11/07/2011
NEWS STORY
Next weekend, the Marussia Virgin team embarks on the journey towards Sochi 2014 - the venue for the much-anticipated inaugural Russian Grand Prix - by taking part in the Formula Sochi Speed Festival on the city's streets.
The team's drivers Timo Glock and Jerome D'Ambrosio will provide the Russian fans with the breath-taking experience of seeing a Formula One car at close quarters on a temporary circuit built around the Black Sea resort on Sunday 17 July.
The first ever Russian race will become a home Grand Prix for the only Anglo-Russian team on the grid, which has taken steps in recent weeks to match its bold ambition to be in a position to compete for a podium finish in Sochi in three years' time.
In addition to the on-track action, the drivers will take part in a busy programme of promotional activities which, in keeping with the team's fan-friendly personality, will be key to connecting F1 with the sport's burgeoning Russian following. Marussia Motors, a major investor and title sponsor of the team, will also showcase its first Russian supercar.
"This is our first trip to Russia as a team and we are very excited about it," said team principal John Booth. "Marussia Virgin Racing's first Russian connection was made at the team's inception in 2010, when Marussia Motors became one of our sponsors. During the course of that year they witnessed at close quarters the tremendous passion, commitment and determination within the team and in November last year decided to invest in us. We are now extremely proud to be competing under a Russian licence and to underline our determination to succeed we have recently announced a new Technical Partnership with McLaren and a new technical base for the team. This is just the start of what we hope will be a very warm relationship with the Russian fans. We are honoured to be bringing the Formula One experience to them in Sochi next weekend and we hope that they will take Marussia Virgin Racing to their hearts."
"Holding the 2014 Russian Grand Prix in Sochi is a huge step towards getting the Russian public really interested in motorsport," added Nikolay Fomenko, Marussia Virgin Racing Engineering Director and Marussia Motors President. "Both Marussia Virgin Racing - the only team with a Russian licence in Formula One - and Marussia Motors, the first Russian supercar producer, are doing all they can to develop young racing talent and very soon we hope to have the next generation of Russians represented on this ladder to success. We set ourselves some challenging aims as Marussia Virgin Racing intends to compete for the podium of the first Russian Grand Prix, and we are working very hard to achieve this."
"Having competed in Formula One for five seasons, I can honestly say that one of the best things about the sport is the fact that it blends the more traditional circuits with some fantastic new international territories," said Timo Glock, "and I love experiencing new cultures and meeting new fans. I can't wait to visit Sochi and show the Russian fans what a Formula One car can do. I'm sure we'll get the chance to put on a really good show and start to build an important relationship with a country that the team is already starting to think of as home. Watch out Sochi!"
"I know that we have a loyal following in Russia that is getting bigger every day," added Jerome D'Ambrosio. "Marussia Virgin Racing will be key to opening the hearts of the Russian fans to Formula One, and I can't wait to meet and thank them for their support so far."