Eric Boullier: “Excellent reasons to be optimistic!”

The Team Principal and General Manager pays tribute to the team’s behind-the-scenes efforts during the winter and outlines the challenges that Lotus Renault GP must face in 2011.

The 2011 season starts in just a month. What are your feelings at the dawn of this year?

We have many good reasons to be optimistic. In particular because this team is entering a new era. 2010 was very useful. It allowed us to rebuild and prepare for the future, and at the same time, everyone put in considerable daily work that materialized on the track. Today, with the arrival of a long-term partner, Group Lotus, we have the financial stability to build on solid foundations and envision a very competitive future. This is exceptional motivation for everyone and strengthens our belief in being able to compete against the best. Over the past twelve months, we have all worked tirelessly to prepare for 2011. I am very proud of what has been accomplished and eager to start the season.

The winter months, devoted to the production of new cars, are often the busiest of the year. How did the factory manage the arrival of the R31?

In fact, F1 never stops. For the R31, work began even before the R30 had completed its first race. In 2010, we reached a very high development rate, and the R30 that finished the season was running two seconds per lap faster than the one at the start. During the winter, this same work approach continued, a testament to the spirit and commitment of the team members. Yes, the workload is heavy at this time of year, but if we keep a level head and make the most of the winter testing sessions, I’m sure we’ll have a top start to the season.

Can the team maintain this high development pace in 2011?

The program is to maintain exactly the same approach as last year, while our expectations are to start the season at a higher level. This means we will need to be even more creative and explore new technical areas. However, technological innovation is not the only key to performance. Over the past year, we have also reviewed all our internal operations, without exception. And we can say today that we have increased our efficiency by 15%.

Your drivers remain the same in 2011. How important is this stability for the team?

Stability is important in every industry sector, particularly in the ever-changing and intensely competitive world of F1. The stability of our drivers is therefore a key factor in bringing our team back to the highest level. It allows us to capitalize on last year’s achievements. The new management, the drivers, the engineers, and the mechanics have spent a year working together and getting to know each other better. It is now time to reap the benefits of these connections and this team spirit, which can only make us stronger.

What level do you place Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov at in 2011?

Our driver duo is a mix of talent, experience, and youth. Robert is clearly one of our assets. We can rely on his speed, commitment, and long-term involvement. As for Vitaly, he showed us at the end of last year that he understands what we expect from him in 2011 and that he wants to fully commit. With a year of experience, he will be able to approach the season with more confidence and will be ready to help the team raise its level. We took a risk by investing in him last year, and I am sure we will see the benefits in 2011.

Can the team really take a new step and fight for victory this season?

We live for racing and our goal is to win. It’s the heart of our philosophy. All the work done over the last twelve months had a purpose, to achieve a significant improvement for 2011. We should therefore be more competitive than last year. Will we be stronger than our opponents? Hard to predict, but the efforts of all the members of Lotus Renault GP deserve it.