Virgin Racing launch VR-01 (Pictures)
Virgin VR-01
Virgin Racing are the first of the new F1 teams to launch their 2010 car.
See below for more pictures and information about the VR-01.
Designer Nick Wirth has created the VR-01 entirely using Computational Fluid Dynamics computer modelling. This is not a new technology for F1 – but relying on it instead of a wind tunnel to create a new car is a novel approach.
Wirth believes CFD is the best way for teams to develop F1 cars under F1′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.
Nick Wirth
The team, originally named Manor Motorsport, are using Cosworth’s CA2010 V8 engines this year.
Team principal John Booth said:
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.
John Booth
He also explained why the car was not ready in time for the test at Valencia this week:
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.
John Booth
Virgin 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 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.
Richard Branson
Virgin VR-01 pictures
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- Virgin VR-01
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- Virgin VR-01
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- Virgin VR-01
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- Virgin VR-01
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- Virgin VR-01
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- Virgin VR-01
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- Virgin VR-01
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- Virgin VR-01
VR-01 dimensions
Length: 5,500mm
Height: 950mm
Width: 1,800mm
Wheelbase: 3,200mm
More VR-01 technical specifications
2010 F1 car launches
- Renault R30 launched (Pictures)
- BMW Sauber C29 launched (Pictures)
- McLaren and Ferrari’s 2010 cars side-by-side (Pictures)
- Compare the new McLaren MP4-25 with last year’s car (Pictures)
- McLaren MP4-25 launch pictures
- 2010 Ferrari F10 and 2009 Ferrari F60 side-by-side (Pictures)
- Ferrari 2010 F1 car pictures
Image (C) Virgin Racing
wdf2 said on 3rd February 2010, 10:53
I like the driver pairing too – especially Glock. But, my god, what a disaster. They don’t even have a single person providing Twitter updates or a TweetPic. There’s no excuse for the lack of photos online . . . somewhere!
Arne said on 3rd February 2010, 10:53
They can create a car by CFD, but they can’t set up a simple live-stream… I hope they did a better job at the car then .
Prisoner Monkeys said on 3rd February 2010, 10:53
Hey, spare a thought: Virgin aren’t the only website having problems. Autosport has gone unresponsive for the past fifteen minutes as well.
Beri said on 3rd February 2010, 10:55
As well as the Dutch part of GPUpdate.net earlier this week.
I see a conspiracy here..
wdf2 said on 3rd February 2010, 10:57
You’re thinking Max is behind it?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 3rd February 2010, 11:01
Thankfully F1 Fanatic’s new server is holding up! Hope none of you are getting the dreaded Error 500s any more…
Beri said on 3rd February 2010, 11:02
So far so good Keith. Havent had that in about a week.
Mouse_Nightshirt said on 3rd February 2010, 11:17
I only started getting them in the last week O.o
Invoke said on 3rd February 2010, 11:04
Just as you posted that Keith, I had an ‘unable to connect to database’ error, probably just a glitch though as I haven’t had one before
Cyclops said on 3rd February 2010, 11:14
I am, sometimes it gets as much as 5 or 6 pushes of the refresh button to get the site working.
Cyclops said on 3rd February 2010, 11:15
Oh, and the “Error establishing a database connection” appears quite often
Lutz said on 3rd February 2010, 13:30
getting that also!
Invoke said on 3rd February 2010, 10:58
Perhaps Virgin Media are throttling them for excessive bandwidth use!
Prisoner Monkeys said on 3rd February 2010, 10:59
Livery is red and black and described as “distinctive”:
http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/sport/4887137.Virgin_Racing_launch_F1_car/
Scribe said on 3rd February 2010, 11:11
Of course its distinctive.
Toyota described they’re livery as “distinctive”
Prisoner Monkeys said on 3rd February 2010, 11:15
Yeah, but this isn’t Virgin describing it.
And in a way, Toyota was distinctive. You could pick them out as they went past. I challenge you to be able to do that between the Mercedes and McLaren, or between the Red Bull and Toro Rosso.
We Want Turbos said on 3rd February 2010, 10:59
They’re not going to post pictures and ruin the big fanfare of the lauch as nobody will watch the launch.
