Finally, one of the Formula One teams has come up with the launch date of its new 2011 car. The BMW Sauber has announced that its car for the next season will be inaugurated at Valencia, on 31 January. The team believes that the Ferrari-powered C30 car will
be far more competitive than the current season and also will be able to carry more advertisement than it has in 2010.
The team is confident to get the car ready right in time as the first pre-season test is expected to take place at the Spanish circuit on 1 February 2011.
The inaugural drive of C30 will be made by the team’s Japanese driver, Kamui Kobayashi, who has already been re-signed by the squad for another year. The last year of the driver with the team went pretty well as he was successful in bagging 32 of the team’s
total 42 points of 2010 season. The second seat in the team is to be taken by the Mexican driver, Sergio Perez, who will make his debut season in Formula One next year. The GP2 Series’ runner-up of the season has replaced Nick Heidfeld in the team, who replaced
Pedro De La Rosa earlier this year.
The 2011 car is very special for Sauber as it marks the first car designed and made by the team in its own factory. James Key, the technical director of the team, who joined the Swiss squad earlier this year, is the major designer of the car. Key has been picked
from Force India, the team owned by Vijay Mallya, during the 2010 season and is considered one of the very important parts of BMW Sauber.
While talking to the media earlier today the Sauber team principal, Peter Sauber said, “We’re setting our sights high, and things are looking good so far. James Key has proved in the past that he knows how to build fast cars.”
He further continued explaining, "All the changes to the technical regulations - including the ban on double diffusers, the introduction of Pirelli tyres, adjustable rear wings and the option of using KERS - make this a particularly exacting challenge this
year.”
As all the 12 teams get ready to take part in the three-day Valencia test, scheduled to take place on 1 February, BMW is looking forward for a great beginning of their first car.
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