Virgin: MVR-02 is faster and better
Virgin Racing unveiled their 2011 challenger, the MVR-02, at the BBC Television Centre in London, promising a vast improvement on last year.
Virgin Racing, backed by Russian sportscar firm Marussia Motor, took the covers off their new challenger, which features a slightly different look to many of their rivals' cars.
Unlike its rivals, the MVR-02's nose is lower while the car does not include the KERS power-boost system. However, it does have a blown-diffuser exhaust.
Virgin Racing opted to stick with the unique all-computational fluid dynamics (CFD) design approach for the MVR-02 with technical director Nick Wirth confident of a huge step forward in performance.
"Since the middle of year we worked on process, we calibrated how fast we had to improve and what did we have to work on," Wirth said.
"We have done a huge amount of development of physics and what we are doing to catch up with everyone.
"The back of car is heavily regulated from last year, and we managed to take this car and not only catch up where we were, but go above it in terms of aero efficiency - in every single way this car is faster and better than last year."
Wirth backed the decision to stick with CFD, adamant that it was not the cause of Virgin's problems last season.
"Last year that [CFD] side of the whole equation worked very well. We hit the numbers we thought we were going to do, which were a logical progression from our Championship-winning sportscar programme.
"What caught us out, and other new teams to some extent, was reliability with hydraulics and gearbox, so that has been a focus for 2011.
"We have a dual track approach, apply what we are good at in aero to the gearbox - so more analysis and development on the oil system in the gearbox than we did in sportscars.
"We ran the new hydraulics of new car in Abu Dhabi and in testing. We are just much better prepared for this season."
Team boss John Booth added: "The MVR-02 is a clear step forward in every area and a credit to all the hard work that has gone into our car development programme over the past 12 months.
"We are delighted to be working with our engine supplier Cosworth for a second season of collaboration.
"Despite the freeze on engine development they have been working hard on reliability and performance optimisation over the winter and we fully expect a continuation of the success they enjoyed in their return to the sport in 2010.
"The sport has the added challenge of a new tyre supplier in Pirelli but we have made good progress with tailoring our mechanical package to suit the new Pzero tyres in the group tests in Abu Dhabi at the end of 2010 and in Valencia last week.
"Generally, we have every reason to believe that 2011 will be a very exciting and positive experience for our team."
Virgin, who will have Timo Glock and Jerome D'Ambrosio as their drivers for this year's campaign, finished last in the 2010 Constructors' Championship.
Credit: PlanetF1.com (www.planetf1.com)
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