Toro Rosso unveils its new STR3 and goes into the wall!

Scuderia Toro Rosso unveiled its new car, the STR3, for the first time during testing in Barcelona this Wednesday.

The new car, which closely resembles the Red Bull Racing RB4, features similar characteristics in terms of the front wing, among other things.

Sébastien Bourdais tested the car throughout the day before handing over to his teammate Sebastian Vettel tomorrow. Unfortunately, during the afternoon sessions, the Frenchman was involved in a major accident, which forced the team to cut the session short.

Bourdais was fortunate to escape unscathed from this accident. He left the track at turn 9 before hitting the safety barriers on the left side of the car.

The damage to the STR3 is significant, and Sebastian Vettel will not be able to experience the sensations of this new car tomorrow, as planned.

The STR3 has already been tested on track in a private setting, at the Vairano circuit in Italy last month. Technical director Giorgio Ascanelli stated during the Australian Grand Prix that he hoped the new car would race for the first time in Turkey.

Toro Rosso had a promising start to the 2008 season with the previous year’s car slightly modified, as the small Scuderia scored two points in the first race of the season in Melbourne. Bourdais, who is responsible for these two points, could have finished fourth but was affected by mechanical problems on the penultimate lap.