Thursday, 23 February 2012 00:25

Lotus F1 Team strengthens management setup as part of on-going investment aimed at returning to title contender statusIn line with its continued commitment to building a successful future through investing both in facilities and human resources, Lotus F1 Team is pleased to announce the strengthening of its management team.

This initiative sees Patrick Louis promoted from Chief Operating Officer to Chief Executive Officer. Luxembourg-born Patrick joined the company in 2010. His initial focus was on restructuring the processes and structures at Enstone. His new role will concentrate on the efficient utilisation of this restructuring.

Swiss-born Thomas Mayer has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer. Thomas joins the team with a wealth of experience in managing human resources, effective processing and production. He will work in close relationship with Patrick Louis and Eric Boullier.

Gerard Lopez, Chairman, Lotus F1 Team: “Our fight to return to the front of the grid is a continual process, and we are leaving no stone unturned. The contributions that Patrick Louis and Eric Boullier have made so far have been invaluable, and we are now able to better focus their efforts through the addition of Thomas Mayer as Chief Operating Officer. Thomas comes to us with over 15 years’ professional experience. He has an in-depth knowledge of running large operations incorporating production, logistics and organisational structuring. Our efforts are concerted behind our objective to be a contender once more for the 2015-16 championships, to continue the proud heritage of the 1994-95 and 2005-6 world championship titles achieved by Enstone.”

Thursday, 23 February 2012 00:25

Hingham, UK - 18 January 2012

Caterham F1 Team and its GP2 team Caterham Racing have today confirmed that they are proposing to move their operational base from their current site in Norfolk to a new home in Leafield, Oxfordshire, in August 2012.

Team Principal Tony Fernandes explained how the proposed move will help both teams continue to establish themselves as serious contenders for long-term honours in the FIA Formula One World Championship and the GP2 support series: “The factory in Hingham has been our home since we were first granted our entry into the F1 World Championship in September 2009 and it has served us extremely well, giving us the perfect platform to establish both the F1 team and our GP2 team in the first stages of our development. However, as both teams grew, and in the planning process we went through when acquiring Caterham Cars and establishing the wider Caterham Group, it became clear that we needed to house the car company in the same facility as our racing operations, to give us the best chance to meet our future goals on and off track. We began looking for a site that could be adapted to suit the future needs of our racing and road car operations and Leafield quickly became the obvious choice.

“We propose moving the F1 and GP2 teams to the new site in or around August 2012, giving us ample time to build up the infrastructure required to house all the critical elements of both teams, and propose moving Caterham Cars into a new, bespoke development and production facility on the same site in due course. We are able to build the new home for Caterham Cars from the ground up on the Leafield site, giving us a permanent home in the perfect location for two of the primary arms of the Caterham Group. We will be consulting with all our team about the proposed move before we make any decisions about exactly which functions will be located to the new site."

“The factory in Hingham is where the dream began, and we will continue to develop that site into the new permanent home for Caterham Composites. We have cutting edge technical and production facilities already in operation in the factory, now focused on the F1 and GP2 teams, and we will be expanding those facilities to help meet the future demands of Caterham Composites’ clients in all the markets that company will operate in, continuing to provide jobs and investment in Norfolk in world class, cutting edge technology. Caterham Technology and Innovation will also remain in Norfolk, demonstrating our long-term commitment to our first home.

“While it will obviously be sad if the F1 and GP2 teams move on from Hingham we are not saying goodbye to Norfolk. This will be the next chapter in the development of both our motor racing teams and our road car company and gives us the best chance to keep progressing on track and, in future, on the road with Caterham Cars.”

Thursday, 23 February 2012 00:25

Formulec made its first appearance of 2012 at the AUTOSPORT International Show in Birmingham, UK, last weekend where it was invited to attend the sixth edition of the ‘Low Carbon Racing’ conference by the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA). The EF01 single-seater provided a striking backdrop for the distinguished speakers discussing themes such as reducing CO2 levels, alternative fuels, electric and hybrid vehicles, alternative energies and sustainable development.

Chris Aylett, CEO of the MIA: “Formulec’s electric single-seater prototype attracted enormous interest. It was beautifully prepared and presented by Formulec, and really demonstrated how exciting the electric future will appear on-track.”

With the conference over, EF01 spent the remainder of the exhibition displayed on the stand of motorsport television channel Motors TV where it attracted much interest from show-goers, media and industry insiders alike.

The show also offered an ideal opportunity for Formulec to be unveiled as Quimera and the International Motor Sport Association’s (IMSA) official single-seater class that will form part of a new global Electric Vehicle series currently taking shape in the US. As such, Formulec looks set to compete on the same bill as various future electrical classes, including GTs and touring cars, as well as motorcycles from the TTXGP World Championship.

Thursday, 23 February 2012 00:25

Dr. Vijay Mallya: "I was shocked to read a media report that I am selling the Force India Formula One team. This is completely untrue and without any basis whatsoever. I take great pride in having been able to put an Indian team on the Formula One World Championship grid and have worked very hard to greatly improve the performance of the team. Now that India is finally on the Formula One World Championship calendar, my commitment to Force India becomes even stronger. As Team Principal, I will continue to run the team and I have no plans whatsoever to exit.”

New Delhi
October 7, 2011