Cosworth welcomes Marussia’s investment in Virgin Racing

As a key client of Cosworth, Marussia Motors’ investment in the Virgin Racing Formula One team, announced today, has been warmly welcomed by the British-based international engineering group.

Cosworth has been working with Marussia since mid-2009, developing powertrain systems for its range of road cars, starting with the Marussia B1 and B2, which made their debuts at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year and were revealed to invited guests at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix in May.

Deliveries of the Cosworth-developed V6 turbo Marussia B1 engine and 6-speed paddleshift operated automatic transmission commenced this autumn with production at Marussia’s Moscow factory coordinated closely with Cosworth.

The dramatic looking mid-engined B1 is set to go on sale in the New Year, with the B2 to follow. Subsequent models will include large and medium sized SUV’s which have already been seen at auto salons in conceptual form.

Cosworth’s automotive engineering business has gone from strength to strength in recent years with the return of the legendary brand to the road in the shape of the Subaru Impreza STi CS400 and the most powerful naturally aspirated engine in the world for the Aston Martin One-77 supercar.

In the ultra high performance sport of Formula One, Cosworth’s electronics and engine technologies are supplied to a significant portion of the grid including the Virgin Racing team, which employs the group’s supremely reliable and powerful CA2010 engine alongside its state of the art carbon fibre steering wheel and integrated electronics.

The appointment of Cosworth’s F1 Business Unit General Manager Mark Gallagher to lead the group’s relationship with Marussia reflects the long-term plans and ambitions that both companies share together in Formula One.

Mark Gallagher, General Manager Cosworth’s F1 Business Unit: “Marussia has proven to be an excellent automotive client for Cosworth and it is a significant step for them to have opted to invest in Virgin Racing and further develop their relationship with us. We have already been working closely with Marussia over the last 12 months and are fully engaged in assisting them with their ambitions to become the first upmarket, global Russian automotive company. Following the news that a Formula One race will be held for the first time in Russia in 2014, Marussia’s important announcement concerning Virgin Racing further illustrates the impact the sport is beginning to make across Russia, and is therefore a welcome development.”

Nikolai Fomenko, President of Marussia Motors LLC: “Our relationship with Cosworth has developed strongly over the past year and we looking forward to extending that partnership beyond our road car business and into Formula One. Marussia cars feature innovative designs combined with leading technologies and Cosworth’s capabilities in terms of powertrain systems is highly valued. We look forward to using our F1 activity to directly promote sales of the Marussia B1 and B2 models during 2011 and we have further announcements to make about our motorsport programmes in the New Year.”

The Marussia Cosworth B1 is already on display in Marussia’s central Moscow showroom adjacent to Pushkin Square, with sales orders and test-drives being arranged for 2011.