Teams to start tests with old cars
McLaren and Williams will both be forced to kick off their 2002 testing programmes with their 2001 cars as they work flat-out to finish new chassis
McLaren plan to update its MP4-16 to begin running on Michelin tyres for the first time in the first week of January. The team's managing director Martin Whitmarsh said: "The MP4-16B gives us a useful benchmark to start our test programme with, bearing in mind the data base we have built up about the performance of the [Bridgestone] tyres we have used in the past.
"The B-spec car will have a slightly different rear-end treatment, and the test team will have two of these cars from the start of the year. The [new] MP4-17s will be fed through to the test team in due course."
Williams will run an interim version of this year's FW23 when testing commences after the end of the winter ban on January 8 at Barcelona. Technical director Patrick Head said: "This will have the 2002 BMW engine and gearbox installed. The FW24 will be unveiled towards the end of January. BMW is flat-out on the new engine and we're flat out on the new chassis.
The teams that look set to debut new cars on January 8 are Toyota, British American Racing and Jaguar.
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