As anticipated,
Scuderia Toro Rosso has canned plans to debut is 2008-spec car at this weekend's Turkish Grand Prix following
Sebastien Bourdais' accident in testing at the Circuit de Catalunya last month.
As well as needing to salvage and replace what it could from the wrecked STR3, the Italian team told
Reuters that it lacks the spare parts it needs to ensure that the car can be run properly at Istanbul Park from Friday. As a result, Bourdais and team-mate
Sebastian Vettel will remain in the STR2B, which has gradually slipped down the grid over the opening four races of 2008.
The team admitted that it had always considered a debut in round five as 'ambitious', but had been set back by Bourdais' accident on the first public outing with the STR3. Its debut is now likely to come in Monaco in two weeks' time.
The car, which looks like the
Red Bull RB4 in a number of ways - including its 'sharkfin' engine cover - had previously conducted an aero test at Vairano in the hands of British F3 race winner Brendon Hartley, but Bourdais' accident during the second afternoon of testing in Barcelona destroyed the only completed example and caused the remainder of the development programme - including Vettel's first run - had to be cancelled.
Despite his
faux pas, Bourdais reported that the new car had shown potential.
"The base line is quite good and I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised," the Frenchman said, "However, the track conditions might be extremely good, so I need to be careful with everything I say. But, so far, the car has had no problems at all, which is a very encouraging point.
"The feeling is good and I felt comfortable in it straight away. From a driving point of view, you can feel it has more downforce than the current car and it's a big step forward on the aero package."
![Sebastien Bourdais - Toro Rosso-Ferrari STR3, Barcelona test [Pic credit: Red Bull/GEPA]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/429686.jpg)
