F1-drive

[SinglePic not found]
The former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir, conducted the official opening of Lotus Racing’s UK factory in Hingham on Monday. Mahathir was joined at the ceremony by Lotus team principal Tony Fernandes, deputy team principals Kamarudin Meranun and SM Nasarudin and chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne.

Following the opening, Malaysia’s longest serving Prime Minister toured the team’s Norfolk headquarters and then took a seat in the cockpit of the T127 while its Cosworth engine was fired up.

“It is very exciting for us and the team that Tun Dr. Mahathir has been able to come to Norfolk to officially open our factory,” said Fernandes. “He is the father of motor racing in Malaysia, the visionary behind the birth of the Sepang International Circuit and the Malaysian Grand Prix and has given us all the inspiration to reach for the skies and achieve our dreams – as such it is a tremendous honour for us to welcome him here and we are extremely proud he has opened our factory today.”

Although their factory has only just been officially opened, Lotus’s 2010 preparations are already well underway, with the T127 having successfully completed its maiden test at Jerez last week. The team will be back on track from Thursday at the final pre-season test in Barcelona, ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in March.

formula1.com