Lotus E22 unveiled in Bahrain

Posted on 19 Feb 2014 by The Manufacturer

The Lotus E22 has hit the track for the first time this season after taking to the circuit at the second round of tests in Bahrain.

The Enstone-based team, which skipped the first pre-season test in Spain two weeks ago, is the last of the 11 team cars to break cover after making the car ready for the second round of tests.

Driver Roman Grosjean will undertake the first test of the car at the Middle Eastern circuit today, which features a distinctive twin tusk nose, which has already proven controversial.

Rivals have claimed Lotus’s design is an aggressive way of reading the rules, going further to suggest the team is pushing the requirements as far as is legally possible.

Lotus has endured a winter of significant change, with former Williams driver Pastor Maldonado replacing Ferrari returnee Kimi Raikkonen in its driving lineup.

Team boss Eric Boullier recently departed to take up a racing director role at rival McLaren, with Lotus co-owner Gerard Lopez taking charge in the interim.