Monday 30 November 2009

Manor team entered under Virgin title

Richard Branson's Virgin organisation is set to have its own Formula 1 team next year, as the FIA's latest 2010 entry list revealed that Manor GP would run under the Virgin Racing title.


The paddock rumour mill has long hinted that Virgin would be Manor's title backer.


According to the entry list, the team will be known as Virgin Racing, with its cars entered as Virgin-Cosworths.


The Virgin brand has been linked with an F1 entry for many years, and was mooted as a potential buyer when Honda put its F1 operation up for sale last winter.



Ultimately Branson's company was merely a sponsor of what became the Brawn team, and despite initial suggestions that this was a precursor to a bigger involvement, it became clear during the summer that Virgin was heading for a major role in the Manor project instead.


Manor has its roots in the highly successful Formula 3 team run by Englishman John Booth, and will run out of premises in Yorkshire.


Its cars will be provided by Wirth Research, the company formed by sometime Simtek and Benetton designer Nick Wirth, who was also responsible for the Acura sportscars that have raced in America in recent years.


Former Toyota driver Timo Glock has already committed to Virgin, with Renault test driver Lucas di Grassi linked to the second seat.

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