Marussia are confident that their 2013 machine is on schedule, according to team principal Graeme Lowdon.
The team previously struggled to get their machinery ready for the
round of testing before the season starts. In 2012 they debuted the
MR-01 at the final pre-season test in Barcelona, using the 2011 car for
the first test and missing out on the second one.
This was thanks to the car failing its mandatory crash tests. However Graeme Lowdon is confident that the team can get their 2013 car to the first test at Jerez on February 5th. “It’s on target at the moment, and in fact some bits are ahead, we’ve got a high degree of confidence. We’ve got a totally different structure now.” Lowdon told Autosport
“This will be our first car that’s truly our car in terms of the new people involved. The car we’ve just finished with was a full CFD car when we hit the first race.”
The Banbury based team lost 10th in the constructors to Caterham at the final round of the season. That coveted 10th spot would have meant a big financial boost for the team, but they are still pushing.
Lowdon still believes they can be a top 10 team despite the loss of the financial boost. “I definitely think this is a top 10 team. We didn’t have a top 10 car, and that’s something that takes time and money,” he said.
“Look at Brazil, Timo’s fastest stop was faster than all the stops McLaren did. People don’t notice that kind of thing, but we’ve now got a very, very good team. A really good structure, very tight-knit and a very low cost base.
“If we have a car that’s capable of quicker lap times, which is the other piece of the jigsaw – and everything I’ve seen is that next year’s car is going to be a really good car – then you can’t write this team off.
“I’m perfectly happy to call this team a top 10 team even if the results don’t show it. I’m looking forward to Melbourne.”
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| (c) Octane Photographic |
This was thanks to the car failing its mandatory crash tests. However Graeme Lowdon is confident that the team can get their 2013 car to the first test at Jerez on February 5th. “It’s on target at the moment, and in fact some bits are ahead, we’ve got a high degree of confidence. We’ve got a totally different structure now.” Lowdon told Autosport
“This will be our first car that’s truly our car in terms of the new people involved. The car we’ve just finished with was a full CFD car when we hit the first race.”
The Banbury based team lost 10th in the constructors to Caterham at the final round of the season. That coveted 10th spot would have meant a big financial boost for the team, but they are still pushing.
Lowdon still believes they can be a top 10 team despite the loss of the financial boost. “I definitely think this is a top 10 team. We didn’t have a top 10 car, and that’s something that takes time and money,” he said.
“Look at Brazil, Timo’s fastest stop was faster than all the stops McLaren did. People don’t notice that kind of thing, but we’ve now got a very, very good team. A really good structure, very tight-knit and a very low cost base.
“If we have a car that’s capable of quicker lap times, which is the other piece of the jigsaw – and everything I’ve seen is that next year’s car is going to be a really good car – then you can’t write this team off.
“I’m perfectly happy to call this team a top 10 team even if the results don’t show it. I’m looking forward to Melbourne.”
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