Virgin Dumps Wirth

[John S]

Ferrari & Williams's not only ones clearing decks, Virgin wants windtunnel with CFD. 
They also want their own proper F1 base, it could be the old Arrows/Super Aguri site at Leafield.

Virgin has parted company with technical director Nick Wirth following its disappointing start to the season. The team had targeted reaching Q2 on a regular basis this year, but has failed to start any higher than the tenth row during the first six races of the season. As a result, Wirth Research is no longer a part of the operation.

Former Renault director of engineering Pat Symonds has overseen the review of Virgin, and is understood to be heading up plans for its 2012 car in his capacity as a consultant.

"The decision has been taken that the team will take greater control of its own destiny," said Marussia Virgin CEO Andy Webb in a statement to AUTOSPORT.

AUTOSPORT understands that the team is well-advanced with plans to establish its own technical base, with the ex-Arrows and Super Aguri facility at Leafield among the facilities it has evaluated.

Virgin is also set to drop its all-CFD development strategy, which was key to it being able to afford to move into F1 in the first place. Now an established team in its second season, it is expected to start a windtunnel testing programme alongside ongoing CFD work.

Extracts from longer piece by Edd Straw, autosport.com, 1st June.

[Jericoke]

An interesting strategy to getting into F1... CFD to get your foot in the door, and gain the experience that would make it possible to understand what's going on in a wind tunnel.

I don't know if that's the BEST one... but Lotus and HRT have windtunnels, and the same results.

We'll see what happens when Virgin grows up to become a 'real' F1 team.

[Scott]

We'll see what happens when Virgin grows up to become a 'real' F1 team.

Or IF they grow up...don't forget Branson is not one to shovel money with no return into anything.