Lotus Racing Launch Thread

[DazzlaF1]

Well all we've seen is one spy shot of the shakedown a few days ago, but tomorrow, we get to see the new Lotus in all its Green & Yellow glory.

There's still no word however on what it will be called, will it follow the old Team Lotus tradition and be numbered (i believe if it were, the car would be called the 127, might be wrong on that part i think) or will it follow what we usually see in todays world (e.g. TF-01, LR-01, LR-2010 etc)

Anyway, should be fascinating

[V12]

Is there any word on what time we should be expecting the launch today? The only details I've been able to find are the date.

I'm hoping for a traditional Lotus numbering, but given the team is trying to selectively break from tradition (e.g. not using the Team Lotus name), while retaining some other aspects, I honestly think it's a 50/50 toss-up as to what they'll do.

[DazzlaF1]

Is there any word on what time we should be expecting the launch today? The only details I've been able to find are the date.


Same here, The official website only says this (from January 28th)

"Lotus Racing today confirmed that the long awaited launch of the 2010 Lotus Formula 1 racing car will take place on the 12th of February in central London."

"The Royal Horticultural Hall has been selected by the team as the perfect venue to unveil one of the sporting world's most eagerly anticipated new challengers and an audience of 400 guests, including all staff of the newly formed team, will be the first to see the livery of the new Lotus Racing car."

I would presume it would be either 1pm or 3pm but then again, thats just an educated guess

[steveaki13]

Launch apparently at 5pm. According to Twitter

[steveaki13]

Found this

http://f1colours.wordpress.com/2010/02/12/official-lotus-pictures/

[gloomyDAY]

http://f1colours.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/lotus4.jpg

[K-Pu]

Green cars are back, and the livery looks good!

The design is more... something I´d expect some years ago... or so.

[Josti]

What a beauty.

[Allyc85]

Does look quite chunky, but I like the livery :)

[Sonic]

Really loving the return of Lotus - they've done it in a really classy way, but that car looks a decade out of date.

[DazzlaF1]

Green cars are back, and the livery looks good!

The design is more... something I´d expect some years ago... or so.

Well its what i was expecting from a new team (a bit like Virgin really) a design that is simple and can be sufficiently developed.

But apart from that, oh wow, i've waited a long time to see a new F1 car in proper British Racing Green and it looks gorgeous, the addition of the yellow stripe is lovely too, nice homage to Colin Chapman's legendary world beaters from the 1960's

[DazzlaF1]

The drivers seem to agree about the car's expectations, setting their sights relatively low.

http://en.espnf1.com/lotus/motorsport/story/8634.html

[Sonic]

And best of all its numbered the T127 - Lotus are back Baby! :D

[VkmSpouge]

Absolutely love the livery and a nice touch calling the car the T127. The car does look quite conservative, the sidepods don't appear to be as sleak and rounded as other cars and the nose is quite a thin one. I wish Lotus good luck.

[DazzlaF1]

From the launch itself, even the overalls look great

http://www.thelotusforums.com/cms/images/stories/Pictures/Lotus_F1_Car_launch/F1f.jpg

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47291000/jpg/_47291525_lotus_credit.jpg

http://www.thelotusforums.com/cms/images/stories/Pictures/Lotus_F1_Car_launch/F1g.jpg

[jens]

What a lovely-looking car, can't hide my excitement. :) :up:

In terms of car design the most annoying thing for me are the sidepods, which look significantly outdated. And sidepods aren't quite something like wings, which can be changed for the next test. For an improvement they would need a major redesign.

By the way, I couldn't resist adding that the co-operation between Lotus Racing and Lotus Cars is already taking place. Here is a pic of Trulli testing a Lotus Evora. :) :up:
http://www.lotus-central.com/images/stories/jan/Lotus_Evora_Cup_Driven_by_Jarno_Trulli_at_Snettert on.jpg

[DazzlaF1]

What a lovely-looking car, can't hide my excitement. :) :up:

In terms of car design the most annoying thing for me are the sidepods, which look significantly outdated. And sidepods aren't quite something like wings, which can be changed for the next test. For an improvement they would need a major redesign.

