Lotus will use Red Bull gearboxes next year
Lotus has confirmed that Red Bull technology will supply the team with gearboxes and hydraulics systems starting from the 2011 season. This means that they will supply the team with the systems from 2011 onwards as well.
“The announcement is obviously a massive step forward for us, both in engineering terms, and as an expression of our ambitions for next year and for future championships,” said Mike Gascoyne, Lotus’s chief technical officer.
The gearbox and hydraulics packages are the backbone of a performance of the car on the track and in designing and packing terms also.
“This deal gives our design and aero teams a very exciting platform to work with. The removal of the double diffusers in 2011 will allow the whole grid to tighten up the rear bodywork and mechanical structures around the gearbox, and this supply deal will
allow us to capitalise on that with our 2011 car”, said Gascoyne with excitement.
Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull added that they are very pleased to help Lotus with this problem. It is an honour for the team as Red Bull Technology has been chosen to be the suppliers to another team despite the fact that the team has
not been around for a long time but they have achieved a lot since their debut season. The team is looking forward to working with Lotus racing from 2011 and onwards.
It was confirmed last week that Lotus agreed to terminate its contract with Cosworth, who are their current engine suppliers and were expected to use Renault power next year.
The team along with Din Kamarudin Meranun, Nasa SM Nasarudin were delighted to sign with Red Bull.
“It is a real statement of our intention to challenge for Formula One honours as soon as we can that we have reached this agreement and we are very excited about integrating the package into our 2011 car”, said Lotus team principal Tony Fernandes.
He thinks that many people are going to follow Lotus’ progress even more closely after this big news and the team has taken an incredibly important and ambitious step in the team’s career. Next year will be quite exciting for Lotus Racing team and the team
hopes for the best possible results next season.
The team is yet to score any points after its return to the Formula 1 but they are the leading new team out of the three new teams including HRT and Virgin.
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