Team Lotus Istanbul Park preview

TURKISH GRAND PRIX  2011 ISTANBUL PARK CIRCUIT, TURKEY
                    
 
           
General             

2010 Air/track temp (˚C)    29    45
Race laps    58    Circuit Altitude (m)    129
              2010 ATM Press (HPa)    999
              2010 humidity (%)    35    2010 wind (kph)    SSW 10
               
                
               
                
Quick description     

Smooth surface but low grip, especially in P1 due to lack of use
 Bottoming in T8 & T11 over the bumps with very high lateral load
 Kerbs are not a problem
 Low on braking
 Top speed important for overtaking before T12
 T8 is very demanding for front right tyre
 Braking stability quite important for T9 & T12
 Traction is usually an issue out of the slow last three corners
 Wind has a huge impact on top speed (so on 7th gear) on the back straight

Typical
balance issue    Braking stability issue in T9 and T12 and traction out of last corner
Gears ratio
(1st gear/others)   
1st gear sometimes used in T4
Need particular care of wind re: 7th gear
 
               
                
Circuit particularity    Sensitivities
Bumpiness    Medium / High    Engine severity    Medium
Overtaking chance    T12    GBX severity    Low
Kerbs    Low     Lat/Long grip    Medium
RH setting particularity    Need high FRH for T8    Aero eff ratio    Medium
               
                
Track and base setup    Team Lotus Partners

Track grip evo during WE    Very high   

Total number of DuPont Scientists worldwide    8,500
Aero settings    Medium / High       
Brake wear severity    Low       
Brake cooling necessity    Medium       
               
                
Safety car history

2010    None
2009    None
2008    1
               
                
Tony Fernandes, Team Principal: "We are all delighted that there has been such a warm and positive response to last week's announcement about Caterham Cars, but now our focus is back on track and the whole team is looking forward to the start of the European races.


We have begun this season in the style we wanted to, making steady progress towards the midfield teams and I am hopeful we will continue to do that in Turkey. The next step forward should come in Spain where we have a number of significant updates on the cars, but for Turkey we will look to build on the improved reliability and pace we showed in China and work on maximising the mechanical and aero package we have on the T128.


We have realistic expectations for this weekend, I am not expecting us to have found another chunk of time here as we have been focusing on the Barcelona race for the update package, but I am very confident about the future as the foundations for the long-term success of this team are being laid exactly as planned.”


Jarno Trulli (chassis T128-03) "Turkey's another chance for us to keep growing as a team and after the short break we've had it'll be good to get back into the car. The team's been hard at work on the aero updates we'll introduce at the Spanish Grand Prix and on a couple of mechanical fixes that will give me a better platform to really push on from.


 I want to make sure we can repeat the performance we showed in China and that relies on us having an error free Friday and Saturday and giving us the best chance to fight with the likes of Williams, Force India and Sauber."



Heikki Kovalainen (chassis T128-04) on the race weekend: "We've obviously been pretty busy since getting back from China and it was great to see so many fans turn out for us at Duxford last week. I had a really good day and it was cool to be given the chance to be the first person drive the Caterham in our team colours in front of everyone.

Now it's on to Turkey which is a circuit I've always enjoyed. People talk about Turn 8 being the most hardcore bit of the track but for me it's not that big a challenge - our car should be ok around the whole lap and after having had more time to work on the next update, which we'll see in Barcelona, the focus will be on getting the most out of the car in qualifying and showing the pace that we know is there over one lap."



-  Tom Webb-