Lotus needs to “step up” in 2011 – Mike Gascoyne
Lotus has been a part of Formula 1 since a long time. The team has 7 championships to its credit and after their performance in 2010; it seems that it wouldn’t be possible for the team to increase this number for at least a couple of years.
Team Lotus decided to return to Formula 1 after departing from the sport back in 1994. However, the team was unable to perform up to their fans expectations but they are hoping for some improvements in 2011.
Lotus team director Mike Gascoyne stated that Lotus will have to take it up a notch after this so called “dress rehearsal” debut season. However, the team was able to give the best result out of the three new teams that were introduced this year that included
Hispania Racing Team (HRT) and Virgin Racing Team.
The team was running on Cosworth engines in 2010 but since they have signed with Renault and Red Bull, they will be running on Renault engines in 2011 and use Red Bull’s hydraulic and gearbox systems in 2011.
“So there is that element of saying, 'yes that was nice boys, well done - but now we've got to get on with it and do it properly'. There is an element of 2010 being a dress rehearsal; in some ways that's quite a good way of putting it,” he said.
Mike believes that the team still has what it takes to finish on top and in order to match the pace of Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren; the team will have to take itself to the next level.
“I'd like to point out Red Bull have spent seven years, investing probably three-times what we're investing, and they bought the Jaguar team, so they had a bit of a head start,” he added.
The team is expected to run with the same drivers line-up that contains Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli as their two full time drivers.
“But ultimately yes, it is up to me and the team. We've got a very direct mark of how well the chassis is performing. Whatever the time difference is at each race, that's what you've got to make up,” said Mike
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