Banbury United Kingdom

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Marussia scored its first and only championship points at the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix, where its leading driver, Jules Bianchi, finished ninth. In doing so, Marussia became the first Russian-licensed constructor to score world championship points. Following a serious crash and injuries sustained by Bianchi at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, which resulted in his death the following year, the team raced for the first time with a single car at the inaugural 2014 Russian Grand Prix. On 26 October 2014, news reports emerged that the team would not participate at the 2014 United States Grand Prix due to financial reasons. On 7 November 2014, the administrator announced that the team had ceased trading. The team exited administration on 19 February 2015, and was re-established as the Manor Marussia F1 Team after a CVA had been signed and new investment was secured to rescue the team. Former Sainsbury's CEO Justin King was reportedly the team's main backer. The team retained Marussia as its constructor name throughout the 2015 season, also adopting British nationality. In 2016, the team announced a name change to 'Manor Racing'.

In Their Own Story

At the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix, Jules Bianchi scored his own and Marussia's first ever points by finishing ninth in an eventful race. This single result lifted the team into the history books as the first Russian-licensed constructor to score world championship points. The joy was short-lived. During the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka on 5 October, Bianchi's car spun off on lap 43, colliding with a marshal's crane tractor that was attending to Adrian Sutil's Sauber car. Bianchi was reported as being unconscious after the crash. CT scans showed he suffered a 'severe head injury'. The team raced for the first time with a single car at the inaugural 2014 Russian Grand Prix. On 7 November 2014, the administrator announced that the team had ceased trading, owing around £60m. Two of the companies out of pocket were Marussia's former competitors McLaren and Ferrari.

Reader's Guide

Marussia's history is a story of survival against the odds. The team started as Virgin Racing in 2010, finishing twelfth and last in the Constructors' Championship. In November 2010, Marussia Motors purchased a controlling stake, and the team became 'Marussia Virgin Racing' for 2011. Following a disappointing start to 2011, the team parted company with Wirth Research and entered a partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies ahead of the 2012 season. This brought a relocation from the original base in Dinnington to the old Wirth premises in Banbury. The team's 2012 car, the MR01, was the only car on the grid not to have KERS, a status that lasted only for one race weekend. At the 2012 Singapore Grand Prix, Timo Glock produced the then best ever race result for Marussia, finishing in 12th place. In 2013, Max Chilton became the first rookie driver ever to finish every race in a season. The team's 2014 car, the MR03, was powered by Ferrari engines after Cosworth elected not to build an engine for the new regulations.

Did You Know?

• Marussia scored its first and only championship points at the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix, where Jules Bianchi finished ninth.
• Marussia became the first Russian-licensed constructor to score world championship points.
• The team raced for the first time with a single car at the inaugural 2014 Russian Grand Prix following Bianchi's crash.
• The team collapsed owing around £60m, with McLaren and Ferrari among the creditors.
• Former Sainsbury's CEO Justin King was reportedly the team's main backer when it was rescued and re-established as Manor Marussia F1 Team.

Geography and Economic Landscape

The Marussia F1 Team was based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, and later Dinnington, South Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom. The team relocated from the original base in Dinnington to the old Wirth premises in Banbury ahead of the 2012 season.

Ancient Origins and Etymology

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Medieval Prosperity to Civil War Conflict

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Transport Evolution and Modern Expansion

The source does not cover transport evolution or modern expansion of Banbury.