McLaren to launch new car in Germany

(GMM) McLaren-Mercedes has amended plans to launch its 2008 championship campaign without an official presentation, reports on Thursday said.

Mercedes competition director Norbert Haug confirmed to the German news agency SID that the new MP4-23 will be presented on 7 January at the Unterturkheim Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart.

McLaren had previously announced that the car would appear for the first time at an exclusive test at Jerez in the second week of 2008.

Mercedes boss and parent company Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche is scheduled to attend the launch, which will surely be billed as a sign of Mercedes' commitment to formula one despite the tumultuous 2007 season.