Malaysia’s Fairuz returns to F1 as Lotus-Renault reserve driver

Former Team Lotus F1 driver Fairuz Fauzy has been named the reserve driver for team Lotus-Renault for the 2011 Formula One season. The main drivers will be Poland’s Robert Kubica and Russia’s Vitaly Petrov.

Eric Boullier, the team principal, announced and introduced Fairuz to the Malaysian media at the Lotus GP facility here yesterday.

Also present at the announcement were Proton Holdings Bhd (PHB) chairman Datuk Seri Nadzmi Mohd Salleh, PHB group managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Taher and other PHB board members.

Boullier also announced that 25 Malaysian engineers would be employed and based at the F1 facility here as part of a long-term plan.

Fairuz said his aim was to ensure that he would be a primary driver and not just a reserve driver for the team.

“I will be racing for the team in the GP2 series and I hope to win some points and medals with the aim of making it to the main team as a regular," he said, adding that the F1 and GP2 races would run simultaneously.

“The GP2 will also use the new Pirelli tires as the F1 and this will definitely help me to get used to the car."

Fairuz also revealed that discussions for him to join team Lotus Renault started as soon as he left Lotus Racing.

There were also reports linking him with a move to IndyCar racing in the United States.

He said he would do his best to contribute to the team, who have won world championship medals.

“Team Lotus Renault have very good plans and training facilities and I am sure I will benefit from it," he said.