JULY 6, 2011

Virgin to benefit from McLaren deal

Marussia Virgin Racing has agreed a technical partnership with McLaren, which will result in some of the Woking team's staff being embedded in the Virgin operation. Virgin has also bought the Wirth Racing Technology premises.

Virgin has not made the progress it hoped for in 2011, using exclusively CFD design tools under the guidance of former technical director Nick Wirth, who split with the team last month.

Under the new agreement, Virgin will have access to the McLaren wind tunnel, driver simulator, chassis testing rigs and also the team's CAD/CAM facilities. The deal does not, however, encompass drive train provision like Force India's McLaren arrangement. Marussia Virgin will continue to use Cosworth engines.

Chief executive officer Andy Webb said: "We can benefit enormously from McLaren's far-reaching techniques and capabilities and I have no doubt that this partnership will see us take the technical steps necessary to make a significant leap forwards."

He added: "Our acquisition of the WRT Formula One business ensures continuity of technical infrastructure for the period ahead, which means that the transition to working with our new technical partner can begin immediately and is not frustrated by logistical considerations.

"Our three-centre operation has served us well in our formative years but our ambitions for the future will rely on the full might of the team coming together under one roof.

"With Pat Symonds' continued involvement in the technical programme, we are confident that we have made all the right moves towards a successful future for Marussia Virgin Racing."