Berger confident STR2 will get green light

Toro Rosso are set to run a development version of the Adrian Newey-designed RB3 chassis that Red Bull Racing will also compete with in 2007.

Those plans have upset some rivals teams, who have threatened legal action if the team go ahead with the scheme because they claim that outfits must design and build those cars.

Autosport.com revealed just before Christmas that leading teams had all backed a push by Spyker to prevent teams from effectively running customer cars next year.

With Toro Rosso's car being built by an independent company, Red Bull Technologies, rather than Red Bull Racing, Berger says that there should be no question marks about what his team intend to do.

Speaking from his winter break in the Tyrol, Berger said: "Of course every team interprets the FIA rules through their own glasses.

"We are confident the FIA will approve our car. The STR2 will be built by Red Bull Technologies, and Toro Rosso will fully own the intellectual rights of the car."

Red Bull Technologies, which also officially employs Newey rather than Red Bull Racing, is not a signatory of the Concorde Agreement and therefore is free to supply more than one team with car designs and parts.

Berger's stance about the use of Red Bull Technologies fits in with why Red Bull Racing joined those outfits who confirmed in writing to Spyker that they believe all teams should design and build their own cars in 2007.

Toro Rosso, who have yet to confirm either of their drivers for this year, are not expected to test again until the start of next month when their new car hits the track.

"The new STR2 will be ready for testing in early February," added Berger. "Therefore we do not have any tests in January."

Toro Rosso are not the only team under the spotlight in the customer car row. Super Aguri plan to race with a development version of the Honda Racing RA106, after the intellectual property rights for that were transferred to Honda's R&D facility in Tochigi.