Virgin buys Wirth, joins Mclaren for technical partnership

[350matt]

however there have been no reliablity issues with the gearbox or hydraulics this year, so why not stick with the package they have?

Williams don't seem to have any issues with the engine and from all drivers reports it compares very favourably with the mercedes and eclipses the Renault - on power at least and you can bet it's a d@mn sight cheaper than both

[Giblet]

Now they have entered into a technical partnership just like Force India, with Mclaren. They now have access to rigs, wind tunnel, fitness, etc, and some Mclaren employees have been assigned to them.

Also, they have bought up WRT.

So now HRT need to step up or get left behind.

http://www.f1technical.net/news/16445

[Tozza Mazza]

Now they have entered into a technical partnership just like Force India, with Mclaren. They now have access to rigs, wind tunnel, fitness, etc, and some Mclaren employees have been assigned to them.

Also, they have bought up WRT.

So now HRT need to step up or get left behind.

http://www.f1technical.net/news/16445

And HRT may, as they've just been bought. The back of the grid may have just got very interesting

[marcush.]

Iinteresting statements there:
We have moved to geteverything under one roof.....Did 'I get something wrong here?Virgin has bought Wirt Racing technologies to be able to produce parts ? so this is the same as it was before only that Nick wirth is no more a board member.They have a technical partnership with Mclaren now -substituting Wirth Research ....but retaining the Cosworth engine ..So in my book they have at the very least made it 4 roofs now ,not 1?

[Giblet]

i should have mentioned, they are sticking with Cosworth, not going to Mercedes like FI.

It is exciting, look how quickly Force India was sorted and found and played to its strengths. I hate seeing any team languishing.

It shows that the Marussia folks seem to understand what they bought and what they ned.

[marcush.]

Interesting concept from Mclaren side to retain their workforce under the RRA... are those people reporting to the main team as well .. I cannot believe their is no massive information flow from FI to Mclaren the guys know eeach other and possibly work in the same office...It´s really win win for MCL

[Giblet]

Iinteresting statements there:
We have moved to geteverything under one roof.....Did 'I get something wrong here?Virgin has bought Wirt Racing technologies to be able to produce parts ? so this is the same as it was before only that Nick wirth is no more a board member.They have a technical partnership with Mclaren now -substituting Wirth Research ....but retaining the Cosworth engine ..So in my book they have at the very least made it 4 roofs now ,not 1?

I read that they bought WRT to maintain the infrastructure. I don't think they have lost all hope in the people in WRT, as they have a proven track record, it just appears that their direction was questioned, and the fact that words "Wind Tunnel" were bandied around in the Technical Partnership details, it looks like they are at least partially dropping the CFD only idea.

[munudeges]

I wonder if Virgin will go Mercedes in the not-too-distant future? Interesting. It doesn't look to be the tie-up that Force India have with the drivetrain and various other technical bits and pieces, but I would be surprised if it didn't head that way.

Nice to see Wirthless got a nice pay-off for his trouble.

As for HRT, with Ricciardo there now I would expect to see some kind of Red Bull/Renault tie-up at some point.

[wesley123]

So is WRT Wirth Research or am I wrong here? Quite ironic that would be

EDIT: So they did, but what does that mean for the WR Le Mans HPD program?

[Richard]

What Richard Branson is getting out of this is difficult to fathom, is he a party-animal who simply enjoys the hospitality suits?

There must surely be less xpensive and embarassing ways to get laid?

Simples - The potential for Virgin to use this as a promotional vehicle could the same as Red Bull.

The drawback is that Mateschitz built up RB involvement over a long time including junior series & driver development programmes, does Branson have the patience for that?

However, I'm expecting Virgin Racing will be more like Jordon. Big personality, lots of noise, then move on. It's the quiet deliberating types that are in it for the long haul, and despite the razzmatazz of the RB brand, Mateschitz stays clear of the limelight.

[TzeiTzei]

Not the whole Wirth Research. WRT was the part of Wirth Research that worked on the F1 project. They need the factory and the staff aswell to keep things running smoothly.

Anyway, a positive sign for the team's future.

[PlatinumZealot]

So is WRT Wirth Research or am I wrong here? Quite ironic that would be

EDIT: So they did, but what does that mean for the WR Le Mans HPD program?

Nothing really. As Virgin uses Mclaren, so will the HPD program use WRT.

[Richard]

So the top secret McLaren simulator isn't so top secret after all. Or are FI and Virgin only given access to the simulator circa 2009?

[TzeiTzei]

What Richard Branson is getting out of this is difficult to fathom, is he a party-animal who simply enjoys the hospitality suits?

There must surely be less xpensive and embarassing ways to get laid?

Branson (or Virgin Group) doesn't fund the team.

[Afterburner]

Could Mclaren put Álvaro Parente on a Virgin next year? Has portuguese i would love to see giving "Varinho" a chance on a F1 car! [-o<