Gascoyne: Lotus switching focus to 2011 car

Mike Gascoyne has confirmed that this weekend’s Silverstone upgrade for Lotus is the team’s final significant step forward before the Hingham outfit focuses its attentions on 2011.

Still aiming to finish 2010 as Formula 1’s best new team, Lotus experienced a mix race last time out in Valencia in which Heikki Kovalainen was hit by Mark Webber and Jarno Trulli encountered problems before enjoying the last handful of laps with a happy-handling T127. However, this weekend’s push forward will mark a vital moment in the 1Malaysia squad’s year.

“We have a number of lightweight parts across the car that, among other benefits, will help us use the ballast more effectively, giving our drivers a better chance to optimize balance and setup," Chief Technical Officer Gascoyne explained.

“We also have the last major aero modifications of the season, including a new floor and various bodywork updates, and then the design team’s attention turns to next year’s car."