Olivier Quesnel towards Lotus?
Gérard Lopez, the boss of Lotus, is looking for a replacement to lead the team. Martin Whitmarsh seems to be the favorite for the position, but Olivier Quesnel is also a plausible candidate, according to Motorsport-Total.
If Martin Whitmarsh is considered the favorite to succeed Eric Boullier at Lotus, Olivier Quesnel could be a plausible solution, as Gérard Lopez previously stated he has four names in mind. The former head of Peugeot Sport and Citroën Racing within the PSA group, the 64-year-old man is well-versed in competitive motorsport. Especially with reduced budgets, as is currently the case at Lotus.
Quesnel maintains very good relations with Jean Todt, the president of the FIA, whose son Nicolas Todt is the manager of Pastor Maldonado, a driver at Lotus. The Venezuelan, with his sponsor, the oil company PDVSA, brings significant revenue to the Enstone team, and the team’s short-term future, once threatened, now seems secured.
The Frenchman has four World Constructors’ Championship titles with Citroën (2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011) and one title at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Peugeot (2009). In July 2012, he joined Jacques Nicolet as the director of competition activities at JN Holding, responsible for the international development of activities related to the different endurance championships WEC and ELMS, as well as other motorsport activities.
