Davide Valsecchi Focused On Third Driver Role With Lotus

Reigning GP2 Champion Davide Valsecchi has explained how he is fully focused on his new third driver role within the Lotus F1 team, as the Italian ace aims to begin his career in the world of Formula 1. In 2012, Valsecchi stormed to GP2 Championship supremacy with four wins and ten podium finishes.

After several highly successful seasons in the GP2 feeder series, which included both a GP2 and a GP2 Asia Championship, Davide Valsecchi has secured himself the third driver role within Lotus. This new role for the 26-year-old will see him work alongside Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean, along with both Jerome D’Ambrosio and Nicolas Prost who will carry out reserve and development driver duties. Davide Valsecchi is aiming to fully focus on his work with Lotus throughout the 2013 season, in the hope that he can progress to a full-time drive in later years.

“I hope that this is a really good start to a career in Formula 1.” Explained Davide Valsecchi, who has previously tested for both HRT and Caterham (formerly Lotus). “Every day I will do the very best job that I can to give Lotus F1 Team the same passion and commitment that I showed last year. My last year in GP2 in 2012 was something I really focussed on, and in the end I succeeded. Now in Formula 1 my target will be a little different, but my focus to do the very best is still the same. I very much hope, step by step, to get into Formula 1 as a race driver and being here as third driver is as near as you can get. It’s a great opportunity here; if I do the best job I can this year then it will open up my chances for the future and we’ll see if I’m good enough.”

Many were understandably expecting Davide Valsecchi to secure himself a full-time drive in Formula 1 for the new season, with the Italian driver linked to numerous teams after being crowned Champion at Singapore. However, Valsecchi could well benefit greatly from his time at Lotus, as he aims to build upon his career in the dog-eat-dog world of Formula 1.

Picture Copyright © Lotus F1 Team

Jerome D’Ambrosio Still Aiming For A Full-Time Race Seat

Jerome D’Ambrosio is remaining focused on securing himself a full-time race seat in the future, as he prepares to once again play a pivotal role within the Lotus F1 team as their reserve driver. The Belgian driver took part in the Italian Grand Prix last season during Romain Grosjean’s one-race ban, eventually finishing 13th overall.

After making his Formula 1 debut with Marussia back in 2011, when the outfit was then known as Virgin Racing, the 27-year-old was replaced for the 2012 season by Frenchman Charles Pic. This saw D’Ambrosio become the Lotus reserve driver, alongside a completely new driving line-up at the Enstone-based outfit with Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean.

The Belgian driver was an invaluable asset to the team throughout the course of the 2012 season, taking part in the Mugello test in May as well as standing in for the banned Romain Grosjean at the Italian Grand Prix. Although Jerome D’Ambrosio is fully committed to his work with the Enstone-based outfit, he is understandably eager to return to a full-time race seat in the near future, and he is hopeful that his time with Lotus will show future employers what he has to offer.

“I learned from last year that you need to be ready in order to step straight into a race seat, so my aim will be to keep focussed and be prepared!” Explained Jerome D’Ambrosio, when asked what his aims were for the season ahead. “Of course my ultimate aim is always to gain a race seat, however I know that by doing the best job I can here – and proving myself valuable to the team – I’m in a very good position should an opportunity arise.”

Jerome D’Ambrosio will be joined in his behind-the-scenes development and reserve driver duties at Lotus by reigning GP2 Champion Davide Valsecchi and Nicolas Prost in the forthcoming season, as the Enstone-based outfit aims for another competitive season at the top. The five drivers at the Enstone-based outfit share a combined total of one Formula 1 World Championship, two GP2 Championships, three GP2 Asia Championships, one Formula Master Championship and one Auto GP Championship between them. This alone shows just how strong the driver line-up is at Lotus.

Picture Copyright © Lotus F1 Team

Lotus Becomes First Team To Unveil 2013 Car

Lotus have become the first Formula 1 team to unveil their new 2013 car ahead of the new season, after the Enstone-based outfit took the covers off of their new E21 machine at their factory. The car will once again be driven by Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean, and features several modifications in comparison to their 2012 car.

After a relatively competitive 2012 season for the Enstone-based outfit, which included numerous podium finishes for both Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean, including a sensational victory for the Finn at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lotus are understandably hopeful that their E21 machine can propel them to new heights this season.

The returning duo will be partnered by reigning GP2 Champion Davide Valsecchi, who becomes the team’s third driver after a successful 2012 season which culminated in GP2 Championship supremacy and a Young Driver Test outing with Lotus. The Enstone-based outfit have also retained both Jerome D’Ambrosio and Nicolas Prost, who will once again carry out reserve and development driver duties respectively in 2013.

“I think it is fair to say that great things are possible [in 2013].” Explained Lotus team principal, Eric Boullier. “The leap we made from 2011 to 2012 showed what we are capable of. Add to this the continuity and potential of our driver line-up and we have a very powerful cocktail for the season ahead. Our ambitious plan to turn ourselves into one of the top teams in Formula 1 is coming to fruition and now we need to harness this with strong and regular podium results.

