Williams has become the latest team to confirm it will be on track as crucial preparations for the 2014 season begin in two weeks at Jerez.<\/p>\n
“We’ll be on track in Jerez,” the Oxfordshire based team Tweeted, “and everyone is looking forward to getting going now!”<\/p>\n
Williams added that the first all-new FW36, to be powered by a turbo Mercedes V6, is currently being put together at the Grove factory this week.<\/p>\n
Williams’ news has left heads scratching, after Lotus boss Eric Boullier claimed he knew as “fact” that more than one team will be sitting out Jerez.<\/p>\n
But numerous international reports have claimed that midfield teams including Force India, Sauber, Toro Rosso and even Caterham are all planning ahead for the first of just three winter tests.<\/p>\n
So far, Marussia is the only team that has sent out signals that it is not fully committed for Jerez, and like Lotus it has only a conditional place on the 2014 entry list.<\/p>\n
But team president Graeme Lowdon told Reuters there is no cause for concern.<\/p>\n
“We’re just finalising administrative details with the FIA and we have absolutely no concerns at all that the entry won’t be confirmed,” the Marussia chief said.<\/p>\n
It is believed both Lotus and Marussia have missed the initial deadline for paying the 2014 entry fee to the governing FIA.<\/p>\n
For 2014, the fee is $508,000, plus – controversially – $5080 per point scored in 2013.<\/p>\n
A list published by Brazil’s Totalrace shows that financially-struggling Lotus’ fee amounts to a whopping $2.1 million, almost double that of grandee McLaren’s $1.1m.<\/p>\n
Marussia, however, only has to pay the basic fee, having not scored a point in 2013.<\/p>\n
Lowdon sounded hopeful the 2014 car will be ready for Jerez.<\/p>\n
“Testing time in formula one is incredibly limited,” he told Britain’s Sky, “so if it (the new car) is there and you can use it, you want to use it.”<\/p>\n
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