Lotus Renault GP has just announced that Fairuz Fauzy will be their reserve driver for the 2011 season. Fairuz only just recently parted ways with the other Lotus in early December 2010, apparently dropped from the team without any known reasons.
Eric Boullier also announced that the F1 team would be taking in 25 Malaysian engineers and that these new human resources would be developed in the company.
More details to come!
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After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.
Comments
1st ka?…anyway tak kisah la ada 2 lotus team whatever….merc pun ada 2 team tak de orang komplen pun…ne need to be sensational la….betul tak…
0 
0the best news is that…those 25 engineers are not from shah alam or tg malim. otherwise this team can never compete…only know how to copy paste
0 0Don’t you mean engineers from Serendah who only know how to copy paste & don’t forget, redesign bumpers!
0 0reserve drive is not a test driver
isnt it?
so this chance represents an ‘upgrade’ for FairuzFauzy
never mind the credentials
that japanese driver bought himself a seat
i forgot what his name is, which is not a bad thing
considering how famous he is
certainly we are better
because not only we buy the seat
we also own the team
so rempit A with tebocas wajalution
are welcome to show face
maybe can fit in the seat
or if hes kinda boroi
we’ll send him to the alps
trim all the fats and all
or if he looks like an ape
we will send him to the planet of the apes
one way ticket and we wish him of no return
0 0i cant say this online
or else
somebody might lock me up
that thing is illegal
in 9 countries
except for amsterdam
which is a capital for
something u definitely know
0 0what Japanese driver bought a seat at Renault? it’s a Russian.. Petrov… & btw, Fairuz is not a bad driver, ever seen him racing in the lower Formula’s??
0 0i am not talking about renault man
that japanese driver
who famously BUY A SEAT
strangely i couldnt remember his name
because i kinda good
with shitty things
everybody isnt listening
i am not saying FF a bad driver
it is by buying the whole team
gives us an edge
0 0Better deal I guess for Malaysian Motorsports development.Hope they can trained a lot more engineers years ahead.Viva Proton.
0 0nope, it Perodua Viva. Proton oni hv Saga, Satria Neo, Inspira, Waja, Gen 2 & Pesona..
0 0do you even know the meaning of the word ‘Viva’? pls don’t make yourself look stupid.
0 0it’s like small kid fight….i take ur driver….bluek…i use the colour livery u wanted to use…just get it on lotus renault,let the performance on track do the talking…
0 0yes.. get the performance on track do the talking… the loser one is fake? so this didn’t look so good for TF’s team..
0 0upgrade gaji maaaaa…
lotus racing team where got a lot of money like group lotus….
it wasn’t his fault when the boses playing dirty trick to bash down the other
yet..this could be another silly season of F1
0 0Oh no.. rupanya katak lumpat dari Lotus pergi Lotus…. Cara Proton ya….. kali ni Fairuz naik MAS not AA…LOL
0 0Obviously he’ll fly MAS, why would he want to fly American Airlines?
0 0Oh wait, I was on airline nerd mode. Was thinking about the airline code. AirAsia’s airline code is AK, while American Airlines is AA.
0 0Haha, tiadaid, nice interests in airlines! Sadly, most here aren’t gettin the joke.
MH is good… but I personally like SQ best :P
0 0ohh pls dont bring politic issue in this honorable blog, i had enuf with it at outside there!!!
0 0alex yoong did not get a lot of back up, he is not Bamipatera, lol.
0 0Oooo really, I thought government (NSC) paid Minardi F1 RM50 million for alex seat. But the best driver will always shine though…check Mark Webber, he is the same team with Alex in Minardi years ago.
0 0I thought Magnum bankrolled him with the proceeds from all those 4D numbers?
0 0and FERNANDO ALONSO was the test-driver..
check the fact to validate this if you don’t believe.
0 0Alex got good sponsors and supports during his F1 stint, but he didn’t have enough balls to compete.. it was an embarrassment to Malaysia.
He got another chance in A1with lots of support, after 3 seasons another failure. Now he join Tony F in management of F1 team and later you know what happened
I think I made my point here, you racist idiot!
0 0I think what he means is frog jumping… In Malaysia a lot of people also jump around becoz of higher ‘income’.. U know i know laa..
0 0what’s with political issue? racing is not about politic, it’s sport.. there’s a lot more in life beside politic.. for example, in my family there’s oppositions & G supporters, we live together, love & support each other… come election day, all do their responsibilty without any fuss, why can’t we (or all Malaysian) do that?
0 0hmmm…..intresting….could it be it is to garner support from Malaysian fans as well sponsor money from malaysian companies?
I see fairuz has all to gain from all of this. Finally being in a strong midfield team. Just waiting for Petrov to slip up or has a string of bad luck…….