“Enstone knows how to win Championships, but it is a while since we have won so we are very eager to taste glory again.” Continued Eric Boullier, “We have a fantastic facility at Enstone and one which has benefitted from significant and strategic investment over the past couple of years. We have a highly accomplished technical and design team who last year produced a fantastic car, the E20. The E21 builds on this. We have a superb driver line-up with the 2007 Champion, Kimi, and a hungry young gun in Romain. We have further strength in our partners and we are certainly primed and ready for action.”

Despite the teams’ being permitted to implement a modesty panel to hide the step-nose design at the front of the car, Lotus have elected against such a design and have retained the step-nose feature on their 2013 machine. Although the E21 may look similar to its E20 predecessor, several new features include the passive double-DRS device which the team developed throughout the latter half of last season as well as revised suspension layouts at both the front and the rear.

“Depending on where you look, some parts of the new car are a ground-up redesign and in other areas we have further optimized the best bits of the philosophy we’ve adopted for several seasons.” Explained the team’s technical director James Allison, when asked about the differences between the E20 and E21. “The front and rear suspension layouts are substantially revised to try and give us better aerodynamic opportunities. The front wing is a continuation of the concepts we have worked on since the 2009 rules were published. For the rear wing system, we’ve continued work on having a satisfactory level of rear downforce stability, whilst having a maximum DRS switching potential.”

Lotus were a prominent figure throughout the majority of the 2012 season, however for the 2013 season the Enstone-based outfit have intentions on battling with the likes of McLaren and Red Bull on a more regular basis at the sharp-end of the order. A minimum of 3rd place in the Constructors’ Championship is expected by the team’s owners, which would potentially see the team leapfrog either Red Bull, Ferrari or McLaren should their predictions for the forthcoming season come to fruition.

Picture(s) Copyright © Lotus F1 Team

Dani Clos To Return Behind The Wheel At Korea During Practice

HRT’s reserve driver, Dani Clos, will once again return behind the wheel of the F112 this weekend during the opening practice session for the Korean Grand Prix. This will be the Spaniard’s sixth outing for the team this season, and his first since the Belgian Grand Prix prior to Ma Qing Hua’s introduction to race weekends at Italy and Singapore.

Dani Clos made his first official appearance for the Spanish outfit back in May during opening practice for the Spanish Grand Prix, creating F1 history by becoming the first all-Spanish line-up alongside Pedro de la Rosa in a Spanish team. Since then, Clos has partaken in practice at the British, German, Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix, stepping aside from his role to allow the team’s development driver, Ma Qing Hua, two race weekends within the team.

“Driving the F112 is always a great satisfaction and I feel very lucky and thankful to the team for this new opportunity they have given to me to drive in the first free practice session in Korea.” Explained Dani Clos, “Like always, I’m going to give my 100% and my main objective is to work for the team to complete the established programme in the best way possible. To be able to contribute, even in a modest way, makes me very proud and, personally, it’s an experience that is helping me to grow as a driver. And even more so having someone like Pedro next to me.”

Once again Dani Clos will be replacing Narain Karthikeyan during the opening practice session this weekend, and will join fellow countryman Pedro de la Rosa. Both drivers will get their first taste of the Korea International Circuit this weekend, before Narain Karthikeyan returns behind the wheel of the F112 later Friday afternoon for the second practice session and the remainder of the weekend.

Picture Copyright © HRT F1 Team

Ma Qing Hua To Drive Once Again In Practice At Singapore

HRT’s development driver Ma Qing Hua will once again get behind the wheel of the F112 at an official F1 event next time out at Singapore, as the Chinese driver continues his valuable learning experiences with the Spanish-outfit. The 24-year-old made F1 history last time out in Monza, becoming the first Chinese-born driver to race in the sport.

After initially partaking in HRT’s Young Driver Test at Silverstone back in July, Ma Qing Hua is now preparing to participate in his second official practice session in F1. Many teams up and down the paddock have utilized the opening practice session of the weekend to run their reserve drivers, such as Valtteri Bottas [Williams] and Jules Bianchi [Force India] making regular appearances for their respective teams. With HRT set to introduce several new upgrades at the Singapore Grand Prix, Ma Qing Hua will be instrumental in testing the new updates.

“I’m very happy to drive the F112 for a second time in a row and I really appreciate the opportunity HRT is giving me.” Explained Ma Qing Hua, “It will be very exciting to drive an F1 [car] around the streets of Singapore. It’s a very demanding track for all of us, but it will be even more of a challenge for me as this is only the second time I will be driving the car at a race weekend. I have prepared myself in the simulator as well as doing some specific exercises to be used to driving at night. This is yet again another step in my career and I look forward to getting more experience at the wheel of a Formula 1 car as well as doing my best to help the team to prepare for the race.”

Ma Qing Hua will once again replace Narain Karthikeyan for the opening session of the weekend, before the Indian driver makes a return behind the cockpit of the F112 for the second practice session later in the afternoon. Narain Karthikeyan has also never raced around the Marina Bay street circuit, and will be eager to utilize the 90-minute second practice session to learn the track.

Picture Copyright © HRT F1 Team