LOTUS F1 NEWS PAGE

1Malaysian F1 Team News Channel

Formula One 2010 Race Calandar

Bahrain(Sakhir) - 12-14 March
Australia(Melbourne)-26-28 March
-----Malaysia(Kuala Lumpur)-2-4April-----
China(Shanghai)-16-18 April
Spain(Catalunya)-7-9 May
Monaco(Monte Carlo)-14-16 May
Turky(Istanbul)-28-30 May
Canada(Montreal)-11-13 June
Spain(Valencia)-25-27 June
Britain(Donington Park)-9-11 June
Italy(Hockenheim)-23-25 June
Hungary(Budapest)-30July-1 August
Belgium(Spa-Francorchamps)-27-29 August
Italy(Monza)-10-12 September
Singapore-24-26 September
Japan(Suzuka)-1-3 October
Korea-15-17 October
Abu Dhabi(Yas Marina)-29-31 October
Brazil(Sao Paulo)-12-14 November

______________________________

Tony Fernandes-Team Principal

Firstly, I would like to say this is an historic day for all us at Lotus F1 Racing as we announce our first driver line-up. We have three drivers who I believe complement each other excellently and who I think represent what Lotus F1 Racing and 1Malaysia is all about. That is not to say it was a straight-forward decision because we spoke with other drivers who I rate very highly, but ultimately we have opted for a careful mix of experience, youth and ambition. In Jarno we have the F1 veteran who proved in 2009 that he is as quick and determined as ever. In Heikki we have a continuing rising star who is still hungry to prove himself, and in Fairuz we have a Malaysian national driver who is eager to progress up the F1 ladder to fulfill the hopes of a nation. Its the full package if you ask me.

It is more a question of what we all expect from each other rather than just from the drivers. 2010 will be the first season for Lotus F1 Racing and we have a lot to achieve in a short space of time. As with any new venture, it is a case of all hands on deck. Everybody has a vital role to play but it is about bringing a new team together and gelling. The drivers each bring different experience to the team and I think the combination of their skills will help us quickly establish ourselves as the ones to watch in 2010 and beyond.

We have thought long and hard about our team brand and logo, and I am very pleased with the end result. F1 aficionados will immediately recognise the classic green and yellow colour of Lotus, but we have given it a modern twist which is essentially what this team is about. We are not pretending to be the Lotus of the past, but we are honoured to be able to bring the name back into Formula 1 at the start of a new decade of racing. We will draw on its heritage and use it to inspire and motivate our team, Lotus F1 Racing. I hope everybody likes the logo and enjoys a small glimpse into the livery of our race cars for our first season.

ABOUT:

The Government will hold no equity in the 1Malaysia F1 Team project, either directly or indirectly, through any of the government-linked companies.

Private investors will put in RM110mil to RM165mil a year, while sponsorship was expected to contribute a significant sum, according to team principal Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes.

He added that F1 had approached Petronas to sponsor the Lotus F1 team.

Yes, we have spoken to them. We will also approach Malaysian Airlines, Genting Bhd and other organisations, he told a press conference at the Singapore F1 circuit yesterday.

It would be good if they can sponsor us as they do not have a team for the next season, Fernandes said.

Petronas sponsorship with BMW Sauber will expire this season.

Fernandes also said that the F1 team car would be ready in February for testing at the Sepang circuit.

They have also identified several young personalities who will be part of the team either as drivers or part of the crew.

Meanwhile, 1Malaysia F1 Sdn Bhd aims to employ 225 people and the job advertisements have been published this week in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

As for sponsorship in the current economic climate, it could come from Asia in the future, although Europe has been the traditional source of sponsorship, Fernandes said.

The team will have a start-up capital of RM168mil while its baseline annual budget is estimated at RM308mil, according to a statement it released on Friday.

The 1Malaysian F1 Team is a collaboration between the Government and three entrepreneurs — Fernandes, who is AirAsia Group CEO, AirAsia deputy CEO Kamarudin Meranun and Naza Group CEO SM Nasaruddin SM Nasimuddin.

The privately-funded project is jointly-owned by the Tune Group, Naza and Litespeed UK. Tune Group is jointly-owned by Fernandes and Kamarudin.

Proton Holdings British subsidiary, Lotus, is the teams constructor.

In a statement, the team said Proton Holdings Bhd would license its Lotus brand to the 1Malaysia F1 Team (1MF1T).

less