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1Malaysia Racing Team Sdn Bhd (1MRT), the
parent company of Lotus F1 Racing team, today
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Composites Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM)
for the latter to undertake research and
development (R&D) that includes for the
manufacturing of components for the Lotus F1
cars.
1MRT is primarily involved in the engineering
and assembling of Lotus F1 cars. With this
collaboration, CTRM will be offering its
technology and expertise in composites
manufacturing to 1MRT and the Lotus F1 Racing.
CTRM CEO, Datuk Rosdi Mahmud and Lotus F1 Racing
CEO, Riad Asmat signed for their respective
companies. The signing, held on the sideline of
the Langkawi International Maritime and
Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2009 here, was
witnessed by the Deputy Prime Minister of
Malaysia, YAB Tan Sri Dato' Haji Muhyiddin
Yassin. Also present were 1MRT Principal, Dato'
Sri Tony Fernandes and CTRM Chairman, YBhg Datuk
Wira Syed Ali Tan Sri Syed Abbas AlHabshee.
Datuk Rosdi said: "CTRM is proud to be
collaborating with 1MRT and Lotus F1 Racing and
we are excited to see Malaysian-built cars on
the race tracks next year. This collaboration
will certainly enhance our strategic role to
develop high technology-based industry in
Malaysia, namely the aerospace and composites
industry, and now motorsports."
1MRT Principal Dato' Sri Tony Fernandes
commented: "We are thrilled to embark on this
exciting partnership with CTRM, a company that
has proven that Malaysians truly have what it
takes to be competitive on the world stage. I am
sure this collaboration will see both Malaysian
companies benefit via technology and expertise
transfer."
Riad explained: "This MOU will facilitate
negotiation and discussion between 1MRT and CTRM
on matters relating to the collaborative
research and development. Lotus F1 Racing has
reached many important milestones in preparation
for our debut in the FIA Formula 1 World
Championship in 2010, with the car having
successfully passed our own strict internal
crash tests recently. The collaboration between
Lotus F1 Racing and CTRM will be a further boost
for Lotus F1 Racing's ongoing technical
development and technology transfer to
Malaysia."
Lotus F1 Racing is one step closer towards
achieving its target of becoming the best among
new teams next season when its cars are placed
18th and 19th – the best positions among the new
teams – in the full entry list of constructors
and drivers as announced by the FIA on 30
November. The team are still in talks with
potential drivers and will make an announcement
soon.
Announced by the Prime Minister of Malaysia YAB
Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak in
September 2009, Lotus F1 Racing will be one the
new additions to the FIA Formula 1 World
Championship in 2010 and will bring the
legendary Lotus name back into Formula 1 for the
first time in over 15 years.
Lotus F1 Racing will be flying the Malaysian
flag in the championship with full support from
the Malaysian Government and its 1Malaysia
initiative. The team is fully financed by
Malaysian entrepreneurs, which gives the team a
strong Malaysian character throughout all areas
of its operation.
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