Sauber announces Valencia launch

Date published : 06 Jan 2010 - 10:08:50

Sauber has announced that it will unveil its 2010 Formula 1 car in Valencia at the end of this month.The Hinwil-based team, which was threatened with closure in the wake of owner BMW's decision to withdraw from F1 before being rescued by founder Peter Sauber, will present its new car at the Ricardo Tormo circuit on January 31 the day before F1 testing resumes there following the winter ban.The Formula One Teams' Association had to shelve a plan for all 13 squads to showcase their new cars in a single launch event owing to disagreement over the logistics.Sauber indicated that it would finalise its driver line-up ahead of the launch, saying team principal Peter Sauber, technical director Willy Rampf and our drivers will all be available for interviews.The team has signed Toyota refugee Kamui Kobayashi but has yet to confirm who will drive the second of its Ferrari-powered cars.Sauber/BMW stalwart Nick Heidfeld, Giancarlo Fisichella and former F1 racer Christian Klien have all been linked with the vacant seat.