Prisoner Monkeys said on 3rd February 2010, 11:01
Nobody’s watching the launch as it is. And going by the article I linked to above, it’s already over. It’s just the footage that they’re struggling with.
Grace said on 3rd February 2010, 11:01
They have HAD the launch!!
sw6569 said on 3rd February 2010, 11:03
Launch is finished! The pictures are on the website, but no car ones :(
Prisoner Monkeys said on 3rd February 2010, 11:04
Where on the website?
Robbert said on 3rd February 2010, 11:05
No, those pictures are from the team launch in december, but not yet the car launch.
Beri said on 3rd February 2010, 11:05
Those where pictures of the announcement last year december.
sw6569 said on 3rd February 2010, 11:05
whoops, just realised i’m wrong! They are from the launch in december
Tom said on 3rd February 2010, 11:05
why do i have the feeling you’ve gone to the ‘team launch’ – aka, the announcement of the team in Nov/Dec. that’s all i can find on the website
PJA said on 3rd February 2010, 11:06
And yet pictures of the car are probably the only thing most people want to see at the moment.
Prisoner Monkeys said on 3rd February 2010, 11:14
Yeah, but Virgin don’t want them leaking and spoiling the surprise.
We Want Turbos said on 3rd February 2010, 11:05
The the Virgin twiiter page they say they want to get the launch on, it wont be live im presuming they dont want media leeking photos untill after it has been shown
pocket said on 3rd February 2010, 11:06
If an F1 car is launched and no one sees it, does it exist? Or something similar…
Beri said on 3rd February 2010, 11:08
You have got that one from Jon Noble’s Twitter page.
He should sue you for violating his copyright ;-)
pocket said on 3rd February 2010, 11:18
shhhhh! ;)
Flutterfly said on 3rd February 2010, 11:07
Just got in and thought i’d missed it but sounds like I haven’t. Is this the correct website I should be looking at?….http://www.virginracing.com/
Beri said on 3rd February 2010, 11:09
Thats the correct page. Just wait untill the vid and pics are uploaded there.
Peter said on 3rd February 2010, 11:09
yes Autosport went virtual too ;)
Grace said on 3rd February 2010, 11:10
10 more minutes I’ll give them.
I’m starting to stop caring about them anymore….
Dingle Dell said on 3rd February 2010, 11:11
same here… i’ve waited for an hour…
Beri said on 3rd February 2010, 11:12
Like they would care ;-)?
richard said on 3rd February 2010, 11:12
How terrific the launch is will have nothing to do with how fast the car is. McLaren showed that last year. Not a great start I agree but get over it!
Tom said on 3rd February 2010, 11:12
I’m just tired and i want to sleep. i’ve got to go to cricket in the morning. please be swift richard.
Xighor said on 3rd February 2010, 11:40
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81228
Tom said on 3rd February 2010, 11:14
They really should have just joined the rest of them on monday. then any photographer there could have uploaded photos and there would be far fewer frustrated fans. i’m kinda hoping there car is a flop now so next year they’ll use the right resources and get testing earlier!!!
Grace said on 3rd February 2010, 11:18
On a completely different matter, I’ve just noticed Schumacher is using a carbon fibre BLACK crash helmet.
New design on the horizon????
Beri said on 3rd February 2010, 11:20
No, just new types of helmets by Schuberth.
Prisoner Monkeys said on 3rd February 2010, 11:20
No, Massa and Kubica were using them yesterday. It seems to be a new model of helmet from Schuberth, and they’re looking for feedback on it.
Grace said on 3rd February 2010, 11:22
I noticed RK using it yesterday. I didnt even realise he used Schuberth.
Prisoner Monkeys said on 3rd February 2010, 11:26
He doesn’t – but they asked him to test it, anyway. Don’t know why.
Tom said on 3rd February 2010, 11:23
maybe in response to massa hungary?
BasCB said on 3rd February 2010, 11:23
Kubica and Massa had them ass well. Kubica testing some new Bell-helmet type and Schumacher is testing a new type from Schubert.
Ben said on 3rd February 2010, 11:35
Bell have a wicked looking carbon fibre helmet too, they provide it unpainted so you can see the weave and everything. Looks mad. All the Bell F1 drivers use it, but obviously they all paint it and ruin the effect :(