From GMM
Malaysia's national A1Grand Prix team is reportedly in talks with the new Lotus F1 Racing entry about collaborating in 2010.
The Malaysian Insider cites a "source" as revealing that "deep discussions" between Lotus F1 Racing team officials Tony Fernandes and Mike Gascoyne (top photo) and A1 team boss Jack Cunningham took place recently at the Singapore grand prix.
"A1 Team Malaysia feels that the technological know-how and vast experience it has could be put to good use in helping out the Lotus F1 team," the source said.
The concept of a merger should not be ruled out, particularly in light of the A1 team's withdrawal from the forthcoming opening race of the season in Australia, and the apparent poor health of the so-called 'World Cup of Motorsport'.
On the other hand, Lotus Technical Director Mike Gascoyne has refused to comment on reports that Jarno Trulli is at the top of the list for a race seat in 2010, but admitted that appointing experienced drivers is a wise policy for a new team.
"Ultimately, you'd want to have two experienced drivers. Because as a new team, with two new drivers, you would not know where you are," he told the New Straits Times newspaper.
"I'm sure that we'll have a Malaysian driving the car at some stage next year in testing, but will he have a race seat? That we have to wait and see," he added.
Gascoyne also made a distinction between Lotus, with aims to become a fully Malaysian team, and his former employers Force India, headed by the Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya.
"If you look at Force India, it's just the old Jordan team with a Force India badge. It doesn't employ any Indians, it's based in Oxfordshire," said the 46-year-old Briton.
"It's an English racing team with a German engine and an Italian and German driver. There's nothing Indian about that. Just Indian money," Gascoyne insisted.
photo:WRI2
Malaysia's national A1Grand Prix team is reportedly in talks with the new Lotus F1 Racing entry about collaborating in 2010.
The Malaysian Insider cites a "source" as revealing that "deep discussions" between Lotus F1 Racing team officials Tony Fernandes and Mike Gascoyne (top photo) and A1 team boss Jack Cunningham took place recently at the Singapore grand prix.
"A1 Team Malaysia feels that the technological know-how and vast experience it has could be put to good use in helping out the Lotus F1 team," the source said.
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| Malaysia's A1 Grand Prix series' car. |
The concept of a merger should not be ruled out, particularly in light of the A1 team's withdrawal from the forthcoming opening race of the season in Australia, and the apparent poor health of the so-called 'World Cup of Motorsport'.
On the other hand, Lotus Technical Director Mike Gascoyne has refused to comment on reports that Jarno Trulli is at the top of the list for a race seat in 2010, but admitted that appointing experienced drivers is a wise policy for a new team.
"Ultimately, you'd want to have two experienced drivers. Because as a new team, with two new drivers, you would not know where you are," he told the New Straits Times newspaper.
"I'm sure that we'll have a Malaysian driving the car at some stage next year in testing, but will he have a race seat? That we have to wait and see," he added.
Gascoyne also made a distinction between Lotus, with aims to become a fully Malaysian team, and his former employers Force India, headed by the Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya.
"If you look at Force India, it's just the old Jordan team with a Force India badge. It doesn't employ any Indians, it's based in Oxfordshire," said the 46-year-old Briton.
"It's an English racing team with a German engine and an Italian and German driver. There's nothing Indian about that. Just Indian money," Gascoyne insisted.
photo:WRI2