Monday, January 31, 2011

Team Lotus launches T128 via Team Lotus Notes

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Team Lotus Unveils its 2011 season car "T128" online via their online magazine "Team Lotus Notes".

The 2011 season car for Team Lotus has been launched on Monday, 31st Jan, 2011 exclusively on their online magazine Team Lotus Notes.

This magazine is the special launch edition which comprises of number of exclusive first images of T128. It also features car insights from designers and others who were involved in the development of the new car that includes people from the R&D, Design, Aero, Vehicle Dynamics, and Senior Management Team.

Lewis Butler, Chief Designer: "The biggest design challenge was trying to package everything a bit smaller. We were trying to get that area around the driver really tight so the aerodynamicists were happy with it."

Riad Asmat, Chief Executive Officer: "T128 takes Team Lotus in exactly the right direction. We have said since day one of the Team Lotus dream that the plan for our second year was to take the fight to the midfield, and with this car we are all confident that is what we will be able to do."

Team Principal Tony Fernandes: "There has been so much focus off-track it's a thrill to be able to get back to talking about racing. The launch of the T128 is a big step forward for Team Lotus and I want to thank the whole team for the amount of hard work that has already gone into the car, and I want to thank Renault and Red Bull Technology for their tremendous support in helping us make this step forward and for being such great team partners."

The car design is much more contemporary than the last year car, the year in which Team Lotus debuted for F1. In their Second season, they are aiming as a midfield runners.

As said by Heikki Kovalainen "The Last Six Weeks have been fantastic for me, doing basic training initially and now shifting up a gear to get the performance levels right. It's been a great winter and I think I am the best prepared, I have ever been".

As said by Jarno Trulli " Sitting on the grid in Bahrain this year will feel very different - A Different tension. Last year we were just aiming to finish the race. This year, we will be aiming to finish in points. With the package we have, that should be achievable."

Earlier the car was named as TL11, but now Team Lotus had changed their plans and named the car as T128 in continuation with the last year T127.

Team Boss Tony Fernandes comments about change of name as "Because we are continuing with history. We are a new dynasty but tradition contiunes."
Last year, the team - then called Lotus Racing under official license from the Proton-owned carmaker Group Lotus - raced its 2010 car with the T127 designation. T127 was the continuation of the original Lotus team's traditional vehicle designation system, and it was thought that the reversion to TL11 for this year was to avoid yet another clash with Group Lotus amid the naming dispute. Indicating that the designation of the 2011 car was an issue right until the T128's reveal very early on Monday morning, the launch magazine made no mention of the two variations.

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