Hope they will give him a chance during the coming testings. If he pulls some impressive lap times plus Renault actually have a good car, he can actually surpass Alex Yoong.
0 0It’s not an ‘upgrade’ for Fairuz. It’s the ‘same-grade’. He is being used as a PR commodity
0 0Couldn’t agree more….
Unless either of the drivers get seriously hurt, he’s not getting a seat.
0 0Not sure how it can be seen as an upgrade. No point being a ‘bench warmer’ even if you’re with the best team in F1. And what are the odds of Kubica or Petrov breaking a leg? Same as Jarno or Heikki. Unfortunately he is being traded as a PR commodity. He should take his race career more seriously.
The good thing is he is getting a drive for Supernova in GP2. But given his age, years of experience in junior formula and the fact that he has done already about 3-4 seasons of GP2 racing in the past, Fairuz better win the championship this time! Then he will be genuinely attractive to F1 teams. The odds are still against him as there are much younger drivers with better talent in the market.
I do hope this is his year and he go out and win the GP2 championship. Thats all he needs to do to prove himself. He’s running out of excuses.
0 0If we were to follow f1 closely, a certain fellow name Sebastien Vettel started as a reserve driver for BMW Sauber in 2006-2007during which BMW Sauber was consider a strong midfield contender (kinda similar where Renault is at now). He post some impressive lap times during friday session and his chance came when Kubica(hmmm…ironic!) got an accident in Canada he was called up for the US GP and score his maiden point.
Then he went to STR and got his maiden win in a team formerly known as Minardi.
Finally arriving at RBR, becomes Champion.
So there may be hope for Fairuz yet.
0 0Vettel was spotted and recruited by a good bloke named Sauber who also spotted many of the hot drivers on the grid past and present. If Sauber gives thumbs up to Fairuz then we know FF is truly good.
0 0i dont think so. Cant find any litrature to support that. We would only know how good is FF by what he can do with a good car. Not by somebody else’s opinion.
0 0You just have to look harder. :-)
“…At the same time, the Sauber Junior Team came into being. Peter Sauber chose and contracted three drivers, Michael Schumacher, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, and Karl Wendlinger. Sauber would become the starting point for other winning racers as well; Kimi Räikkönen, Felipe Massa, and Sebastian Vettel all started off in a Sauber car.”
0 025 Malaysian engineers join the lotus renault GP!!
great start…come on Malaysia!
0 0Well when petronas put their engineers in sauber they came out with the eo1 engine….
0 0But sadly, P1 didnt used eo1 engine and they sold to China..
Anyway is all these 25 Malaysian Engineers are interviewed & accepted by Renault willingly or already book or bought the place when P1 sign the agreement with them?
0 0actually despite p1 not using the engine…some iteration of the engine is now being used in Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) motorycles and snowmobiles sold all over the world….it’s a smaller 990cc version that was developed partly based on the EO1 engine, manufactured by Rotax (since Petronas don’t have engine manufacturing capabilities) but Petronas still holds the IP rights for it
0 0having more n n more confidence with lotus renault team..hoping they can achieve what they are persuing..
kubica is a good driver to start with too
=)
0 0aiya..he go where also same 1 la..will end up like alex yoong
malaysian just cant drive F1
0 0No man, he’s talking about himself, cursing his life for not able to drive, come on, show him some pity la
0 0pity u bro..i wonder how people around u working with u..out of this world man..LOL
0 0Wow the whole Lotus twist has gone into another different chapter!!!!I wonder what’s next? Kubica to betray Lotus Renault and go to Team Lotus???
Bring in the popcorns!!!!
0 0i’m all ready with popcorn and coke enjoying the show…… :lol:
0 0hope he’ll shine more and get more chances with experienced team… he’s good actually.. just didn’t get the chance..
0 0that’s true bro!
but because he is malay, some people will always look down on him.
that’s the fact here in malaysia.
that’s the scenario!
0 0i dont know malay is being looked down by some people in Msia? thats a first.
0 0If you don’t know that, then you don’t really have a true picture of Malaysia.
Racism is not a one-race attribute!
0 0very good for him. as a driver, you are not ‘obliged’ to stick with one team entire your racing career, unlike special cases like lewis, well..even Michael cut the biblical code with the italian stallion.
Why not we all just wish him Good Luck, instead bashing our own people?..
irregardless who i am, what i know I-am Malaysian. Go Fairuz!
May The Force Be With You
0 0yeah. i just hope that he gets more friday practice than he had with lotus racing last year. otherwise, there’s no way to improve himself and impress the management. maybe, if he is lucky enough that kubica or petrov (more likely) involves in a heavy collision and has to sit out for one or two races, then he get to race and be like kobayashi/vettel.
one man’s loss is another man’s gain. right?
