Failure not an option for the new Lotus F1 Racing team, says former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir. The new Lotus F1 Racing team must succeed that is the message from former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir.
The Lotus name will return to the pinnacle of the sport this season thanks to the efforts of team boss, Tony Fernandes and technical chief, Mike Gascoyne.
Speaking after officially opening the Lotus Racing’s Hingham factory, Tun Dr. Mahathir added that they must “jolly well deliver” in F1 2010: “Lotus is a very famous name and if they fail, that is not going to be good for them,” said the ex-Malaysian PM.
Despite that warning though, he remains convinced that the squad can deliver and that Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen will both get some good results, even if the teams budget is considerably less than the likes of Ferrari and McLaren.
“We don’t have (lots of) money, (but) we can work with a small budget. It is okay, we can do it,” he continued.
Meanwhile a day later Lotus Racing’s Hingham factory was visited by HRH The Duke of York. The Duke was given an official tour of the team’s facility and presented with a commemorative set of his own Lotus Racing overalls.
“I have been privileged to work with His Royal Highness over a number of years in his role as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment,” said Fernandes. “As is well known without HRH’s efforts Air Asia X’s partnership with Rolls Royce would not have become a reality.
What is perhaps less well recognised is that the Duke was one of the primary catalysts behind our substantial capital investment here in Norfolk.
“Indeed it was thanks to the Duke’s advice in June of 2009 that we began another extraordinary partnership between Malaysia and the United Kingdom that has culminated in the successful entry and creation of the Lotus Racing T127 grand prix car. I am delighted that His Royal Highness was able to join us at Lotus Racing today.”
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