The Marussia MR01 has not yet passed all its crash tests
If Marussia has unveiled its new car, the MR01, it has not yet completed all the crash tests required by the FIA.
Although it completed its first laps today at Silverstone with Timo Glock at the wheel, the new Marussia MR01 is not yet certain to be on the starting grid in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix, as it has not yet retaken the crash test it failed in its previous attempt. The element in question passed a crash test without observation, but failed during the tests with observation. The failure was only marginal, but nevertheless, we must completely eradicate this margin and we are taking the time available to ensure we have the most robust solution in place [before Melbourne], said Pat Symonds, technical consultant for the Anglo-Russian team, to the agency Reuters, without giving further details on the incriminated element.
If passing the 18 crash tests imposed by the FIA is mandatory to participate in the Grand Prix, in 2012, the FIA decided to extend this requirement to official tests, which forced the Marussia team – like HRT before them – to cancel the launch of their car and their participation in the last winter tests, held last week in Barcelona. However, this rule does not apply to promotional days or advertising shoots, which allowed Marussia to schedule two promotional days to give their drivers a preview of the MR01 before the Australian Grand Prix.
Less than two weeks before the start of the 2012 season, Marussia is the only team that has not successfully completed the mandatory crash tests and must now race against time.
