Team Lotus ‘copying’ Force India’s designs?

Posted by Harvinder

November 6, 2009

Looks like another possible “spygate” scandal is brewing. Apparently, Team Lotus’ upcoming Formula 1 car is based on the Force India racer. Force India claims that Team Lotus is building its 2010 racer based on data and information given by Force India’s former wind tunnel operator Aerolab (owned by Fondtech). Force India says that the front wing assembly of Team Lotus’ wind-tunnel model (pictured above) looks similar with the one featured on Force India’s Formula 1 car.

Force India is also saying that the wind-tunnel tires on the car have hand-writing from its staff. So is there any truth behind this? Well no one knows for now but we do know that Force India has yet to take any further action regarding the matter. It is also interesting to note that Team Lotus’ technical chief Mike Gascoyne was formerly with Force India. At the same time, the above mentioned Aerolab is taking legal action against Force India for “not fulfilling its obligations” over a previous three-year deal.

Source.