Lotus signs first driver for F1 2010

[rocket63 136 1 Vehicles]

Malaysian-backed, Norfolk-based F1 2010 newcomer Lotus has signed its first driver for its debut in the top flight, team principal Tony Fernandes has announced via Twitter - with Toyota refugees Jarno Trulli and Kamui Kobayashi the two names most strongly in the frame.

Lotus F1 has confirmed that it has signed the first of its two drivers for the 2010 world championship campaign, what will mark its maiden season in the top flight and whilst it has long been believed that Toyota refugee Jarno Trulli is the strongest candidate for the seat, it has also been suggested that impressive 2009 debutant Kamui Kobayashi could be the man most likely.

The announcement was made by Lotus F1 team principal Tony Fernandes on social media website Twitter, but no name was given. Trulli developed a close working relationship with the Malaysian-backed outfit's chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne during their time spent together at Jordan, Renault and Toyota, whilst Kobayashi turned a number of heads when he unexpectedly made his grand prix bow for Toyota in place of the injured Timo Glock in Brazil, and subsequently made the points second time out in Abu Dhabi and the young Japanese ace has already claimed that of all the 2010 newcomers, Lotus would be his preferred option.

'One Malaysia Formula One team aka Lotus has signed its first driver,' aviation entrepreneur Fernandes revealed. 'Public announcement soon. The dream continues.'

The news means that Lotus is the second of the new teams for next season with Manor, USF1, Campos and possibly Qadbak-Sauber all similarly set to swell the grid numbers to snap up its first driver, after Campos revealed last week that it had secured the services of 2008 GP2 Series runner-up Bruno Senna.

Homegrown hero and World Series by Renault runner-up Fairuz Fauzy is expected to be given the role of reserve driver at Lotus, whilst Malaysian news agency Bernama reports that the Norfolk-based operation has successfully passed its own side impact and nose box crash tests for the new car even if the team has yet to take and pass the official FIA tests, as it eyes a mid-February roll-out.

Edited November 17, 2009 by rocket63

[fspider 0]

I hope Kobayashi is signed up, he is a mighty driver. The guy reminds me of Lewis Hamilton in his agresive style.

[Al. 278 1 Vehicles]

In Autosport tonight.....Hmmmmmmmmmmmm It is all getting very disjointed IMHO and that never worked in any previous F1 team with only 2 different locations to communicate between. So Far Lotus are playing with 4 or 5. Still lets not knock them too much before the car has even turned a wheel.

Former grand prix driver Alex Yoong has joined the Lotus team to head up its young driver development programme.

The Malaysian will focus on the Asian part of the scheme, with the European side being run by Litespeed Formula 3 team principal Nino Judge.

Lotus has also appointed Mia Sharizman Ismail as its head of operations in Asia.

Team principal Tony Fernandes said: "These new senior appointments will be a great boost for Lotus F1 Racing. The team have achieved many important milestones and we are on track to be on the grid in Bahrain next year."

It is hoped Yoong and Judge will be able to find and nurture Malaysian talent with a view to racing for the Lotus team in the longer term future.

Lotus F1 CEO Riad Asmat said: "The young driver development scheme will play a key role in finding and developing future Malaysian drivers and it is great that Litespeed can play such an important role in that process.

"There is a lot of raw motorsport talent in Malaysia and as the country's national F1 team, it is our responsibility to bring that to the fore."