It’s a Virgin one-two grid at Australian Grand Prix

Brawn GP have brought their strong pre-season testing form to Melbourne. The front row for tomorrow’s race will be an all Brawn GP affair. Teammates Jenson Button and Rubens Barichello traded fastest lap times throughout qualifying before the Briton claimed pole position.

In further good news to Formula One’s newest team, a new sponsorship deal has been announced with Virgin.

Team Principal Ross Brawn said, “On behalf of the Brawn GP team, we are delighted to have signed a partnership agreement with Sir Richard and Virgin in Melbourne today. An exciting debut race weekend for our team has become even more important as we have secured our second commercial agreement of the season. We look forward to working closely with the Virgin Group and sharing our on-track successes.”

The cars had minimal Virgin branding during qualifying and rumour has it the cars are getting a lick of paint as we speak and may well take to the grid tomorrow in full Virgin clothing.

The full grid for the 2009 Australian Grand Prix can be viewed at Formula1.com.

UPDATE 29 March: As you can see above from the image of Rubens Barichello lining up on the grid, the Brawn GP cars are still in their predominantly white livery. So, if we don’t see a new look next weekend in Malaysia, then expect a new lick of paint for China (17-19 April).

BRAWN GP ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH VIRGIN

MELBOURNE 28 March 2009 – Brawn GP is delighted to confirm that the team has agreed a partnership agreement with Sir Richard Branson and the Virgin Group on the team’s debut race weekend at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

The partnership brings together the world championship winning experience of Ross Brawn and the technical expertise of the Brawn GP team with the marketing and business skills of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group.

This is Virgin’s first foray into the world of Formula One and the first step in what is anticipated to be a broader relationship between the two.

The Brawn GP team’s BGP 001 car will take to the track at Albert Park later this afternoon in qualifying for tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix featuring Virgin branding.

Ross Brawn, Team Principal of Brawn GP commented; “On behalf of the Brawn GP team, we are delighted to have signed a partnership agreement with Sir Richard and Virgin in Melbourne today. An exciting debut race weekend for our team has become even more important as we have secured our second commercial agreement of the season. We look forward to working closely with the Virgin Group and sharing our on-track successes.”

Sir Richard Branson said; “I have always said I would love for Virgin to be involved in Formula One and I am thrilled that we will be entering this fantastic sport with people as skilled as Ross Brawn and the Brawn GP team. Over the years Virgin has had the great honour of partnering with technical geniuses and I truly believe that Ross Brawn is to F1 what Burt Ratan is to space travel with Virgin Galactic. We are confident that the Virgin BGP 001 car driven by Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello will go from strength to strength this season and we look forward to a great future working with the Brawn GP team.”