Marussia passes crash test

The Marussia team have passed the final mandatory FIA crash test which will allow them to race in the seasons opening Grand Prix in Australia in just over a weeks time.

Marussia's new MR01 car had recently failed the final crash test, which was for rear impact and many in the paddock were beginning to wonder if the team would be able to pass the tests and be ready for the Australian Grand Prix on March 18.

The delay has already prevented them participating in any of the three winter testing programs at Jerez and Barcelona and so they team will be heading off to Australia with just a few laps around the Silverstone track under their belt.

But the main thing is they will be at the opening grand prix of the season.

'After a challenging few weeks we are pleased to have overcome the last hurdle,' Marussia technical consultant Pat Symonds told the BBC.

'The component in question actually passed an unobserved crash test, but has been performing inconsistently in the observed tests.

'The previous fail was only marginal so we needed to have a slightly more robust solution in place.

'A few minor adjustments to the original concept of the component was all that was required.'

Marussia will not be the only team that hasn't completed any winter testing as the HRT team are also in a similar position.

They only unveiled their car in Barcelona on Monday and are also limited to the amount of mileage they can complete during their filming days.