Virgin Make History with VR-01

Despite glitches with the website, Virgin Racing's online launch went ahead this morning giving us the first look at their pioneering new car.

I, like most people, was doubtful when it was announced that one of the new entries for 2010 would be Manor Racing. The small team, based in Sheffield, was short on funds and planned to design their car entirely without the use of a wind tunnel - instead using cheaper but less effective CFD (computational fluid dynamics). However, then Richard Branson (bitten by the F1 bug after sponsoring Brawn last year) came on board; bringing him with him lots of contacts (if not his own money).

Since then things have moved fast; from the signing of Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi as drivers to the team launch in December. Today, the constructor became the first of the new teams to release their new car.

The car looks good - it certainly isn't ugly but it is maybe a little conservative. If this is true I can understand though; there is no point taking too many risks with your first car - a success for this team will be finishing ahead of fellow new boys Campos, USF1 and Lotus. I would say that is kind of resembles the Ferrari; pointy and efficient (with the now standard 'Red Bull humps' on the nose). The team colours are also good if a little similar to the Midland of a couple years ago.

Of course, it is hard to tell how the car will go; as good as theoretical models are there is no substitute for subjecting the aerodynamic parts to airflow and watching how they respond. The team themselves must be extremely anxious ahead of the shakedown at Silverstone tomorrow and testing in Jerez next week.

I am starting to like this team; they have character. Richard Branson has a certain joie de vivre which seems to have been caught by everyone involved. Indeed, the novel way of doing things in this team seems to follow Branson's philosophy for life. I'm not against the other teams necessarily but I'm not sure that they will add anything to the grid (with the exception of Lotus - even if it is Malaysian in this incarnation) the same cannot be said of Virgin. This team has the fun family aspect that was present at Brawn last year and I find that I can't help but wish them well.

P.s. The team is giving you the chance to name Timo and Lucas's cars. Go to www.virginracing.com/cars/name-the-car/ for more details and you could win yourself some prizes too.