New F1 Deal For Town's Engine Maker

[Mark H]

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/New...for-.5649474.jp

Motorsport engineering firm Cosworth is in line to be the largest engine provider for Formula 1 when the 2010 season begins.

In June this year, the Northampton company confirmed it would build engines for the sport's three newest teams, Campos Grand Prix, Manor Grand Prix and USF1, who are all due to field cars in the 2010 season.

 

And yesterday, motorsport's governing body, the FIA, announced racing legends Lotus would also be allowed to return to Formula 1 next year. . .with a Cosworth engine.

 

The authority said: "The move returns the Lotus name as a constructor to Formula One for the first time since 1994. The team will initially be based at a facility in Norfolk, some 10 miles from the Lotus Cars factory. And as part of its application to compete in the 2010 Formula One World Championship, the team has agreed an engine supply deal with Cosworth."

 

Cosworth is so far remaining tight-lipped about the Lotus deal, but it is assumed the team will be supplied with the same engines due to be given to Campos, Manor and USF1.

 

The move could also make Cosworth the largest engine supplier on the 2010 Formula 1 grid, ahead of giants such as Ferrari and Mercedes.

 

Former Lotus driver, Sir Stirling Moss, has welcomed the return of the Lotus name to the top level of motorsport.

 

He said: "They've got the heritage, they've got the name and it's a good thing for the sport. We've got a batch of new cars coming in next year and Lotus's good name can only add to that."

 

Exact details of the deal between Cosworth and Lotus have not been revealed, but the deal between the Northampton firm and Campos, Manor and USF1 saw the three teams pay Cosworth £5 million a year to get two cars each on the Formula 1 grid. At the time the previous deal was announced Cosworth also confirmed all the new engines would be built at the firm's St James factory and would require about 100 new employees.

 

Cosworth's massive return to Formula 1 comes after the company left the sport in 2006 with the loss of about 200 jobs.