Lotus announce Williams wind-tunnel deal

Lotus have announced an expansion of their wind-tunnel operations after signing a deal to use one of the two tunnels run by Williams. The development means the team will run a two-tunnel programme from September, with the Aerolab facility in Italy working in conjunction with the one at Williams’ Grove site.

“There are a number of reasons why I am delighted that we have signed this deal,” explained Lotus team principal Tony Fernandes. “From a practical perspective there are the obvious benefits of increasing our wind tunnel activity and using a state of the art facility in the UK, and I am sure that will immediately help Marianne Hinson (Head of Aerodynamics and CFD) and her team to work even more effectively in one of the key areas of the ongoing development of our team.