16/02/2012
NEWS STORY
Mercedes 2012 contender, the WO3, has completed its first laps at Silverstone, ahead of its unveiling at Barcelona next week.
Taking to the track at precisely 10:24, Nico Rosberg completed just over 30 miles before handing over to teammate Michael Schumacher.
The German team, which also used today's running for promotional filming purposes, opted not to run the car at Jerez, preferring instead to spend the extra time developing the car behind the scenes.
Already a number of rivals have expressed fears that the German manufacturer could be the dark horse of 2012, remembering 2009 when, as Brawn, the Brackley outfit caught everyone off guard with its controversial diffuser which was to see the team dominate the first half of the season.
The WO3 will be unveiled in Barcelona on Tuesday, an hour or so before the second major pre-season test gets underway.