Brawn GP car makes track debut

The newly renamed Brawn GP team revealed its long-awaited 2009 car during a shakedown test at Silverstone on Friday.
On the same day that Honda finally confirmed that it had sold its Brackley-based F1 operation to existing team principal Ross Brawn to save the squad from closure, its latest car – now to be called the BGP 001 – appeared on track for the first time fitted with new Mercedes-Benz engine.
Check out the first pictures here
Jenson Button, whose career along with that of returning team-mate Rubens Barrichello have been saved by the Brawn buyout, was behind the wheel for his first F1 track appearance since last November.
The car was painted in Brawn GP’s official colours of white, black and florescent yellow, with it featuring a low, drooping front nose and heavily sculptured rear-end.

The ex-Honda Racing team has continued to work on the first car built under Brawn’s technical leadership throughout the uncertain period since its Japanese owner put it up for sale last December.
Before Honda's bombshell withdrawal, Brawn had expressed confidence that its 2009 challenger had the potential to be a "front-runner" after opting to write off much of last season to focus on ensuring it was ready to take advantage of Formula 1's technical overhaul.
It is now uncertain how competitive the BGP 001 could be given the limited track time it will have between now and the Australian Grand Prix on March 29, especially with the team having had to incorporate a Mercedes engine after it was initially designed around Honda's V8.
Both new owner Brawn and Barrichello were on hand in the garage at Silverstone on Friday as the team began its uphill struggle to get ready for Melbourne.
It will rejoin the group testing action at Barcelona from Monday before finalising its track preparations at Jerez the following week.