Upgrades give Glock boost ahead of his home event

The Dinnington team launched a major performance package at Silverstone earlier this month and closed the gap pace-wise with their chief rivals Lotus in the race to be the best newcomers to the Formula 1 grid in 2010.

They begin the German Grand Prix weekend at Hockenheim today having built on that with a series of smaller upgrades and revisions.

Technical director Nick Wirth said: "Since Silverstone the aero group has been working hard on developing the car, so we'll be adding a host of new aero parts to both cars again as we deploy yet more of our digitally-developed downforce.

"In particular, we were delighted at Timo Glock's positive reaction to our Silverstone upgrade, and we all hope that this next step will make this a happy home race for him in front of the fantastic German fans.

"The track itself has different chassis requirements to those of Silverstone, but we're confident of demonstrating more progress.

"The difference in dry tyre compounds will be a challenge to deal with, and also it looks like we may have the fun of wet conditions thrown in."

Glock, who finished 18th at Silverstone after a race-long tussle with the Lotus drivers saw them finish just ahead, will hope he can edge out the famous green car in front of his home fans.

The 28-year-old said: "It is especially good that this race comes just two weeks after the team's home debut at Silverstone, so this will be the second race in a row where we will have experienced a lot of support from the fans and this always helps to boost everyone just that little bit more.

"I raced here a lot in the junior formulae when I was starting out in my career – I only live 30 minutes away – and it has a lot of very special memories for me.

"With so many German drivers competing in F1 this year – six – the feeling we will get from the crowd will be incredible, I'm sure.

"With the progress we have made in terms of the mechanical and aero upgrades to the car over the last two races I am feeling optimistic."

Meanwhile, leading manufacturers McLaren will air and rigorously test their exhaust-blown diffuser upgrade – abandoned at Silverstone – in today's two 90-minute practice runs, with a decision to be made after analysis as to whether they will continue with it throughout the weekend.