New McLaren set to make secret debut

Although World Champions Renault will give their new R26 a public outing at next week's major test in Jerez, McLaren have decided to take a more secretive approach with a behind-closed-doors debut test session for their 2006 challenger.

Autosport.com understands that the Woking-based team have booked an exclusive test at Valencia in Spain for the final week in January - 23rd to 27th - where they are hoping that their new MP4-21, painted in orange, will run for the first time.

The plan is for the Valencia test to take place while most of McLaren's opposition are testing at Barcelona in Spain. Honda Racing are due to unveil their new car at the Circuit du Catalunya that week.

Earlier this week, McLaren's managing director Jonathan Neale said the team's focus was on ensuring the new MP4-21 was reliable following the mechanical dramas that wrecked their title charge last season.

"Once the new car has been released, our primary focus will be durability testing, proving the software, the systems and the 11,500 car components, 90% of which have changed from MP4-20," he said. "Then we will start to look at phasing in upgrade packages onto the car."