Lucas di Grassi will spend one more race weekend at the wheel of the original Virgin car.

After it was discovered that the fuel tank was not big enough to reach the chequered flag with normal pace, the new British team embarked on a significant redesign that debuted in Timo Glock’s hands last week in Spain.

But di Grassi had to race in Barcelona with the older car, due to the volcanic ash disruptions in the wake of the recent Chinese grand prix.

Now, the ultra-quick turnaround between the Spanish race and Wednesday’s scrutineering in the Principality means that the 25-year-old is still waiting for the new car.

In a statement, Virgin said the second new car will be ready for Turkey in two weeks.

“I was pleased with my performance in Spain so I’m optimistic that we can have a good race here,” said di Grassi.

(GMM)

Apr.21 (GMM)  A couple of formula one drivers came within a cloud of volcanic ash of racing in this weekend’s season opener of the 2010 DTM championship.

Because Mercedes’ Paul di Resta and Gary Paffett were delayed in Shanghai due to the ongoing European air travel disruptions, the German marque feared the pair might not be back to drive at Hockenheim.

Mercedes’ F1 reserve driver Nick Heidfeld, who was among the first to leave China, and his German countryman Timo Glock, were lined up as potential replacements.

Like Heidfeld, Glock – who drives for Virgin but with close ties to the DTM backer Deutsche Post – was among the fortunate few to secure an early return flight to Europe.

“We did not know when they (Paffett and di Resta) would come back.  There was definitely the possibility that Nick and Timo would have driven the cars,” Norbert Haug is quoted as saying by motorsport-total.com.

Ultimately, the two DTM drivers – and Mercedes’ competition director Haug – arrived in Germany “earlier than anticipated”, Haug said.

“But on Monday afternoon, no one could tell us whether we are flying on Thursday, Friday or Saturday,” he added.

Glock confirmed that driving in DTM this weekend was part of Mercedes’ “emergency plan”.

“I have had a good relationship with Norbert Haug and Mercedes for many years, so I would have helped them out.

“I felt honoured that in this case they thought of me,” he added.

Apr.19 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has dismissed claims that next month’s Spanish grand prix could be cancelled.

It was confirmed on Monday that this weekend’s Japanese round of the MotoGP series has been called off due to the travel disruptions caused by the volcanic ash above Europe.

And football games on Thursday between Atletico Madrid and Liverpool, and Hamburg and Fulham, could also be scratched, with UEFA to make a decision “in the coming days”.

Mercifully for F1, there is now a rare three-week break between Sunday’s Shanghai round and the opening of the European season in Spain.

But with the hundreds of tonnes of freight, including the cars, stranded at Shanghai airport – while F1′s six 747 jets are grounded in Europe – it is currently impossible to predict when the team factories will be reunited with their equipment.

“The main concern is getting the engines back because they have to be worked on,” F1 chief executive Ecclestone told the Times.

“But I am sure everything will be all right,” said the 79-year-old, who despite having a private plane in Shanghai is currently unable to return to Europe.

“We know there will be a Spanish grand prix, we just don’t know where yet,” he joked to another reporter in China, adding that his plan-B is “suicide”.

“There is no question of cancelling the Spanish grand prix,” he insisted. “Of course, it is causing everybody problems, but we will find a way to get everyone home.”

The movement of F1′s actual people is less problematic, albeit expensive: several teams – including Ferrari and McLaren – are organising private charters on Tuesday or Wednesday into Spain, where some major airports are still landing planes.

The personnel will then return to their respective team headquarters by bus.

Other F1 people have diverted to Dubai or even as far afield as the US, in the hope of finding another air route back to Europe.

As for the freight, the end of the air chaos could even be nigh, after British Airways, Air France and KLM tested planes in European skies without problems, and Niki Lauda’s airline conducted a test with an Airbus A320 from Vienna to Salzburg.

“The flight was the best ever, with blue skies. I don’t understand what all the fuss is about,” said the triple world champion.