Virgin Racing are the first of the new Formula One teams to launch their 2010 car, although its original plan to reveal the new VR-01 online was delayed by technical problems.
The VR-01 has been created entirely using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) rather than using the traditional method of a windtunnel.
Designer Nick Wirth believes CFD is the best way for teams to develop Formula One cars under the sport’s new resource 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.
“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.”
Richard Branson’s ambitions project to set-up a new racing team was officially launched in December, when Lucas di Grassi and Timo Glock were announced as Virgin Racing’s race drivers.
A shakedown of the new car will take place on Thursday and Friday at Silverstone followed by a proper testing session at Jerez, where it will become the first of the new entrants to test alongside the established squads. Let see how the CFD created car will do when compared to the windtunnel designed versions.
News articles on the new VR-01 from Virgin Racing. See the links:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81228
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8495435.stm
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2010/02/03/virgin-racing-launch-vr-01/
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10395.html
Virgin Racing team principal John Booth says he is thrilled that the squad’s new VR-01 will be ready to test a week earlier than originally planned.
The car was revealed on the team’s website this morning and will join next week’s group test at Jerez after a shakedown at Silverstone tomorrow and Friday.
“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,” said Booth.
“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.”
The Virgin car has been designed and constructed by Nick Wirth’s Wirth Research firm, but will be operated from Booth’s Yorkshire premises. The team boss said the collaboration between the two organisations had been extremely smooth so far.
“I have always had the utmost confidence in Nick to design a good race car, just as he has the faith in the race team to make a good job of operating it,” Booth said.
“Having worked closely with the technical team over the past 10 months, I know that the VR-01 is the product of a very intensive and thorough design and development process and my excitement at seeing our first race car make its track debut later this week is shared by every single person involved with Virgin Racing.
“I would like to congratulate our new race team – a great bunch of guys working together for the very first time in the pressure-cooker environment of a demanding car build schedule.
“Logistically it hasn’t been easy, since the initial build of the two race cars is taking place in Bicester, rather than our operational base in Dinnington. Their commitment and professionalism has been exemplary and they have set their own very high bar in terms of trackside performance this season.
“Finally, 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.”
Source: Autosport.com
Virgin Group chairman Richard Branson says his new Formula 1 team should already be incredibly proud of its achievements even before its first car hits the track.
The Virgin-Cosworth VR-01 was revealed on the team’s website this morning. It has been designed by Wirth Research using computational fluid dynamics rather than the more traditional windtunnel method, and will be run by a new arm of John Booth’s Manor team with title backing from Virgin.
After a shakedown at Silverstone, the car will join next week’s group test at Jerez – where Virgin will become the first of the new-for-2010 teams to run its car alongside its established rivals.
“What a car! Nick and his design team have done an incredible job and so today they deserve all of the spotlight,” said Branson.
“It’s been fantastic to be part of this journey almost from the very beginning and to see a great engineering mind at work. 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.”
Although Branson admitted that Virgin Racing was an unknown quantity at present, he is confident the team will prove to be a major contender given time.
“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,” he said.
“For now though I’m looking forward to seeing the VR-01 on -track in testing in the coming weeks as we prepare for Virgin Racing’s very first grand prix.”
Source: Autosport.com
Well I love the black and red for a start. Soooo much better than Virgins last sponsored car! Featuring the very strange and new CFD design system.
Of course Branson’s new team, wont have anything like the team spirit and incredible ‘rise from the grave’ as his last team, but one thing that remains the same as ever. It’s a very rare thing that something fails that Richard Branson touches, well aprt from silly big balloons!
ONe thing that worries me is that Cossy engine. Yeah it’s cheap and allowed more updates than the works engines, but apart from it possibly being a strong unit, it’s heavier and in a car with race worths of fuel to contend with, weight saving is more crucial than ever