Marussia team give F1 car track outing in Barcelona

The Marussia Formula One team gave its MR01 car its track debut Monday after missing the official four-day pre-season test in Barcelona. The British-based Russian team ran the car at Silverstone in a promotional event ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 18. The car could use only demonstration rather than race tyres. The former Virgin Racing team, whose drivers are German Timo Glock and French newcomer Charles Pic, had been unable to run the car in Barcelona after it failed a mandatory final crash test. Team principal John Booth said: "It has been a long and frustrating wait for everyone in the team but we can now get back on track - literally - and start working towards the first race of the season in Australia next week. "Today is the first of two promotional events, so while the drivers will be able to get a feel for the car, they won't be able to draw any real conclusions until we start running in anger in Melbourne. "Nevertheless, this is an important day for us and we'll enjoy every minute on track with the new car." The Australian GP is on March 18.