James Allison expresses gratitude to Eric Boullier for allowing innovation – Formula 1 news
James Allison, the technical director of Lotus has expressed his gratitude to Eric Boullier, the team principal for allowing innovation in the new car E20 for the upcoming 2012 F1 season starting at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia on March 18, 2012.
Lotus struggled during the last season because of its novel front-exiting exhausts which were eventually unhelpful while the other contenders went way ahead in the field with exhaust designs like Red Bull.
Therefore, after the last year’s performance results, it would not be wrong to perceive that Boullier would definitely have wanted to go with a more conventional design for the forthcoming season.
However, he has allowed quite an innovative and adventurous design for the new car which has been faster than any other rival’s car during the pre-season tests at both the circuits in Jerez and Barcelona.
“I can only thank my boss,” Allison told Auto Motor und Sport. “He had every reason to demand from us a conservative car, but instead they encouraged us to continue to be innovative. You can get it right that way but there’s also a lot of risk.”
Romain Grosjean said that they were ready for a tussle with Mercedes and Ferrari in the first GP. Besides, when he was asked whether the car would win the races, he answered cautiously that it would be too early to say anything but he was quite confident
about securing the podiums.
“I think it's too early to say anything. I think Red Bull and McLaren are still ahead of us, they look really strong. But if it can be a podium car then I'll take it,” said Grosjean.
Furthermore, the team only faced some issues in the suspension of the car during the second test at Barcelona however other than that the new car had created quite an encouraging feeling for the team after the tests for the upcoming season.
“Its manufacturing is worlds better than the (2011) R31,” said Allison. “There are fewer seams, gaps, edges. Anything that increases air resistance was eliminated systematically.”
Moreover, after Lotus made a scrupulous advancement regarding the aerodynamics of the car for 2012 season, a German magazine reported that the secret was under the crust.
Tags: