• Lotus news

Lotus aims to race double DRS at Spa

Lotus wants to race its double DRS system for the first time at Spa-Francorchamps © Sutton Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• Teams:
• Lotus F1

Lotus technical director James Allison has confirmed his team will aim to run its new double DRS (DDRS) device at the Belgian Grand Prix next weekend.

At the last two races Lotus has experimented with the device during Friday practice sessions, which uses ducts to channel air to different parts of the car to improve performance. The system is believed to be based on a similar principal to Mercedes' DDRS, but the layout is quite clearly different with very obvious air inlets on either side of the airbox as well as some visible ducts at the rear of the car.

Asked what would be new on the E20 in Spa, Allison said: "Quite a lot of different bits. A big focus has been getting ready for Monza which is immediately after Spa and requires a unique downforce package. It's only one race but it requires a whole new set of wings and a disproportionate amount of work. We've also been focusing on ensuring that we have the capability to run the new device in Spa should we be confident enough to do so."

Allison confirmed that when he was referring to "the device" he was talking about a DDRS device.

"I rather like [the name] 'The Device' as it has a sort of Dr Strangelove appeal to it," he added, "but most people refer to it as DDRS."

Allison is also confident that Spa-Francorchamps should suit the Lotus E20 next weekend as long as it stays dry.

"If it's a dry weekend Spa fits the category of circuit at which we are most confident, so all of us are excited to be going there," he said. "If it's a wet weekend it's a much more open question; for all teams, not just for us. It frequently rains at Spa, so we have to be prepared for that possibility.

"We've had various wet experiences so far this season, with the inclement weather coming mainly in qualifying. At Silverstone we were okay in wet conditions, but in Germany we struggled to get the wet tyre into its temperature operating window. Should we have the same situation at Spa, the nature of the corners and the loadings on the tyres should be sufficient to generate enough heat in the rubber, so we're not unduly concerned. We would prefer a dry weekend, but we should be competitive whatever the weather."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.