Williams to have 2012 car for first Jerez test

Williams aims to have its 2012 car up and running for the first test of the official pre-season, technical director Mike Coughlan has revealed.

When Mercedes announced that its next single seater will only be ready for the second test - taking place two weeks after Jerez in early February - it triggered speculation other teams might tread a similar path.

But Ferrari and Red Bull have said they want to be ready for Jerez, and Oxfordshire based Williams has a similar plan.

"The car is slated to be delivered to the race shop in mid-January and we’ll be ready to go to the first test in early February," Coughlan told Williams’ magazine.

He said one Renault-powered FW34 is already built "and we’ll shortly start our FIA crash test programme".

Coughlan added that the car has already passed the FIA-standard tests "in private testing".

Williams finished the 2011 season in a lowly ninth place.