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Marussia delays debut of 2012 car

Marussia was planning to run a 2011 car for Charles Pic in Jerez © Getty Images

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• News:
• Marussia announces late debut of 2012 car
  

• Drivers:
• John Booth

• Teams:
• Manor

Marussia has announced that it will not run its new car until the final pre-season test at Barcelona and will skip the first test in Jerez.

The team was planning to run its 2011 car for new driver Charles Pic in Jerez before launching the new MR01 in time for the second test. However, with advisor Pat Symonds having confirmed that the new car was going to carry little continuity from the previous design, Marussia has hit delays and team principal John Booth said that it would not be worth rushing preparations to meet the original deadline.

"We have taken the decision today that we will not attend the first test in Jerez, taking place from 7-10 February," Booth told Autosport. "We had been looking to take part in that test with the 2011 MVR-02 for the purpose of providing Charles with some valuable running to assist with the preparation for his debut season. This was with a view to introducing the new car, the MR01, at Barcelona two weeks later.

"Unfortunately our programme has slipped and there seems little point in fielding the new car before we can optimise the run plan for it. For that reason we have decided to commence our on-track testing by attending the second test in Barcelona with the MVR-02. We then aim to introduce the MR01 at the third test in Barcelona on 1 March."

Booth admitted that it was not the best solution to only run the car for four days but he hoped it would mean the final test was as productive as possible.

"Whilst this is not ideal, and not the timescale we had intended to work to, we will at least get some important running with the new car ahead of Australia and hopefully gain more constructive track time than we might otherwise have achieved had we rushed the car out for the second test."

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