By the way, I couldn't resist adding that the co-operation between Lotus Racing and Lotus Cars is already taking place. Here is a pic of Trulli testing a Lotus Evora. :) :up:
http://www.lotus-central.com/images/stories/jan/Lotus_Evora_Cup_Driven_by_Jarno_Trulli_at_Snettert on.jpg

Yes its annoying, but overall, i imagine that it was designed with certain improvements/updates already in the pipeline. It may also be possible that they could bring out a b-spec verson of the car like McLaren did last year but wether they have the funds to do that I dont know.

So i'll just put this down as a building year for them, the odd points finish this season I think they would consider a success and something for them to build upon which is not a bad thing if you look upon it.

[CaptainRaiden]

Jeez, the sidepods are extremely outdated. Looks like something from pre 1998.

Even the 10 year old Jaguar had more sculpted sidepods:

http://www.grandprix.com/jpeg/misc/jaguar2003launch-lg.jpg

[truefan72]

nice real nice, easily my second favorite behind the mclaren.

I was hoping they would go for a metallic green and they did.
Exceeded my expectations. I love it!

[truefan72]

more pictures,

yeah. its gorgeous!

http://f1colours.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/lotus2.jpg
http://f1colours.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/lotus3.jpg

[Stuartf12007]

looks boring, cant see it doing any better than being a mobile chicane, but good luck to them, i hope they suceed.

[RJL25]

The fact the sidepods are so bulky is an obvious indication that it's hiding some pretty bulky mechanical's.

I think under the skin you would find a pretty low tech (by F1 standards) car, extreemly conservative design.

I hope their competitive, it's really nice having Lotus back in F1 and it's great to see they are doing it the right way with more then a signiciant nod to their past as well as proper co-operation with Lotus Cars, but unfortunately I think their first season is going to be very tough...

[Saint Devote]

They were given the F1 go-ahead later than any other team and have produced a beautiful racing car. Well done.

[wedge]

http://cdn.gallery.autosport.com/picture_free.php/dir/2010lot1/image/l__a8c2562-2

The level of detailing of the front wing endplates looks impressive and certainly is a statement of intent considering how important they are now at diverting airflow around the car. Whether it works properly or not in the real world is another question!

[WSRfan82]

its stunning retro looks with modern tech...cant wait to see that baby on track.

the Lean mean green sexy machine is back on the seen xD

[racepode1]

The car is realy beatiful far away my favorite, but yes look like the 1997 Sauber.

[woody2goody]

Well they are targeting points by the end of the season, and they wouldn't make that statement if they weren't confident in the car.

Maybe it's like the Virgin car, not in full aero spec just yet?

Looks nice though :)

[mac853]

Wow, I am very delighted to see the old legendary livery was come back.
Care the past is the respect of the future.
Good luck for Jarno's new adventure.

[52Paddy]

I love that livery and it's a nice touch that they included "127" in the model name. Yes, as has been said, it does look considerably outdated, but with the dedication and intent that this team appear to have, and with people of Mike Gascoyne's calibre on the squad, they know what they are doing and I expect them to do a decent job for a new team in 2010.

This car just goes to show you what an interesting diversity of design that these regulations have brought with them. There are so many contrasts in design and this year's grid, in my opinion, will look the best and most varied that it has in a very long time (probably since before I first began watching the sport - 2001!).

[DazzlaF1]

They now have their own Youtube channel with videos showing some great behind the scenes footage of the car's build, the launch and the shakedown and also a quite amusing advert starring Heikki Kovalainen promoting MTV3's F1 Coverage in Finland

http://www.youtube.com/user/mylotusracing

[52Paddy]

In relation to the wind tunnel testing video: is that a smaller scale car they are using? If so, how can they apply that data to the full size car because I don't think you can just do it through ratios?