Virgin VR-01
The first Formula One car designed entirely with computational fluid dynamics, with no wind tunnel at all.
About the Virgin VR-01
The VR-01 was designed by Nick Wirth's Wirth Research for the new Virgin Racing team, run by Manor and backed by Richard Branson's Virgin, for the 2010 season. Wirth developed its aerodynamics using only computational fluid dynamics, and the team had the lowest budget on the grid at about £40m. Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi drove it, but hydraulic failures were a recurring problem and the original fuel tank was too small to finish races at full pace, forcing a longer chassis that arrived at the Spanish Grand Prix. Di Grassi gave the car its first finish with 14th in Malaysia.
Virgin VR-01 specs
| Make | Virgin |
|---|---|
| Model | VR-01 |
| Years | 2010 |
| Type | Race car |
| Body style | Open-wheel single-seater |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Engine | 2.4L naturally aspirated V8 (Cosworth CA2010) |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 2,400 cc (2.4 litres) |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated |
| Redline | 18,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 7-speed semi-automatic seamless shift |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Weight | 620 kg (1,367 lb) |
Typical figures for the standard car; options, markets and model years vary. Where our specs come from
Virgin VR-01 rarity in CarSpot
The Virgin VR-01 is a Unicorn card in CarSpot, with a rarity score of 0 out of 100. The rarest tier: hypercars, one-offs and cars built in tiny numbers, typically fewer than about 500. A Unicorn card is worth 320 XP.
Each model's tier starts from a 0–100 score based on its value plus its power or production numbers. Once enough players have spotted a model, how often it is spotted can move it up or down one tier. How CarSpot rarity works
Rarity is a collectible game mechanic, not an assessment of real-world scarcity or value.
Virgin VR-01 fun facts
- The planned online launch on 3 February 2010 failed because technical problems stopped the live internet broadcast.
- In final practice in Bahrain a wheel came off Glock's car and rolled down the track, moments after he became the first new-team driver to lap Sakhir in under two minutes.
- Because the Eyjafjallajökull ash cloud had disrupted air travel, only one of the new longer chassis reached Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix.