Toro Rosso crash-testing 2010 car STR5

(GMM) Crash testing of Toro Rosso's new 2010 car is progressing well, technical boss Giorgio Ascanelli has revealed.

Due to the total ban on customer cars, the Faenza based team is for the first time having to design and construct its very own chassis, unlike in the past when it received the basic input of Adrian Newey's efforts at Red Bull Technology.

"We must now stand on our own legs," team boss Franz Tost told Switzerland's Blick. 60 new employees have been taken on in recent times, including 25 for the wind tunnel in Bicester (UK).

Crash testing of the STR5 has begun. "We are on schedule — and have already destroyed two million euros!" said Ascanelli.

STR took over from Minardi in 2006 with 80 staff; now there are 257.