Virgin Racing risks tumbling to the back of the grid unless it can make serious strides, a frustrated Timo Glock has warned.
An already very vocal figure about the shortcomings of the new MVR02 challenger, the German driver is pinning his hopes on a new Nick Wirth-designed package for the upcoming Turkish Grand Prix, which he believes will need to deliver the team some two seconds a lap in improved time if it wants a hope of remaining off the back row of the grid.
At present, Virgin Racing runs a lonely race just off the rear of the field, unable to run with its fellow sophomores, Team Lotus, in race trim, and presently able to maintain an advantage over Hispania Racing.
“At the beginning I am able to keep up with Lotus but after a few laps I can’t hold them. We are simply two seconds too slow,” Glock told Auto Motor und Sport.
It is believed that the Turkey upgrade will include revisions to the MVR02’s nose, floor, exhausts, rear suspension and wings. Presently, Virgin Racing is the only team on the grid to shirk the use of a wind tunnel when designing its cars, a philosophy that – despite it being an obvious cost-saving measure – is looking increasingly foolhardy.
But Glock was well aware that HRT – which has had scarcely any mileage in its own car – could quickly catch his team unless the outfit could make serious development strides.
“If we don’t go forward, soon HRT will get us,” he forecasted glumly.
[Original image via LAT]
Richard Bailey
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