New Team Developments

[mario]

Russians buy some Virgin

Connected with this, Virgin Racing have signed a deal with a e-commerce company called QNet http://www.f1technical.net/news/15693 who will sponsor the team in Abu-Dhabi.

Additionally, Wirth has announced that he will be expanding his CFD capabilities quite substantially, with a new 70,000 square foot facility being built in Banbury to house the new facility. When complete (targeted for January 2011), it should be the most powerful CFD set up in Formula 1, and third in the world for total processing power. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88129
Although the new facilities would not be ready in time to help with the initial design work for the VR02, Wirth anticipates that he should be able to use the new facilities to develop the first major upgrade package for the start of the European season.

Wirth has also confirmed that Virgin Racing will continue with the Xtrac transmission system for 2011 (personally I'd be looking elsewhere given Xtrac's poor reliability record), and that they will not be using any form of KERS system. The reason for no KERS is simple - Wirth believes that aerodynamic and mechanical upgrades are worth much more (perhaps 2-3 seconds a lap), compared to the possible two or three tenths that KERS might give them.

Furthermore, a bit more news on the 2011 Lotus car - Gascoyne has confirmed that they will go for a pull rod rear suspension layout, and a new, lightweight composite gearbox casing. http://www.f1technical.net/news/15695

[Mister Fungus]

I thought Virgin used their own gearboxes, at least that's what they stated in a bunch of interviews.

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

I thought Virgin used their own gearboxes, at least that's what they stated in a bunch of interviews.

I'm pretty sure its only transmissions and not gearboxes.

[Faustus]

Russians buy some Virgin

Connected with this, Virgin Racing have signed a deal with a e-commerce company called QNet http://www.f1technical.net/news/15693 who will sponsor the team in Abu-Dhabi.

Additionally, Wirth has announced that he will be expanding his CFD capabilities quite substantially, with a new 70,000 square foot facility being built in Banbury to house the new facility. When complete (targeted for January 2011), it should be the most powerful CFD set up in Formula 1, and third in the world for total processing power. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88129
Although the new facilities would not be ready in time to help with the initial design work for the VR02, Wirth anticipates that he should be able to use the new facilities to develop the first major upgrade package for the start of the European season.

Wirth has also confirmed that Virgin Racing will continue with the Xtrac transmission system for 2011 (personally I'd be looking elsewhere given Xtrac's poor reliability record), and that they will not be using any form of KERS system. The reason for no KERS is simple - Wirth believes that aerodynamic and mechanical upgrades are worth much more (perhaps 2-3 seconds a lap), compared to the possible two or three tenths that KERS might give them.

Furthermore, a bit more news on the 2011 Lotus car - Gascoyne has confirmed that they will go for a pull rod rear suspension layout, and a new, lightweight composite gearbox casing. http://www.f1technical.net/news/15695

No surprise with the Lotus rear suspension. Lotus is buying the complete transmission from Red Bull, so they'll have the same gearbox. The pick-up points for the suspension are machined into the casing, so they'll end up with a rear suspension very similar to Red Bull, if not identical. It'll be the same situation as with McLaren and Force India.

[Faustus]

De La Rosa - Hulkenberg at HRT in 2011 anyone?

It actually makes some sense. Barrichello won't do more than more year, so placing Hulkenberg with HRT for 2011 and then recalling him for 2012 is not such a bad idea.

[mario]

I thought Virgin used their own gearboxes, at least that's what they stated in a bunch of interviews.

I'm pretty sure its only transmissions and not gearboxes.

Virgin Racing produce their own gearbox casing, machined from aluminium, but the internal components are provided by Xtrac. The specification of the VR-01 is available here http://www.f1technical.net/f1db/cars/964
By comparison, both Lotus Racing and HRT use a standard gearbox casing, designed by Xtrac, along with the standard internals.

[Jordan192]

Since when has having a large stake of the team owned by a small sportscar company with no significant sales or noticeable revenue stream been "Securing the Future of the Team"?

[Ferrim]

I didn't see that one about the black and gold livery coming...

It means Fernandes refuses to give up on the Lotus name, and that can only be a good thing.

[AndreaModa]

Russians buy some Virgin

Connected with this, Virgin Racing have signed a deal with a e-commerce company called QNet http://www.f1technical.net/news/15693 who will sponsor the team in Abu-Dhabi.

Additionally, Wirth has announced that he will be expanding his CFD capabilities quite substantially, with a new 70,000 square foot facility being built in Banbury to house the new facility. When complete (targeted for January 2011), it should be the most powerful CFD set up in Formula 1, and third in the world for total processing power. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88129
Although the new facilities would not be ready in time to help with the initial design work for the VR02, Wirth anticipates that he should be able to use the new facilities to develop the first major upgrade package for the start of the European season.

Wirth has also confirmed that Virgin Racing will continue with the Xtrac transmission system for 2011 (personally I'd be looking elsewhere given Xtrac's poor reliability record), and that they will not be using any form of KERS system. The reason for no KERS is simple - Wirth believes that aerodynamic and mechanical upgrades are worth much more (perhaps 2-3 seconds a lap), compared to the possible two or three tenths that KERS might give them.

Quite a good news day for Virgin!

The 70,000 sq. ft. building is the old Ascari sportscar factory for those interested. They've been moving into it since late August and the Wirth Research logos have been on the front of the building for some time now. It's literally only round the corner from where my dad still works too! Good times!

Lotus' new livery annoucement also confirms that the name deal is all a war of words in my opinion and that Proton are highly unlikely to win this court case. So if Proton loose the court case then I highly doubt that Renault would take sponsorship from them and so the whole 'Reanult being renamed Lotus' issue will be non-existant. Good on Tony Fernandes I say!

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

HRT to announce Toyota deal 'imminently'.

[dr-baker]

HRT to announce Toyota deal 'imminently'.

I don't think so.

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

HRT to announce Toyota deal 'imminently'.

I don't think so.

Damnit.

[CarlosFerreira]

HRT to announce Toyota deal 'imminently'.

So. poor sentence building coupled to the fact the deal has since been called off for lack of payment - well done, Yahoo!.

[mario]

HRT to announce Toyota deal 'imminently'.

I don't think so.

So, it looks as if those questioning how on earth HRT could pay for such a deal is right:

"TMG regrets that HRT has not met its contractual payment obligations and will pursue all available options to reach a satisfactory conclusion to this matter."

which suggests that the finances of HRT might not be as secure as some were suggesting.

[dr-baker]

HRT to announce Toyota deal 'imminently'.

I don't think so.

So, it looks as if those questioning how on earth HRT could pay for such a deal is right:

"TMG regrets that HRT has not met its contractual payment obligations and will pursue all available options to reach a satisfactory conclusion to this matter."

which suggests that the finances of HRT might not be as secure as some were suggesting.

Erm, which included me?! But I only link to stories on Autosport.com (because it's one of the few motorsport news websites I trust).