We're on the grid with Sir Richard

A DERBYSHIRE firm which makes parts for Formula 1 cars has revealed it has been working for Sir Richard Branson's new team.

On Sunday, Virgin Racing will take to the grid for the first time in the season opener, the Bahrain Grand Prix, with all of its carbon-fibre parts made by EPM Technology in Draycott.

EPM teamed up with Virgin over the winter to help build the new car, which is unique to F1 as it has been completely designed on a computer.

Virgin is one of a number of new teams in Formula 1 this season.

With German driver Timo Glock and Brazilian rookie Lucas di Grassi at the wheel, Sir Richard has set the team the goal of beating fellow newcomers Lotus.

Graham Mulholland, EPM's managing director, said he hopes that the work the firm has done with Virgin will help them achieve that.

He said: "Because Virgin is a new team to F1, we have been helping them and guiding them through the whole process.

"Virgin has been very sensible by recruiting just the amount of staff that it needs and utilising technology which has helped reduce costs, which is the way the sport is going at the moment.

"We're obviously delighted that they chose to work with us and we have a established a very good working relationship."

No-one from Virgin Racing was available for comment, but in the past Sir Richard has been full of praise for the region's engineering prowess. Ahead of a visit to Derby in 2007 to open the university's art, design and technology building, he hailed the city as the centre of British engineering.

The work with Virgin brings the total number of F1 teams EPM supplies to four.

It also makes parts for Force India, Renault and Stefan GP.

But, despite having cars that are ready to race, Stefan GP has been told that it will not be allowed to race this season.

The team was hoping to be a last-minute entry after the US F1 team asked to defer until 2011. Stefan GP asked to take the US team's place but the sport's governing body, FIA, refused. Stefan GP is now appealing against the decision.

Mr Mulholland said: "Personally, I think it is a crazy decision because Stefan GP has two containers waiting outside of the Bahrain circuit with cars in that are ready to race."

In October, Mr Mulholland said he was approaching all teams with a cost-cutting proposition, which could eventually result in the firm doubling its workforce and opening a second factory.

The teams have been told to reduce their budgets and Mr Mulholland is trying to persuade them that it would be cheaper for them to have all their parts supplied by EPM on a fixed-contract basis, rather than race by race.

He said: "I think the teams are starting to realise the value of it and in the next six weeks I will be meeting with three further teams to talk about it."

Meanwhile, Mr Mulholland said that EPM was currently coming off the back of one the busiest periods in its history.

He said: "It has been so busy that we had to introduce a night shift. I've visited some F1 teams and they have more than 100 people making 60% of the parts for a car.

"At EPM we have 100 people doing that for four teams. This year will be an important year for the company and if all goes to plan it could bode well for our long-term future.

"Morale is very high here and we are looking forward to the start of the new season.

"I'm not a betting man but I think the championship will be won by either a McLaren or a Mercedes.

"I would also say look out for Force India, particularly in Belgium and Italy."