McLaren this afternoon became the first major Formula One team to launch their 2012 challenger.

McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton unveiled the MP4-27 at the McLaren Technology Centre.

Official tests start next Tuesday in Spain.

The new car appears to be an evolution on last year's car, which took the team to runners-up in the Constructors championship.  The nose of the new new car is lower, the L-shaped sidepods have been replaced by traditional sidepods but the back of the car is tighter - having been affected by the rule changes which ban blown diffusers.

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