Heikki Kovalainen to hit the track first with ‘TL11’
Team Lotus driver, Heikki Kovalainen will be giving the team’s next car its maiden drive. The team has announced earlier today that Kovalainen has been selected for the first drive of the new car at the Valencia track at the first pre-season test, scheduled
to begin on the 1st of February.
While talking to the media earlier this week the team proclaimed that the work in factory is proceeding just as planned and the team is really excited about its next season’s car. The car will be named ‘TL11’ and is expected to be far more competitive than
the last season’s package. However, the team has announced to hit the track for the first time with the new car on 2nd of February, which marks the second day of test.
Moreover, the team revealed that the official inauguration of the car will be done on 1st of February, in Malaysia. It further explained that the team has "opted to take advantage of the 2011 rules and not run on the 1st of February,
replacing that date with a private test day and on-track filming on Friday, 4th of February".
Moreover, Lotus has decided to hold a formal online launch event of the team car which will be held at 5am GMT, which means mid day in Malaysia, team boss Tony Fernandes' native land. This event will be marked on Monday 31st of January, a day
ahead of the on-track inauguration of TL11.
While talking about his plans and aspirations for the upcoming season, he replied that he hopes to see a lot of improvement in his driving skills next season. Moreover, the Finn explained that a better car will help the team bag better scores than they did
in last year’s campaign.
About the decision of the team for who will take the car on the track first, Kovalainen wrote on his official Twitter page, "We tossed a coin and I won."
The driver was seen with the Malaysian squad for the first time last year, after having spent two years with McLaren and one with Renault. However, in his four year’s career with Formula One, the last one was the most abortive for him. All through the year
the 29-year-old was not able to earn a single point, owing to the uncompetitive car of the team.
Now, the upcoming season will witness him race alongside Jarno Trulli once again. Trulli will be taking his first drive of the new car on Thursday, the third day of the first practice.
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