Mar.5 (GMM) Marussia’s 2012 car made its track debut on Monday, despite having failed to pass all the mandatory FIA crash tests. Since this report was published, news has come in that the car has finally passed the crash test Read report here>>>
But because the action at Silverstone is the team’s ‘filming and promotional’ pre-season running, rather than an official test, it was allowed by the governing body and rival teams.
Designed by former Renault man Pat Symonds, the MR01 – fitted on Monday with demonstration Pirelli tyres – does not feature a ‘step nose’, uniquely in common with technical partner McLaren’s 2012 solution.
“It has been a long and frustrating wait for everyone in the team but we can now get back on track and start working towards the first race of the season in Australia next weekend,” said team boss John Booth.
The car must now pass the missing FIA crash test before Melbourne, and Symonds sounds hopeful.
“The component in question has actually passed an ‘unobserved’ crash test but has been performing inconsistently in the observed tests,” he is quoted by Reuters.
Also under filming day rules, HRT’s 2012 car will be at the Circuit de Catalunya on Monday.