Here's a quick update for all you F1 fanatics.  Garry Paffett and Pedro de la Rosa will be piloting the ridiculously awesome orange MP4-20 you see pictured above prior to the launch of the new Team McLaren Mercedes livery in mid-February.

The orange livery is synonymous with the origins of McLaren, as the team ran its Formula One and CAN-AM racers in the color for a number of years starting with the M5A in 1968.

This week marks the start of a 28 day on-track testing regimen for the team, which leads up to opening race of the 2006 World Championship, the Bahrain Grand Prix, on Sunday 12th March.

In case you're wondering, Juan Pablo Montoya and the soon to be world champion Kimi Raikkonen are scheduled to start testing Monday, January 16th.

For more info on the McLaren Mercedes F1 team, you can check out the full press release below.





OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


TEAM McLAREN MERCEDES MP4-20 TO TEST IN INTERIM ORANGE LIVERY

Stuttgart, Jan 09, 2006

Test drivers Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffett will be at the wheel of two interim MP4-20's, which will be running in an orange livery, prior to the launch of the new Team McLaren Mercedes livery in mid-February. The orange is synonymous with the origins of McLaren, as the team ran its Formula One and CAN-AM racers in the colour for a number of years starting with the M5A in 1968.

This week marks the start of 28 intensive on-track test days currently scheduled for the team in Valencia, Barcelona, Imola and Jerez leading up to the opening race of the 2006 World Championship, the Bahrain Grand Prix, on Sunday 12th March. Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya will be starting their programmes during the week commencing Monday 16th January.

Further information about the first run of MP4-21, which will be some time in January and the 2006 livery launch will follow in due course.

Copyright © 2006, DaimlerChrysler AG