Mike Gascoyne: Lotus better off without KERS - Formula 1 update
Team Lotus’ Technical Director, Mike Gascoyne, has said that the Lotus car will be better off not using the Kinetic Energy Recovery System technology, as there is no room in the car and it will be an extra load to carry. On the other hand, Chief Operating
Officer Keith Saunt has said that KERS may make its way in the lotus car half way through the 2011 Formula 1 season.
Gascoyne explained that the Lotus car chassis were designed keeping in mind that KERS will not be used in the 2011 season. He explained that with its’ weight and cost, it is useless for small teams like Lotus. Although he said that the matter will be discussed
with the Renault engine supplier and then the final decision will be made.
He said that in 2011, KERS will be useful in the start of the races. “It would not be good if we're among a few of our direct opponents in qualifying and then before the first corner we lose three or four places because we lack that extra power on the line,”
he explained.
KERS has caused a lot of problems to the teams as most of the drivers have shown concern over it, saying that it puts the car in ‘no man’s land’ for five to ten meters and then activates.
Williams’ driver, Rubens Barrichello has commented about KERS a few days ago that, “We [Williams] need to decide quickly what we are going to do. It is an uncertain factor for us; one day it gives us no problems and the next day it gives us hundreds of problems.”
There are also some people who have welcomed KERS to Formula 1. McLaren team boss, Martin Whitmarsh, said that KERS along with Pirelli tyres will make the 2011 season more interesting.
Although the drivers of Lotus, Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli, have not shown concern about not having KERS in their car, there are talks that it will be used to make the T128 car more competitive in the mid-field.
The season opener in Australia is only two weeks from now and Lotus will have to be very careful about KERS, as their drivers have not yet tested a hybrid car in the pre-season.
Tags: