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Suspension issue curtails Marussia's test

ESPNF1 Staff
February 24, 2012 « Marussia teams up with Carlin in GP2 | Ferrari has found the right direction - Massa »
Marussia had been running its 2011 car to get experience for Charles Pic and practise for the team © Sutton Images
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Marussia had its test programme cut short after a suspension problem confined Charles Pic to the garage for the whole of Friday.

Pic was meant to be in the car to complete a race simulation as he prepares for his first season in Formula One, but the team didn't leave the garage at the start of the day after finding a damaged suspension component on the right rear corner of the car. Although there was a spare part available, the cause was unknown so the team remained in the garage while proof-testing was carried out back at its UK headquarters.

With conclusive results not being possible before the end of the day the team has decided to end its running early and will switch focus to the launch of its new car, with team principal John Booth admitting there was not a lot more to be gained by running the MVR02.

"It's a real shame that after three very positive days with the car we've encountered this issue on the final day," Booth said. "We can't be too downhearted though, having achieved over 1500kms of near faultless running from a car that has served us so well from a reliability perspective. Aside from further mileage for Charles there was nothing more to be gained from our programme to aid our development and we now switch focus to the 2012 car, which we are all looking forward to rolling-out next week."

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