginracing.com
• Drivers: Timo Glock, Lucas di Grassi
• F1 Debut: Bahrain 2010
• Championships: 0

Full WCC Results

• 2010 -

2010 Preview

From the F1 Digest 2010 Season Preview:

One of the brand new teams for 2010, Virgin Racing have certainly made an impact on the sport already. From posting some fabulous videos, to issuing challenges to rival Lotus, Virgin are really throwing themselves into this Formula One business. They were the first new team to launch their brand new car – the VR-01 – and more importantly, they have decided to design solely using CFD. No wind tunnels involved at all. This is a surprising move, and explains why when the car was unveiled, it looked completely different to anything we had seen so far. The black and red livery is nice, a refreshing change from the many white paint jobs on the grid at the moment, and it hides a multitude of fresh ideas. Many people, upon first glance, suggested the VR-01 looked like an Indy car, and the supremely sharp and high nose does make it very conspicuous. The car also boasts really small sidepods, and a curvy front wing. Actually, the front wing didn’t get off to a great start in winter testing, as Timo Glock took to the track in Jerez, and the wing promptly fell off. A noticeable lack of spare parts meant the team had to delay some more of their running, and they have been held up by various other niggles through the fortnight of testing we’ve seen so far.

Their two drivers, di Grassi and Glock, have both managed to get a handful of laps under their belts, but both have spent frustrating hours waiting in the garage. The pair appear to be a great lineup, though. Enthusiastic, young, ready to race, and they get on well. Virgin’s rivalry with fellow new team Lotus is going to be fascinating to watch – not least because whichever team boss loses is going to end up wearing an air stewardess outfit. I’m not sure I want to see either of them in such garb, but even without that disturbing image to think about, the two new teams that have cars and are ready to get the season going have really impressed me, and I can’t wait to see them compete with each other throughout the season.