Formula One: Force India absent from first test, to run old car in second test

Force India drivers Nico Hulkenberg (left) of Germany and Sergio Perez of Mexico pose next to a Force India Formula 1 Team car with the new team livery that will adorn their cars on Jan 22, 2014. Force India have admitted their new VJM08 car may not
Force India drivers Nico Hulkenberg (left) of Germany and Sergio Perez of Mexico pose next to a Force India Formula 1 Team car with the new team livery that will adorn their cars on Jan 22, 2014. Force India have admitted their new VJM08 car may not be ready in time for the second set of pre-season testing in Barcelona later this month. -- PHOTO: AFP

JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, Spain (AFP) - Force India have admitted their new VJM08 car may not be ready in time for the second set of pre-season testing in Barcelona later this month.

The Silverstone-based team were the only absentees for the first four days of testing in Jerez this week, claiming that "learning opportunities" would have been limited.

However, it now appears that they will run their 2014 car for the first four days of testing in Barcelona from Feb 19-22 with the hope of unveiling their new model for the final set of testing, also in the Catalan capital between Feb 26 and March 1.

"Although everybody is working towards getting the VJM08 to the next test session in Barcelona, it's more likely the new car will appear at the final Barcelona test," the team said in a statement.

"So, that would mean running the 2014 car at the first Barcelona test."

Force India, who last season finished sixth in the constructors world championship, have retained drivers Sergio Perez and Nico Huelkenberg for the current campaign.

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