F1's new teams making progress

Crash-testing of the new Lotus F1 car is now taking place, technical boss Mike Gascoyne has revealed.

After USF1 denied reports it is not yet crash-testing parts for its 2010 single seater, it was revealed that the Dallara-built Campos car had passed the crucial front and side-impact tests.

"The (Campos) car is in good shape," confirmed 2010 driver Bruno Senna. "I have sat in the monocoque for a seat fitting and tested the power steering system."

Not to be outdone, Gascoyne said the Malaysian-owned Lotus chassis is also making good progress, despite being the last of the four new teams to receive an official entry for next year's world championship.

"We already have a model running in the wind tunnel, we have just laid up our first chassis and our nose box is going through its first crash tests", he told PA Sport.

Meanwhile, it is reported that Nick Wirth's Manor car has been designed without entering a wind tunnel, having instead made use of CFD computer technology only.

The team's major tie-up with Virgin is expected to be launched before Christmas, after Ross Brawn revealed that Sir Richard Branson's sponsorship of Brawn GP is set to end.

"We had a great year with Virgin but they have different ambitions next year so it's unlikely you will see their name on the car next year," Brawn said earlier this week.