Lotus confirmed for 2010 as FIA pushes for 14 teams

Following an intensive selection and due diligence process, the FIA has awarded the 13th entry in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship to the new Lotus team.

The FIA also received an impressive application from the BMW Sauber team. As such, it has awarded BMW Sauber the '14th place' in the championship meaning that it will be entitled to fill any vacancy that arises on the 2010 grid.

In addition, the FIA believes that a good case can be made for expanding the grid to 14 teams. The FIA will be consulting urgently with the existing teams regarding the introduction of an appropriate rule change to expand the grid to 28 cars in time for the first Grand Prix in 2010.

Detailed below is information about the new team that has been confirmed to compete in the championship from next year, joining fellow newcomers Manor Grand Prix, Team US and Campos Meta.

Company Name: 1Malaysia F1 Team Sdn Bhd
Team Name: Lotus F1 Team
Country: Malaysia
Team Principal: Tony Fernandes

A partnership between the Malaysian Government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs, 1Malaysia F1 Team returns the Lotus name as a constructor to Formula One for the first time since 1994. The team will initially be based at the RTN facility in Norfolk, UK, some 10 miles from the Lotus Cars factory. A 50,000 square foot fully equipped facility, RTN was built by Toyota for its initial Formula One programme and then used by Bentley for its successful Le Mans programme.

The team’s future design, R&D, manufacturing and technical centre will be purpose built at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit.

Team Principal Tony Fernandes is the founder and CEO of the Malaysian-based Tune Group, owner of the Air Asia airline. The team’s Technical Director Mike Gascoyne has over 20 years of experience in Formula One having previously performed the same role for the Force India, Toyota, Renault and Jordan Formula One teams.

As part of its application to compete in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship, the team has agreed an engine supply deal with Cosworth and a wide variety of technical partnerships including Xtrac and FondTech.

The team is understood to already have a shortlist of six drivers, including both Malaysian and international names, and an announcement confirming their line-up is expected in late October.

1Malaysia F1 Team reveals start-up capital, annual budget

1Malaysia F1 Team will have a start-up capital of RM168 million while the team’s baseline annual budget is estimated at RM308 million.
In a statement, the team said Proton Holdings Bhd will licence its Lotus brand to the 1Malaysia F1 Team (1MF1T).

The partnership licence will include a variety of benefits for both Lotus and Proton involving technology transfer, marketing rights and employment opportunities, both within the national F1 Team, at the team''s technical centre in Sepang and its satellite base in Norfolk, United Kingdom, it said.
1MF1T is a privately-funded project and jointly owned by Tune Group, Naza Group and Litespeed UK.
Tune Group is jointly-owned by 1MF1T Team Principal Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes and 1MF1T Director Datuk Kamarudin Meranun. Other Directors of 1MF1T are SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, the Chief Executive Officer of Naza Group and Zahri Ismail of 1Malaysia F1 Sdn Bhd.

The government holds no equity in the project, either directly or indirectly, through any of the government-linked companies.

The team will collaborate with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS to help realise the aspiration of creating a growing class of high-technology and knowledge-intensive human capital for the country.

Composites Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM), a leading composites manufacturing expert, will also be part of the project, the team said.

Plans are in the advanced stage to develop the 1Malaysia F1 Team technical, research and development and manufacturing centre on a eight hectare site at the Sepang International Circuit.

Fernandes described the team as a lifetime achievement for all Malaysians.
" Other countries have been bidding hard for this spot but Malaysia, through our concerted effort and strength in the true spirit of 1Malaysia, managed to pull it through.

" This will be an excellent opportunity for Malaysian corporates to share this dream that has finally come through," he said.

Fernandes said the project would help Malaysia move up the value chain by emphasising on innovation and technology.

" Having been involved in Formula One, we are very excited at Malaysia owning a Formula One team and the amazing benefits it will bring the country," he added.

Fernandes also said the team was delighted to be partnering Proton in a way that allowed both to focus on its core businesses yet share the benefits of the collaboration in a mutually beneficial manner.


"I am equally pleased too that we are able to announce that every day we are deepening our relationships with CTRM and SIC, with UTM and UTP. It''s an immense privilege to be working with institutions that have embraced the spirit of the Prime Minister’s 1Malaysia vision," he said.

