» Lotus expects big things from Spanish upgrade

The Lotus team looks set to make considerable progress up the timesheets at next weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, if their new upgrade goes to plan.

Heikki Kovalainen told Auto Motor und Sport that the team is aiming for an improvement of “more than a second [per lap].”

The Finn also acknowledged that, with Spain being the first real opportunity for all teams to produce new components for their cars, he expects many of those teams to improve as well.

”We might have more room than our competitors [to improve],” he added. Lotus’ T127 is relatively conservative in its design, with a basic cooling system, simplified diffuser and steel suspension uprights.

Lotus’ technical chief Mike Gascoyne was typically bullish about the results he was expecting from the Spanish GP onwards, and added: "The Barcelona package has been in the wind tunnel for six months." The rear is narrower, the sidepod entries more extreme, the wheelbase longer.

"It will be at least a second faster," he confirmed.

Ominous stuff indeed…

[Original image via F1 Wolf]