2016 Lotus car coming along well

With development of its 2015 E23 Formula One car, shown here, practically stalled, Lotus has made significant prgress in the design and detailing of its 2016 car.

With development of its 2015 E23 Formula One car, shown here, practically stalled, Lotus has made significant prgress in the design and detailing of its 2016 car.

Published Nov 11, 2015

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Enstone, Oxfordshire - Lotus says its 2016 Formula One car is coming along well while it waits for Renault to finalise an expected takeover of the financially-struggling team.

“We're well progressed through the design process and most of the layout has been done,” technical director Nick Chester said on Tuesday in a team preview of this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix.

“There hasn't been the greatest amount of development through the year on the 2015 car so we've been able to dedicate quite a bit of additional manpower to our 2016 challenger.

“Manufacture of some of the parts is already underway and we're now looking at a lot of the final detailing,” added Chester.

Lotus has struggled to pay its suppliers this season, facing several court cases brought against it as well as having to overcome difficulties at the race track.

In Belgium in August, bailiffs prevented the team from removing its cars from the Spa circuit as part of legal action taken by former reserve driver Charles Pic.

It also managed to fend off an attempt by the British tax authorities to put the team into administration as a result of unpaid dues.

DUE DILIGENCE

Renault, which previously owned the British-based team before selling control at the end of 2009 and exiting it completely in 2010, is expected to make an announcement in the next few weeks.

Deputy team principal Federico Gastaldi said at the Mexican Grand Prix that the takeover remained on course with due diligence completed and Renault following its own internal procedures.

“They hire a company to go through the due diligence,” Gastaldi said. “They have done it and it's signed and presented to the board of Renault.

“We started liaising with the Renault technical department during the Singapore race weekend in September and it's been an ongoing process with the technical department, marketing and administration.

“Renault is a mega multinational company, they have their own procedures and timing and we cannot put pressure on. But they have been hands on and helping us since they signed the letter of intent. It's just a normal process,” added Gastaldi.

Reuters

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