Force India’s troubled pre-season continued as the team confirmed rumours they will now only run their new car, the VJM08, at the second and final Barcelona test from February 26th.
According to Autosport, its presence at the upcoming test starting on the 19th depended on the last necessary work being done in time, which despite a push within the factory was unsuccessful. Deputy Team Principal Bob Fernley had admitted that there was a tight window for Force India to be ready, but denied that the team would miss the first race in Australia.
This news does indeed sound more positive than that, but it’s another setback for a team which has faced financial difficulties over the winter; they've already missed last month’s Jerez test where every other team was present and recently been fending off criticism from F1 fans after they were named as voting against Marussia returning this year with their 2014 car.
Perhaps ironically, the Silverstone-based team will run their 2014 car at Barcelona with an as yet unconfirmed lineup, though main drivers Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg should be there.
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