Oriol Servia is the third driver to work with the Lotus test team and conduct engine testing for Engine Developments Ltd (EDL), suppliers of the Lotus IZOD IndyCar Series 2.2-liter, V-6 engine for 2012.
Already Simona de Silvestro of HVM-Lotus and Alex Tagliani from Bryan Herta Autosport-Lotus have had their opportunities to drive the Dallara DW12; Servia’s chance came in two successful days on the 1.66-mile short course at Sebring International Raceway.
The goal for this test was to check a few more boxes off the “to do list,” and to continue further engine developments on the Lotus mill. Servia also did some setup work on the car as the test team prepares for the first year of competitive engines in the Indy cars since 2005.
Servia completed about 225 miles but the test was cut a little bit short on Wednesday afternoon. Unfortunately the test team, comprised of personnel from all three Lotus anchor squads was unable to complete their program.
“It has been awesome to finally get a taste of the car for ourselves, after hearing comments on it from all of the other drivers and teams,” Servia said. “I really liked it. We were able to get a good feel of the Lotus engine and the Dallara” safety cell.
“The first day, we didn’t get to do what we wanted because the engine (at this point there is only one) got held in customers and that didn’t help. However, on the second day we did lots of laps and we got a lot of data so we were able to do a number of things with the engine and the car,” he explained.
“We learned a lot, which is what you want and today, we got a lot of good laps in and started to be more competitive on lap times. We are still far from where we are going to be, but we are getting closer to the faster guys and it is encouraging. I am encouraged,” Servia stated, “by the progress that Lotus and the Lotus test teams are making with this car.”
Both Dennis Reinbold and Robbie Buhl, Lotus Dreyer & Reinbold Racing owners were on-hand for the test and were pleased with both the progress and the results. “We had a good overall test,” said Reinbold. “We got a lot of miles in and made a number of changes on the car, which seemed to add some speed. We are pretty happy with our progress and we think that we are coming along very well.”
Former driver Buhl added, “It was good for Oriol to get in the car and get a sense of where it was going. We were able to put more miles on the motor and make more chassis changes that helped to improve the car.”
Lotus INDYCAR manager, Olivier Picquenot was equally satisfied with the test results. “We definitely learned some things over the two-day test,” he said. “We didn’t get to complete the full three days of testing, but overall it was very positive because Oriol did a very good job at trying to work on the setup as well as the engine.
“From a technical aspect on behalf of Lotus and EDL, we are very pleased. Oriol was great to work with and was very positive. Lap after lap he gave good feedback and we are very happy,” Picquenot said.
The next Lotus test is scheduled in a few weeks – and will be held at a different track from the three circuits where the test team has already run – Palm Beach International Raceway, Homestead-Miami Speedway and Sebring. This will allow Lotus and the Lotus test teams to continue developing the new engine and the suspension of the DW12 race car.
The first Lotus production engines are due to arrive at the end of February; at that time Dreyer & Reinbold intends to begin testing their own car and engine in anticipation of the season opener at St Petersburg, FL on March 25th.