I just got back from Proton’s Centre of Excellence (COE) in Shah Alam, where newly named Lotus F1 drivers Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen paid a short visit to. They came, had a closed door meeting with Proton management, posed for a few pictures and left. I had hoped to squeeze in a short interview with the drivers but no such luck, as they had a plane to catch!
Heikki, being a Finn, looked really interested in the Proton Satria Neo S2000 rally car that just came from finishing second in the Rally of Scotland – he took a seat inside and asked plenty of questions. Perhaps he’ll have the itch to try it out someday and join fellow countryman Kimi Raikkonen in rallying! On the topic of the Neo S2000, we recently had the chance to ride in the car with Alister McRae as chauffeur in a real rally stage; look out for a post on the amazing experience!
Meanwhile, check out photos of the Lotus F1 drivers after the jump.
[zenphotopress number=999 album=679]
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments generally express excitement and optimism about Lotus F1's involvement, praising the team and drivers like Trulli and Heikki, while some remain skeptical about technological benefits from F1 to road cars. There’s also discussion about Proton's broader role, market protection, and investments, with mixed opinions on government spending and Malaysian automotive advancement. Many look forward to the upcoming season, hoping Lotus performs well, and are pleased with the collaboration and new management, despite some critical voices about technology transfer relevance.