Lotus F1 E22 teased with render reveal

Enstone-based Lotus F1 has released digital renderings of its new E22 race car for the 2014 Formula One season. The decision to release the images is seen as a measure to further dispel more rumors of the team going under after the departure of Team Principal Eric Boullier.

The new E22 will be powered by the new Renault Energy F1-2014 1.6-liter 24-valve V6 turbo engine. Other teams using the same engine will be Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Caterham. Interestingly the nose on the E22 rendering features a 'fork' with uncharacteristically uneven length 'prongs'.

"From our perspective the figures look promising and development has been positive. That said, we are very much working with very little idea of what the other teams are doing. This is the first year of radically different regulations which means that all teams are developing their cars along potentially quite different avenues," said Nick Chester, Lotus F1 Technical Director.

Driving for the Lotus F1 Team for the 2014 season will be Frenchman Romain Grosjean, who finished 7th in the driver's championship last year and won the Race of Champions in 2012; and Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado, who carries a 2012 Spanish GP victory on his belt during his 3-year stint with Williams. Maldonado also brings with him valuable sponsorship money from PDVSA (Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A.).

"It's fascinating for us engineers and I hope it is fascinating for the fans too. We think we have a very good solution to the challenge and hopefully this will be seen when the E22 turns its wheels in anger," added Chester.

The Lotus E22 is scheduled to make its debut at the second official testing session at the Sakhir Circuit in Bahrain on February 19.