Jan.21 (GMM) The launch of Lotus’ 2010 car is expected to take place in London.
The new Malaysian-backed outfit, based in Norfolk (UK), announced via team boss Tony Fernandes’ Twitter page last week that the seater seater will be unveiled on February 12.
On that day, the eyes of the F1 world will also be on the group test taking place at Jerez.
According to Finland’s Turun Sanomat, Lotus will run the car for the first time in the hands of Jarno Trulli at Silverstone on the day after the launch, weather permitting.
The team will then join the third group test of the pre-season, the four-day session scheduled between February 17-20 at Jerez.
Meanwhile, it is believed that former Toyota engineers Dieter Gass and Gianluca Pisanello have switched to Lotus.
“We have a lot of experience and cooperation with this project,” Trulli, who drove for Toyota for the past five full seasons, is quoted as saying. “The only shortage is time.”
Trulli, 35, said it is no longer “business as usual” in F1 due to the departures of Toyota and BMW, the reduction in Renault’s commitment, and the arrival of new teams.
“Apart from Ferrari, the only really big constructor is Mercedes. We must all get used to the new F1.
“Lotus is smaller but operationally it can be more effective than Toyota, even though it remains far from Toyota in terms of resources,” the Italian said.