0 0if u r investor, which lotus u go? the one formally won f1 champion with f.alonso (renault) or the completely new kid on the block? (tony’s lotus)
obviously we all know which to team to go to has better prospect and more $$$
0 0Colin Chapman will surely go with the new kids on the block as he loves challenges. Sadly, other Chapmans do not share his view.
God Speed both Lotus-Renault and Team Lotus!
0 0i think even Colin doesn’t wanna go to those new kids becoz those kids ‘misused’ the ‘name’ that he worked hard on….
0 0Bro, investment in former F1 champ cost way higher than NKOTB. Yes probabilty your co name masuk TV is higher but can u afford the $$$? Even News giant can put thier logo on the green lotus….. I think u need to consult ur CFO 1st la XD
0 025 Malaysian engineers working at Renault racing is a good start. But we know F1 teams employs hundreds of engineers so we hope 25 is not the limit of Malaysian participation in the team.
As F1 is more than just racing, we do hope they employ some of our scientist, chemist and other specialist for the team.
0 0Well..20% + of Team Lotus’s engineers are Malaysian..I bet thats more than 25 people!!
0 0Still remember A1? Fairuz cannot even match Alex. BTW what happen in A1?
0 0He was only a second driver during A1when Alex was around, when he took over from Alex as first driver Team A1 Malaysia finished 6th overall.
0 0he was still new at that time… didn’t u watch how he progress & beaten Alex?
0 0No. Fairuz did not ‘beat’ Alex in A1. If you look at stats, Alex had 3 race wins in A1GP while Fairuz only had 1. However Alex did 50 over races while Fairuz did less than half of that.
Alex was even awarded the Bruce McLaren Trophy by BRDC for his achievements by a driver from the Commonwealth, thanks to his activity in A1. While Fairuz is just a BRDC member
You cannot compare them that way.
0 0He recently tweeted abt starbiz news today abt Proton wanting to secure GBP480m loan from CIMB to fund Lotus’ expansion plan.
“Reading the star business. Wow. The truth slowly emerging on proton and lotus. That’s a lot of money to guarantee.”
http://twitter.com/tonyfernandes/status/27542274472677377
Fuh fuh, he’s one to comment abt other’s financials. My lecturer once said AirAsia’s accounts are very scary to view. I think it’s due to being highly geared too, and watever it may be. Why? How possible?
Bcuz we accountants just love to use our creativities, known as “creative accounting”, we’ll never quite know the truth once auditors say the account is true and fair :)
0 0I have no problems with Tony using creative leveraging etc. It’s his money, his company, his business. I can’t say the same about Proton which is a GLC.
0 0Proton borrows money, not simply take taxpayer’s money. They’re investing, and for good cause to their business. At least they declare what they wanna do with the loan: to build 5 new models, to race, branding, etc. Motorsports is in their line of business too, so there is a positive correlation and a logical step at that.
But a low-cost carrier? Really, how far can they convince people the benefits it brings to their business in the long run… and on a “borrowed” brand at that? And with a technical director whose track record have been jumping from a team to another before achieving a championship?
About time he steps up his involvement from being just another team in F1 and develop something that can be very demanding to the motorsports scene. I’d like to see that, TF. As Maxis tagline says, “Committed to the game”. How committed are you to this, TF?
Should one day you need to pay RM5 to use the toilet in AirAsia’s Airbus, we’ll see if you say it’s not related with this venture at all… it’s his company, rite?
0 0Lucky chap.
Hope he makes the best of it and show to the world, he can get some points also….when given the chance to drive.
He should be No.2…….sometimes reserve driver remain in that position unless he can post better times than the 2 permanent drivers.
0 0Somehow i think the only reason why team lotus hired fairuz before becoz proton told them to do so….
0 0i think like that too…curious how he depart from TF team lotus without reason..it look now Malaysian businessman vs Malaysian gov..that good..even better if they challenge each other in development in Malaysia that has been gov most of the time…the biggest, tallest, widest, profitest, etc
0 0I guess they are trying to match Team Lotus who already have 30 Malaysians working in the team. Paul Tan’s previous article: http://paultan.org/2010/12/16/exclusive-we-visit-the-team-lotus-factory-in-norfolk/
I’m curious from where Lotus Renault GP will recruit the 25 Malaysians. Unlike Team Lotus, their team is already mature in size. Also, the most useful area to have more people is in aero. I think Team Lotus already grabbed Malaysian engineers from the small Malaysian aerospace industry.
Probably they will tap into Proton’s road car engineer pool and train them up? Do hope this is more than just a PR exercise to win local support ahead of the Malaysian GP.
I guess we will see whats what in a few short months.
Imagine how much can be achieved if the teams just worked together..
