LONDON,  (Reuters) – The new Virgin Racing Formula One  car completed its first laps yesterday with Germany’s Timo  Glock at the wheel.

“It was a fantastic moment for myself and the whole team to  see the VR-01 come alive. It’s great to be back in a racing  car,” the former Toyota driver said after the initial  “shakedown” at Silverstone’s Stowe circuit.

Technical director Nick Wirth added: “After 10 challenging  months, all the commitment and determination has finally paid  off.

“Today was all about those tentative first few steps but the  programme really gets underway tomorrow with a full day of  on-track evaluation for both Timo and (Brazilian) Lucas (di  Grassi).”

Virgin are one of four completely new teams due to  participate in the championship this season and the first to  show off a car designed entirely by computer and without  recourse to wind tunnels.

The Cosworth-powered team’s first proper test will be at the  Jerez circuit in southern Spain next week.