Lotus opt to skip first pre-season test

Technical director hopes spending longer time in factory will be beneficial.

Lotus will skip the first pre-season test in Jerez, leaving just eight days of running for the E22 – the 2014 car – before the season opening Australian Grand Prix, according to Sky Sports.

The Enstone-based team hopes that spending a longer time in the factory developing the car will be of more benefit to them than four days of running in southern Spain.

“We’re going to keep our car under wraps a little longer than some other teams,” said technical director Nick Chester.



“We’ve decided that attending the Jerez test isn’t ideal for our build and development programme. We are likely to unveil the car before attending the Bahrain tests."

Whilst the news would seem to suggest that Lotus are behind with their development of the 2014 challenger, Chester says he is happy with their progress.

“Our partners have reported themselves to be very impressed with the layout and various solutions to the new technical challenges,” he added.

“Our E22 development programme has been ongoing for over two years and it has been illuminating watching it grow. The backbone of Enstone is strong and we are relishing the challenge of the new season ahead.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2014.

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