Marussia pass final crash test ahead of Formula 1 opener

Marussia MR01

Marussia will line up on the grid for the Melbourne Grand Prix after passing their final FIA crash test.

Team bosses feared the new MR01 car, unveiled on Monday, would not compete in the season opener on 18 March.

The team were forced to pull out of the final pre-season testing in Barcelona after failing the last of 18 tests.

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

Marussia passed the final test - for rear impact - on Tuesday, the last team to do so.

It means any lingering doubts over the team, formerly known as Virgin, competing in Australia have been removed.

Symonds added: "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."

Germany's Timo Glock and French rookie Charles Pic are Marussia's drivers for 2012.