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Lotus bringing big improvements to Spain

ESPNF1 Staff
April 26, 2010 « Barrichello sets impressive benchmark | »
Lotus will wheel out a vastly improved T127 in Spain © Sutton Images
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Lotus is hoping to find a second per lap with a major upgrade in time for the Spanish Grand Prix.

The team has vied for position with Virgin to be the fastest newcomer this season but has regularly been three to four seconds off the pace of the frontrunners in qualifying. Chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne has long said the team would develop the car extensively by the first European grand prix and has now confirmed that everything is still on schedule.

"The Barcelona package has been in the wind tunnel for six months," he said. "The rear is narrower, the sidepod entries more extreme, the wheelbase longer. It will be at least a second faster."

Heikki Kovalainen is wary other teams will also be bringing improvements to their cars, but is still confident his team will see a noticeable improvement in comparison.

"We might have more room [for development] than our competitors," he said, referring to the car's conservative cooling solution, its basic double diffuser and the steel suspension uprights fielded so far this season.

Team boss Tony Fernandes said he is pushing Lotus to set high targets.

"You've got to benchmark yourself against the best, otherwise don't bother being in it," he said.

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