- Manor
Manor confirms it will race in Australia
The Manor Marussia F1 team has confirmed it will take part in the Australian Grand Prix after naming Stephen Fitzpatrick as the man behind its financial revival.
Since exiting administration on February 19, Manor - the team formally known as Marussia and racing under the same entry - has been in a race against time to make the grid in Melbourne on March 15. New investment comes from Fitzpatrick, the owner of British-based energy provider Ovo Energy, who is a lifelong F1 fan. The team confirmed on Wednesday (March 4) that it would meet its deadline of airfreighting its cars to Australia on March 6, but has yet to pass its final crash tests.
Graeme Lowdon remains at the team as president and sporting director while former Sainsbury's CEO Justin King arrives as the team's interim chairman. John Booth will continue as team principal.
"I want to thank all of the teams, the FIA, Formula One Management, our suppliers and staff and of course all of the fans for the support we've received over the past six months," Lowdon said. "It has been a challenging period for all of us but we've come through it and now we just want to go racing again.
"With formidable new business leadership in Stephen Fitzpatrick and the board presence of Justin King we are now in a great place ahead of the new season. This is a fantastic and very rewarding moment for all those involved with the team."
Fitzpatrick added: "We've all worked incredibly hard to get the car ready for Melbourne and the season ahead. Our fans have given the team amazing support for many years and we want to restore Manor to the very best of racing in the future. I have a lifelong passion for Formula One and can't wait for the season ahead, with Manor and the team."
Last week Manor was included on the FIA's entry list for the 2015 championship on the condition its entry fully complies with all 2015 regulations, necessitating a redesigned nose and more head protection for the driver than in 2014. The team has confirmed that the cars heading to Australia comply with the necessary regulations, although the final crash tests will take place in the coming days. A new 2015 car will be introduced "later in the season" based on the designs the team was working on last year. Will Stevens will line up in the cockpit of one of the cars but his team-mate has yet to be announced.
The news means F1 will have a 20-car grid for the season opener after an uncertain winter in which Marussia and Caterham entered administration and other small teams admitted to financial difficulties.
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