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View Full Version : OFFICIAL: Lotus reveal first (windtunnel) images of new 2010 F1 car



Giuseppe F1
14th October 2009, 20:45
http://www.autosport.com/gallery/picture_free.php/dir/2009octtest1/image/Wind_tunnel_model_B-2

http://www.autosport.com/gallery/picture_free.php/dir/2009octtest1/image/Wind_tunnel_model_A-2

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79431

Q & A with Mike Gascoyne
Wednesday, October 14th 2009, 17:09 GMT
Conducted and provided by the Lotus F1 Team press office.

Q. How important is the completion of Lotus F1 Racing's first windtunnel model?

Mike Gascoyne: The start of any windtunnel testing is an important step in the development of a new Formula 1 car, but it is particularly exciting for us as we continue preparations for our first season. It has been a very busy time since our entry was confirmed by the FIA. We had been working on the entry for several months so we already had aspects of the team infrastructure in place; the finances, the factory and the top management. Once our entry was confirmed in mid-September, we were able to accelerate our recruitment and car development process and this is really where we are at now.

Q. What precisely is the involvement from Malaysia?

MG: Our entry has only been made possible thanks to financing from the Malaysian private sector, so Lotus F1 Racing will be a Malaysian team through and through. Additionally we have valuable support from the Malaysian government through its 1Malaysia initiative, so we will essentially be flying the Malaysian flag in Formula 1. I am liaising with our Team Principal Tony Fernandes about our plans on a daily basis and am currently spending some time in Malaysia interviewing potential candidates for technical roles. The team is also in the process of recruiting Malaysian employees for other positions, including administration, marketing and PR.

Q. The team is currently based in the UK, but is there a long-term plan to move to Malaysia?

MG: The longer-term vision is to create a centre of technical excellence at the Sepang circuit which we have already started planning together with Tony Fernandes and his associates. Naturally this takes time, so we have opted initially for a UK base at the RTN facility in Hingham from where we will run the F1 operations while we establish our Malaysian facilities. Ultimately, the team will be headquartered in Malaysia, but we will keep a small UK base which will give us a logistical advantage when we are racing within Europe.

Q. What technical partnerships do you already have in place?

MG: We have been working with Fondtech to develop the aerodynamics, as well as with gearbox specialists Xtrac. We have an engine supply deal in place with Cosworth and we also have the support of engineering and composites teams in Malaysia who will play an integral role in developing the car.

Q. Is there really enough time to get a car and a team up and running before the first race in Bahrain?

MG: There is no escaping the challenges that we face simply to get the car ready for the first race of next season, but I am confident that we are up to the task in hand. Our target is to get the car ready for a roll out by the middle of February so that we can carry out pre-season testing in preparation for Bahrain in mid-March.

Q. What are your expectations for the first year?

MG: We need to remain realistic in our aims for the first year. We are a new team and we are starting our development late, so it will be an achievement just to get two cars on the Bahrain grid. I hope by the middle of the season we will have established ourselves as the best of the rookie teams and then continue to make forward progress for the rest of the year.

Q. How integrated will the F1 team be with other Lotus groups?

MG: It is a big honour to be associated with such an historic and prestigious Formula 1 brand as Lotus for whom I have a lot of respect. We will have a close relationship with other Lotus groups and we will do all we can to ensure that the Lotus name is treated respectfully with our new team.

Q. Finally, has there been any decision made on drivers for next year?

MG: We have been looking closely at the driver market to determine our best options for next year including Malaysian drivers, but no decisions have been made yet. We need versatile drivers. We need reliable and technically-minded drivers who can help us develop the car during the season, but at the same time we need drivers who are hungry for results and who can extract every little bit of performance from the car at all times.

Sonic
14th October 2009, 22:06
So they are keeping the black livery! ;)

Seriously though, they've made a lot of progress in a short amount of time.

Hondo
14th October 2009, 23:52
The front looks like a modern work desk with built in in and out trays.

I am evil Homer
15th October 2009, 10:51
Looks like a Toyota to me :D Good to see the progress they're making and the realism with which they're approaching the project.

Garry Walker
15th October 2009, 12:09
I must admit I don't like the colour either..
Is that not the natural carbon fibre colour? The whole car is unpainted.

Garry Walker
15th October 2009, 12:49
It certainly is Garry, welcome to the sarcasm club ;)

ah okay, you never can be sure :D

I am evil Homer
15th October 2009, 13:16
Yes me in post #4 :D

harsha
15th October 2009, 14:50
As they say in Australia "no worries"... :)

Does anyone else think the front end looks abit like the present Toyota design?

er..Mike Gascoygne :cheese:

UltimateDanGTR
15th October 2009, 17:16
very toyota-ish front as previously noted above. Interesting design, the side pods look quite square as in the above view if you know what i mean, and not a bad looking car!

jens
17th October 2009, 20:47
Hopefully this car won't be completely embarrassing, because I suspect this is the machine Jarno has to handle next year. :D It would be nice if a new team managed to replicate Stewart's 1997 debut season competitiveness (who were fast and Top10 material in qualis, although unreliable), although this outlook is obviously a long shot.

Anyway: names like Malaysian government, Petronas, Proton and Mike Gascoyne together give quite an impressive team at least on paper. If they have motivation to keep up with the program, the team might actually get somewhere in the long run.