Friday role not yet certain for Lotus’ Fauzy
The source of many reliability problems encountered by F1′s new teams so far in 2010 has been traced to their common supplier XTrac.
Not since 1996 has the UK-based company, who like Cosworth has re-entered formula one in 2010 with the backing of the governing FIA, supplied complete transmissions to F1 teams.
HRT and Lotus are running the complete XTrac transmission in 2010, while Virgin specified its own gearbox casing. The hydraulic systems of all three new teams are provided by Newbury based XTrac.
Heikki Kovalainen told Finland’s Turun Sanomat that Lotus is working on implementing its own hydraulic system “some time in July”.
“I think it’s absolutely the right way to go if we are to have full control over our car’s hydraulics,” said the Lotus driver.
Kovalainen, 28, added that the standard system is “too unreliable” and “not quite up to date”.
HRT boss Colin Kolles said this week that the Spanish team has been working “long hours” with XTrac since Bahrain, amid reports some upgrades to the hydraulic system will be implemented in Melbourne.
Virgin reiterated on Wednesday that it was “hydraulic and transmission problems” that “blighted” its debut weekend in Bahrain two weeks ago.
Said technical boss Nick Wirth: “We have some new parts which we hope will provide a robust solution to the new hydraulic problem and transmission issue we experienced in Bahrain.”
Friday role not yet certain for Lotus’ Fauzy
It is still yet to be confirmed that Fairuz Fauzy will be at the wheel of a Lotus on Friday morning practice for next week’s Malaysian grand prix, or in Melbourne later this week.
Team boss Tony Fernandes said before the 2010 season opener two weeks ago that the Malaysian test driver will be in action in Bahrain practice.
But the 27-year-old did not appear in the green Cosworth-powered car, perhaps so that racers Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli could concentrate on learning the new track layout.
Fernandes said earlier this month that Fauzy will also drive in Melbourne and then a week later at Sepang.
A Lotus spokesman did not return an email requesting confirmation of the Malaysian-backed team’s immediate plans for Fauzy.
But a report in Finland’s Turun Sanomat, a publication with sources close to Lotus driver Kovalainen, said it is “probable” that Fauzy will be in action in Malaysia next Friday morning.
“I don’t know anything and I have not asked about it,” said Kovalainen, explaining that the decision would not overly disrupt either his of teammate Trulli’s race weekend preparations.
“If it is important to the team to give him some kilometres, it should definitely be done,” he continued. “This is a Malaysian team and Fauzy is a Malaysian driver.”
source: GMM