Red Bull confirms seamless gearbox debut

(GMM) As originally reported nearly a month ago, Red Bull will use a seamless shift gearbox for the first time at the Spanish GP this weekend.

The Austrian squad announced on Tuesday that the change is one of several updates to the RB3 single seater after the first three races of the season, including to the bodywork, following the Barcelona test last week.

Red Bull now joins other top teams in using the double-clutch transmission technology, after the late confirmation of the switch to Renault power for 2007 held up the introduction of the gearbox for the start of the season.

The team, which is based in Milton Keynes (UK), held off confirming the item's Spanish grand prix debut until it was fully tested prior to the first European race of 2007.

"Right from the beginning we decided for logistical reasons to target the Barcelona test for the introduction of our transmission development and happily the testing was successful in this respect," said technical director Mark Smith.