F1: Manor confirms it will race in Melbourne

Manor has confirmed that its Formula 1 car is ready to race at the Australian Grand Prix. The British-based outfit – reborn out of the bankrupt Marussia team – said the final hurdles have been overcome and its 2015 challenger is being finalized for the flight to Melbourne later this week.

"At certain times over the last six months it was not completely clear we would get to this point," Sporting director Graeme Lowdon admitted. "I'm very excited to announce that thanks to a lot of hard work from an awful lot of people we are ready to go racing again. The last few months have been a rollercoaster, and I want to say particular thanks to the fans."

Manor will start the season with an interim car, modified to fulfil the 2015 regulations, before a new design is introduced later in the campaign. The team has confirmed that energy boss Stephen Fitzpatrick is the investor behind the effort, with former Sainsbury's CEO Justin King appointed as interim team chairman.

Investor Fitzpatrick on why he's saving Manor

Lowdon admitted that final crash tests still had to be passed later this week.

"Crash tests are ongoing – we block-booked some space at the laboratory to do the crash test this week, so I think the preparation day is today, and then tests will start," he explained. "There are only a very small number of tests to be done, a push off and an impact test. We will just have to see how those tests progress.

"The timescale to prepare the car has been incredibly short, but there is a bit of time capacity in there so hopefully things will go well this year. The car is being prepared in Dinnington [at the team's new UK shop], the overall car is on schedule and main freight dispatch is Friday and we will be sending bits right up until the last minute."

Will Stevens will drive one of the Manor entries in 2015, with the second driver yet to be announced.

Originally on Autosport.com