0 0Those 25 engineers will be Proton engineers
source: http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/20110119113001/Article/
0 0alex more teruk than fauzy….got sponsored etc…but always xcident and last person to finish it…
0 0alex only good for hair gel commercials
lols
p/s: im sorry alex. but it is soo true!
0 0Sadly, time is running out for Fairuz. I agree that they are taking him only because Proton asked them to, to give a ‘Malaysian look’ to the team. I have a feeling that during the next season, they will let him drive once, and if he fail to deliver, he’ll be back in the pits. If he wins, which is highly unlikely, it will really surprise them and they will be forced to review his position.
0 0just a reserve driver? haiya.. its better he become a the main driver or 2nd driver rather being a reserve.. but anyway, hopefully the team will give him an opportunity to race this year.. he been wasting one year at Lotus racing just become a reserve driver only..
0 0considering that most of the time (in 2010) Petrov can’t keep the car on tracks, it’ll be a matter of time before the Russian hurts himself & lend the seat to Fairuz… but that’s IF the Russian can’t improre his driving skills in 2011 & getting worse..
0 0based on the dislike comment rating… I guess there are alot of BN supporters here! :-P
0 0this is paultan.org
pure automotive site
politician… GET A LIFE!
0 0aiya wait n see la the coming soon F1 menang kalu PM will annouce the holiday again
0 0IMHO
let team tony use the ‘lotus’ name or else they will lose the prize money.. they earned it, dont they??
team renault? juz use proton-renault… y not?! proton themselves paiseh to use own name maa??
simple solution to not so simple prob.. yup, i know.. :P
0 0is he fast? i dont know.
but i know he has a rich father back him up
0 0He is a good driver. Only thing is he dont have the chance to prove himself with the right car. He race with Petrov before and beat him and if im not mistaken in GP2 series in Sepang a few years back. Dont forget he is the runner up in 2009 Renault World Series. He’s racing with the best drivers from all over the world not racing with the Batu 3 fellows.
0 0Malaysian like to bash so much……..
no wonder the country still stucked and sucked
0 0Can Malaysian racers & engineers really get into a F1 team on skills and credentials without having a sugar daddy to back them up from behind?
Just wondering…..
0 0All of the team in F1 has their own ‘sugar daddy”. If not F1 wont be there for all of us to see.It involve a lot of money in this business. Maybe we Malaysian dont really understand what involve in F1 business. Sponsorship is very important. Even a ferrari engineers cannot get into F1 if they dont have the back-up. Alonso may be going back to Spain and sell olive oil to get himself to F1 if he cannot get sponsorship
0 0to ray ,
pls read fm azhar…
in motorsport especially f1 if u don bring money@sponsor , u don dream la..
look at happen to Nico Helkenberg , his seat at william taken by Pastor Maldonado..
0 0wow , hope to see all malaysian’s podium.
1st Merc Petronas
2ndRenault Lotus
3rd Team Lotus
0 0Here’s a Q&A from a boy in Guatemala interested in racing to Peter Sauber who has been involved in motorsports for a few decades:
Q: Hi Mr. Peter, I just want you to know that I admire your work and have a lot of respect for what you have done in racing. The reason I’m writing you, and I hope you can read it, is because I’m a kid from Guatemala, Central America, and just a couple of years ago I discovered the fascinating world of F1. So far I haven’t had any chance to see a F1 car. What I really want to say is that making it to F1 as a driver is my dream, every time I get into a car, I can feel it, it’s like I was born for it. I wish there was someone who could take me seriously, because I know this is what I want, I really do, it’s so frustrating to want something that you know you have a chance of 0.00001% of getting it. If you read this, I would do everything to be close to my dream. I’m sorry I have said this so straight, but maybe and just maybe i could have a chance. Thanks to you Mr. Sauber for your time, i wish you the best, good bye. – Luis Urrutia
A: Unfortunately I don’t know exactly how old you are. If you are 15 years old, for example, you have already missed five years, since the earlier you start, the better. A Formula 1 career normally begins in kart racing, where you fight your way through from the regional races through the national contests to the international championship. This is followed by the junior formulas such as Formula BMW or Formula Renault, before you can switch to Formula 3 or GP2. You should be aware that you have to be the best placed in each race, otherwise you don’t have any chance of rising through the ranks. Worldwide there are thousands upon thousands of talented individuals who would like to get into Formula 1. However, there’s only room for 20 drivers. – Peter Sauber
0 0Add a comment
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments express optimism that Fairuz Fauzy's role as Lotus Renault GP reserve driver is a positive step for Malaysian motorsport, with hopes he will get opportunities to prove himself and possibly race. Some discuss Malaysian engineers’ involvement and the team's future prospects, while a few off-topic remarks and political comments are filtered out. Overall, there's a supportive sentiment towards Fairuz and the team, wishing him success and highlighting the importance of Malaysian participation in F1.