Lotus Racing has launched its new Formula One car.
The car will be raced this season by F1 race winners Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen.
Lotus F1 - an icon returns - Mark Tisshaw blog
The car was unveiled at the Royal Horticultural Hall in front of 400 guests, including all staff of the newly formed team. The car will carry the historic yellow and green colours of the Lotus F1 team.
"It is only five months since we were given an F1 entry - nobody gave us a hope of making the grid, so this is a fairy story for us," said Tony Fernandes, Lotus team principal. "I signed as a sponsor for Williams four years ago through Air Asia, and they gave me the bug and inspiration to be here today. I just had to do more."
Technical director Mike Gascoyne added: "This is a special car because it brings Lotus back. I went to school down the road from where the team is based, so this is a very special moment on a personal level too.
"I remember when we got the go ahead to race this year. We started with four people five months ago, and we sat and looked at each other and thought 'What the hell do we do now?'".
Kovalainen said: "It's been a huge effort for the team just to be here. I doubted Lotus at the startm but this is for real. We've come a long way, and I can't wait to drive it."
Trulli added: "It may be a very different Lotus, but it's great to have the name back. I'm really fired up. It's a huge challenge, but I'm up for it."
Fernandes also stressed the teams historic roots, saying: "[Lotus founder]Colin Chapman's family have given us their blessing, and they have been involved with the creation of this team all the way."
Mark Tisshaw
Twitter - follow autocar.co.ukSee all the latest Lotus reviews, news and video
Join the debate
Add your comment
Re: Lotus F1 car launched
Yep, no question, but what with the so called level playing field the top teams are still miles ahead of the rest, what i'm simply suggesting is that their all roughly the same looks wise,and you'd have to have good eye sight to spot the differences between them all.What should be adopted is a weight penalty system like they have in touring cars or indeed some way of sometimes having championships being decided halfway through,plus, less boring race tracks,(too flat, featureless).
Re: Lotus F1 car launched
What cars are you looking at? The defuser issue last year was as meangingful a step forward as skirts were. It influenced the look of the cars too.
The Virgin CFD approach this year is as radical as anything Chapman ever did. It only takes one team to innovate just like Chapman's Lotus.
Re: Lotus F1 car launched
Oh and what's that badge in the middle of the nose...oh that's right a Proton Badge! Excellent! This isn't a Lotus at all! It's Protons F1 team!