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First Cosworth engines ready to go

Virgin will run Cosworth engines this year, but team principal Alex Tai is yet to announce when its car will be ready to run © Sutton Images

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Cosworth is powering ahead with its return to Formula One announcing that the first batch of engines are ready to ship to its customers.

The engine supplier, which is based in Northampton, has reported that the first batch of CS2010 engines were completed before Christmas and are now on their way to its teams, Williams, Campos, Lotus, US F1 and Virgin Racing, in time for the teams to take part in the first test of the year in Valencia on February 1.

"We're looking forward to seeing them all on track next month since there is still a lot of work to do before the season starts," Cosworth general manager Mark Gallagher said. "After the very busy summer and autumn months when we were putting our program together it has been very rewarding to see the first engines ready for action thanks to the hard work of everyone here at Cosworth and our suppliers."

Although Williams has announced its intentions to run at the first test with Rubens Barrichello at the wheel, Lotus will not hit the track until later in the month. Despite serious financial doubts being raised over the Campos team, it has announced its first car will be ready to run on February 1.

US F1 announced earlier this week that it had been granted dispensation by the FIA to test outside Europe, at the Barber Motorsport Park in Alabama, but team boss Peter Windsor refused to be more specific on timings than saying the inaugural running would be "at the beginning of February".

Richard Branson's Virgin Racing team has yet to announce its intentions, as far as testing is concerned.

A Cosworth engine last powered an F1 car in 2006, but the manufacturer has an impressive history in the sport spanning from 1967. Its statistics include 10 constructors' championships and 13 drivers' titles; as well as powering every winning car in the 1969 and 1973 seasons.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.