Virgin Racing are optimistic they will be able to race against rivals Team Lotus in Singapore this weekend.
BBC: A photograph of the main grandstand at the Indian GP circuit
Now, the company are preparing to take a huge leap forward into F1 as the rebranded Virgin Racing team.
The team will be rebranded as Marussia Virgin Racing in 2011 and their new car is set to be launched in Moscow.
BBC: Russian supercar firm Marussia takes over Virgin Racing
Next season's grid will be expanded after US F1, Campos, Virgin Racing and Lotus F1 were all ratified as new entrants in September.
The British tycoon signed a three-year title sponsor deal with the rookie team last December, which saw Sheffield-based Manor Motorsport rebranded as Virgin Racing.
BBC: Russian supercar firm Marussia takes over Virgin Racing
It might take a while to get there but I believe, with this team of people on-board, Virgin Racing can go all the way.
Lotus are aiming to be the best of the new teams in 2010, with team principal Tony Fernandes publicly challenging Virgin Racing's Richard Branson.
Manor founder John Booth takes on a new role as Virgin Racing's sporting director while Alex Tai, a former Virgin Group director, becomes team principal.
In August, reigning Formula 2 champion Andy Soucek terminated his contract as Virgin Racing's third and reserve driver, citing a lack of test driving opportunities this season.
BBC: Jerome D'Ambrosio & Esteban Gutierrez win F1 test roles
One of those struggling outfits, Virgin Racing, suffered badly from technical problems as a gearbox leakage and telemetry problems blighted Lucas di Grassi and Timo Glock's second sessions.
BBC: Lewis Hamilton fastest in Friday Australian GP practice
Di Grassi, whose move was exclusively predicted by BBC Radio Sheffield, became Renault's reserve driver in 2009 but will now make his F1 race debut with Virgin Racing.
In addition to Campos signing Senna, Lotus have signed experienced race-winners Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen while Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi will drive for Virgin Racing.
De Villota was recruited by UK-based Marussia -- formerly known as Virgin Racing -- in March, having driven in Spanish Formula Three, the Euroseries 3000 and the Daytona 24 Hours.
"This drive is a fantastic opportunity and I am looking forward to helping the team in every way I can, " said D'Ambrosio, who joins Virgin Racing's existing reserve driver Luis Razia.
BBC: Jerome D'Ambrosio & Esteban Gutierrez win F1 test roles
So could the 29-year-old from the Virgin Islands be the one to return the trophy the original godfathers of racing?
Hillier rides for the Martin Bullock Racing team at the TT and specialises in the 600cc class, having emerged from the Virgin Mobile R6 Cup series.
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