The Yorkshire-based team hit the headlines earlier this year when they were forced to reveal that they had failed to build their cars with sufficient space to accommodate all of the fuel required to complete a Grand Prix distance, and have had to make complicated and expensive chassis modifications to rectify the fault.

Setback: Problematic F1 team Virgin Racing

Unfortunately, the team stated last week that only Timo Glock would benefit from the modified chassis in Spain, with Lucas di Grassi having to wait. Initially the team blamed the delay on the team’s difficulties in getting back from the Chinese Grand Prix after an Icelandic volcano scuppered their travel plans, but their new statement makes much more sense.

“We loaded Lucas’ chassis onto one of our trucks as usual, and sent it off towards Barcelona,” a Virgin spokesman revealed. “Unfortunately the truck in question, er, ran out of fuel halfway down the M1.”

Virgin’s transporters are not allowed to refuel in the UK due to the high price of fuel, and a “petroleum budget” imposed on the team by meddling, high-ranking officials with little knowledge of how the team operates.

Despite the setbacks, Virgin boss Richard Branson was quick to put a positive spin on things: “This is the perfect endorsement of Virgin’s commitment to making F1 green,” the bearded entrepreneur told reporters. “Lucas’ car has travelled only a fraction of the distance usually covered by an F1 car in transit to a race, with a corresponding reduction in carbon emissions.”

Meanwhile, teams at the Spanish Grand Prix are locked in discussions over whether a chassis that has been substantially redesigned and re-homologated can really be considered a Virgin at all.

The late switch to a lower-density fuel in late 2009 caught out the team, who found themselves entering the early races of 2010 with a fuel tank not big enough to comfortably complete many of the races. The team has received special dispensation from the FIA to modify its chassis in order to accommodate a larger fuel tank, but is looking into alternative solutions as well.

Out? Virgin Racing driver Timo Glock

Among these is the prospect of hiring the shortest drivers possible, to reduce the amount of space required for the cockpit and therefore allow more room for a fuel tank. This idea was proposed after previous suggestions, such as carrying additional fuel in a bag on the driver’s lap, were rejected on safety grounds.

“It’s nothing personal against Timo, he’s been doing a fantastic job for us so far,” an anonymous Virgin source told us. “It’s just that we can only realistically ask him to carry on driving for us if he manages to make himself six inches or so shorter by the start of the European season.”

The team could not confirm or deny that talks were ongoing for a driver to replace Glock, though Takuma Sato has been seen near Virgin’s headquarters.

Glock himself was philosophical about the matter: “It’s quite ironic really,” he said, “as at my last team, if anything the cockpit was too big. Sometimes I found it difficult to reach the accelerator pedal.”

Most teams send their equipment to Bahrain by air, but Branson’s desire to increase Virgin’s “green credentials” meant that he launched an ambitious plan to transport the team’s cars, motorhomes and spare parts to the season’s first Grand Prix overland, including hiring camels to transfer the freight across Saudi Arabia.

Alternative: Virgin's transport to the Bahrain GP

“Camel is one of the most economical and environmentally friendly forms of transport in the desert,” Branson explained. “We therefore decided it would be a good idea to use these ‘green’ alternatives, given the massive environmental cost of flying all this equipment out to Bahrain.

“Unfortunately it would appear that the Saudis were quite taken with the idea of a camel train of virgins making their way across the country, and have seized our property in order to investigate. We’re hoping that once this misunderstanding is cleared up, we can be on our way and get the cars to Bahrain in time for scrutineering.

“I bet that HRT wouldn’t have attracted nearly this much attention,” Branson added.

The problems caused by this alternative method of transport have led to speculation that Virgin may also be forced to cancel their plans to travel to the Canadian Grand Prix by dog sled.

Controversial: The unpopularly named Virgin Racing

The Virgin team participated in their first F1 group test at Jerez last week, with a troubled start early in the week leading to a more promising run by Lucas di Grassi on Saturday. However, controversy still surrounds the team – run by British-based Manor Motorsport – because of its name.

“The name Virgin evokes a very strong emotional connection to Mary, the mother of Jesus,” one fan reasoned, “and all of the history and tradition associated with her. It is simply not right that a new F1 team can turn up out of nowhere and name themselves as if they had some sort of connection to the Holy Mother. They’re not even the right nationality – Mary was from Judea whereas this ragtag bunch of nobodies are just British.”

The team themselves, however, have acknowledged that their name carries other associations but that they will be proud to continue the heritage left by Mary: “No one can take away what she achieved, and we will be proud to add to that list of achievements,” team principal John Booth was quoted as saying.

The view that Virgin should not be permitted to use such an iconic and historic name is shared by fans from around the world: “We can’t have people just going round naming things whatever they want. That would be ridiculous,” one Greek fan commented.

The British press, however, are largely positive about the name: “There’s something fitting about the re-emergence of the Virgin at this time,” one tabloid editor explained, “at the same time as we are experiencing the Second Coming in the form of Lewis Hamilton. Or is it Jenson Button now? I’ll just have to check.”

Dinnington, Thursday: Virgin boss Richard Branson has revealed that his team will not be present at the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix: “We thought we were going to be in Bahrain on time, but due to some technical issues, we won’t make it. We will be there, but we are expecting to be 60-70 minutes late.”

Late: New F1 entrants Virgin

Spectators in Bahrain will get the chance to see drivers Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi racing for the whole weekend – although, as always, there won’t actually be any spectators.

“We will be racing,” Branson assured fans, “but unfortunately no one will be able to see us on television or Internet coverage, at least for the first hour or so. After that, we will suddenly appear, and we’re sure we will be in a fight for the points.”

Branson also took the opportunity to continue (endlessly) talking, mentioning another bet he has made in 2010 – in addition to his famous one with Lotus boss Tony Fernandes. “I made a bet with Vittorio Colao of Vodafone. If Virgin Racing beats McLaren in 2010, he will have to pay the bills of all Virgin Mobile customers for one month – and run a lap of the first race of 2011 wearing nothing but a telephone. On the other hand, if McLaren beat Virgin – unlikely, I know – I will run the lap, and also personally purchase one million Vodafone products.”

Niki Lauda was on hand to comment on the Virgin story: “I don’t care if they’re late,” the Austrian rent-a-quote said, “they will be champions. Or perhaps Mercedes. But I’m sure Ferrari will do it.”

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone expressed surprise at the revelations: “I never expected the Virgin to come last – I always thought it would come first.”