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New MSV F4 Car Enjoys Successful Track Debut At Snetterton
The new MSV F4 car, the MSV F4-013, to contest the 2013 BRDC Formula 4 Championship, completed its successful track debut yesterday (Thursday, 31 January) with a full day’s testing at Norfolk’s Snetterton 300 circuit.
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Unveiled earlier this month at the Autosport International Show, the new single seater was driven by GP2 race-winner Jolyon Palmer, who will be undertaking the bulk of the test and development work with the F4 car. Palmer completed 35 laps with the car, with the initial task of checking all systems were functioning correctly.
Test driver Jolyon Palmer said: “I was really impressed with the new F4 car. It worked well out of the box and overall felt very good. The engine is nice with crisp throttle response and F4 drivers are going to love the paddleshift gearbox, which also works well with left foot braking, as in GP2. The chassis felt responsive and I’m looking forward to getting into the test programme now to get the set up into the ball park and do durability running.”
MSV F4 Engineering Director Giles Butterfield commented: “Overall it was a pretty good first run. Inevitably there were one or two teething problems which we rapidly sorted but that was about it. Now we need to get on with the task of getting some miles on the car, getting the suspension and aero settings optimised and continue with durability proving. Production is well underway with deliveries starting within two weeks.”
MSV Series Director Jonathan Palmer was enthusiastic: “I must say I thought our MSV F4 car looked and sounded great out on the circuit – at a casual glance one could be forgiven for thinking it was an F3 car! It is immensely satisfying to see the project advance and I can’t wait to get to Silverstone GP to see our grid of 24 cars kick our inaugural season off.”
Background Information
Built to a single specification by Ralph Firman’s RFR company, the new F4 car incorporates an advanced spaceframe chassis powered by a 2.0-litre Duratec engine producing 185bhp and linked to a Sadev six-speed paddleshift gearbox - making it the most sophisticated car at this level.
It’s equipped with front and rear wings, the brand new Cosworth CFW277 steering wheel, control tyres supplied by leading manufacturer Yokohama, and is fully compliant with the latest FIA Article 277 safety standards - passing its strength and impact test at the very first attempt.
All 24 F4 cars have already been sold to 14 teams and privateers ahead of the first rounds which take place at the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit in April. The first F4 cars will be delivered shortly in the order in which they were purchased.
PaddockTalk Perspective
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