In short, Fernandes said the programme was specifically designed to strengthen Malaysia''s industrial base, inspire students to focus on a wide variety of skills, boost the country''s image as a tourist destination and provide a competitive advantage for the nation on the world stage.

Proton's Managing Director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said the company as very excited and supportive of the Malaysian initiative.

" Through the impending licencing arrangement between Lotus and the team, the brand association will be beneficial to both Lotus and Proton would definitely heighten global brand awareness," he said.

Similarly, Syed Zainal said the Proton Group also hopes to capitalise on this opportunity from a technical and engineering aspect.

" The exposure to be obtained from Formula 1 racing is invaluable, especially when Lotus is a renowned sports car manufacturer and a respectable engineering firm," he said.

The team will rapidly integrate a Malaysian technical and pit crew totalling some 200 people managed by one of Formula One''s most respected and accomplished Technical Director, Mike Gascoyne.

The team has already recruited a core team of international experts with proven track records in the many and various engineering, design and manufacturing disciplines.

This is to ensure the 1Malaysia F1 team is of international standard, readiness and capable of competing with the world’s greatest racing marquees on the world's most prestigious racing stage.

The 1Malaysia F1 Team project takes its name from the "1Malaysia - People First, Performance Now" policy mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak earlier this year.

The policy aims at unifying Malaysians in celebrating the co-operation amongst its multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious society for the betterment of the nation. -Bernama

1MF1T intai Raikkonen, Alonso

SINGAPURA – Jentera pasukan F1 1Malaysia (1MF1T) untuk musim 2010 berkemungkinan besar akan dipandu pelumba yang mempunyai pengalaman luas dalam perlumbaan itu.

Unutk itu tidak ada pemandu Malaysia yang akan mengemudikan jentera Formula Satu (F1) bagi pasukan negara buat pertama kali tahun depan.

Keadaan ini menurut bos pasukan 1MF1T, Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, hanya akan diteruskan sehinggalah ada pemandu tempatan yang sudah bersedia untuk bersaing dengan lain-lain pemandu F1 terkemuka.

Atas dasar itu juga, Fernandes kini berada di Litar Marina Bay menghadiri perlumbaan Grand Prix (GP) Singapura untuk mencari pemandu yang bakal ‘dicuri’ untuk mengemudi jentera pasukan 1MF1T.

Pemandu seperti Kimi Raikkonen dari pasukan Ferrari dan bekas juara dunia, Fernando Alonso dari pasukan Renault, pemenang GP Singapura tahun lepas adalah antara nama yang disebut-sebut.

Bercakap di sini semalam, Fernandes berkata, pasukan 1MF1T tidak mahu jauh ketinggalan kebelakang.

“Kami mahu membuktikan yang kami boleh bersaing dengan pendatang baru yang lain dalam F1 sejak mula dan pada pertengahan musim, kami berharap berada pada pertengahan kelompok.

“Tetapi selepas tiga hingga lima tahun, kami berharap akan menjadi antara yang terbaik.

“Memanglah tidak ada jaminan dalam F1 tapi kami mempunyai impian dan itu merupakan perkara yang penting. Asasnya, kami mahu pemandu tempatan (Malaysia) memandu tapi sehingga dia sudah bersedia. Kami tidak akan hanya membiarkan dia memandu dan ketinggalan di kelompok belakang. Lihat apa yang terjadi dengan Alex Yoong,” katanya.

Alex merupakan pemandu pertama negara yang memandi dalam perlumbaan F1 dengan Pasukan Minardi pada penghujung tahun 90-an namun gagal memberikan sebarang impak.

Juga terdapat cakap-cakap bahawa Fairuz Fauzy, pemandu GP 2 dan Jazeman Jaafar, juara Formula BMW Asia dipertimbangkan sebagai pemandu kedua 1MF1T.

Tambah Fernandes lagi, jentera pasukan 1MF1T yang menggunakan enjin Cosworth kini sedang dibangunkan di Norfolk, United Kingdom dan akan bersedia untuk diuji pada minggu kedua Februari 2010 serta akan dibawa pulang untuk ujian di Litar Sepang. – BERNAMA