By Huw Alban
December 24 2005

Official driver websites are a great place to pick up little pieces of information about the team in which they are driving. According to Christijan Albers his new set of racing wheels will be ready in February. Here at Midland F1 Online we happen to know that the team will be testing in January at Silverstone, and Christijan has confirmed on his official website that the team will be using a 2005 chassis fitted with a V8 engine and some 2006 parts.

"If it all goes to plan we will be testing the new chassis in February," Albers was quoted as saying on his official website. "In January we will be testing a number of days with the old chassis. The old chassis will have Toyota's V8 engine, new electronics and the new gearbox fitted in the car though so we have lots of work to do. We will also have to test the new electronics. In February we have to cover a lot of mileage to test all these things."

We have it on good authority that the team have been waiting for the opportunity to test the Toyota V8 with the new gearbox for some time, and that it is this that has held the team back from completing much more track time. We are told that the team wil be testing in the UK during either the first or second week of January (Brr !) and the purpose of the test will be to assess how these transmission components work together.

We are hoping to be able to witness some of the testing during January and hope to be able to share some of that experience with you.

Can I take this opportunity to wish all readers and the Midland team personel a very Merry Christmas. We are all looking forward to 2006, and a new Formula One season watching Midland F1 take shape.

Have a good one everyone !

Huw