gav Wrote:
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> Edit: Looks like Manor will be confirmed on the
> entry list later today. If they've passed all the
> crash tests and got a car ready for Melbourne they
> need a trophy of their own. That's a remarkable
> effort. They didn't even have a factory nor tools
> (or staff?) at one point.
>
> I still think they'll struggle to make the 107%
> mark, but irrespective I think they're done
> wonders just to turn up.
There's still a few hurdles to clear, but it's clear that it
will be a fully 2015 spec car as following Force India's spanner in the works they've been denied permission to run the 2014 car with it being a condition that they run a fully 2015 legal car from the start.
They've booked the crash test one day before having to freight the car out to Melbourne which at this stage is cutting things incredibly fine, but considering that effectively did not have a team at all for a few weeks, and that they've using Manor's facilities across Dinington and Silverstone it's remarkable that they think they'll get the car put together and pass the crash test in time for Melbourne.
It's been an heroic effort. Assuming they make it they're definitely my favourite team after Williams.
I don't know if they'll manage to get the car fired up before freighting off to Melbourne, and FP1 is likely to be the first time the car runs if they get it put together in time (shades of Hispania in 2010). But they'll be using last year's Ferrari powertrain, so at least that part ought to be reliable.
Heck if it qualifies it could out last the McLaren