Virgin's technical director Nick Wirth has parted company with the struggling outfit after a disappointing start to the 2011 season which has seen the team's cars fail to make any improvement near the back of the grid.
Doubts over his future emerged on Wednesday when an Italian magazine revealed the team was in talks with McLaren and Mercedes about a Force India-style technical collaboration for 2012. The report said the new package would include the engine, transmission, KERS and rear suspension, reinforcing rumours that Virgin's collaboration with technical director Wirth and his Wirth Research group was ending.
Confirmation came later in the day. "The decision has been taken that the team will take greater control of its own destiny," Virgin chief executive Andy Webb told Autosport. "Accordingly, having consulted with our existing technical partner during the course of the past few weeks, we have been obliged to terminate our relationship with them.
"I believe that the steps we are taking in terms of our technical leadership and operational excellence will provide us with the robust foundation required to go on and achieve our performance objectives in the years ahead. These are bold but positive steps that will enable us to move forward with confidence."
Changes planned by Wirth which are already in the pipeline will be continued, but Webb said the team was now looking ahead to 2012. "At this time of year it is commonplace for all teams to start looking ahead to the following racing year, whilst continuing to develop the existing car for the remaining races of the current season," said Webb. "As next year's regulations contain few changes we hope that some of the development work aimed at the MVR-03 may also find its way onto the current car."
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