F1 - FIA Test Report - Lotus GP - Trulli Crash Cuts Short Lotus' Barcelona Session

Lotus’s Barcelona test programme came to a premature halt on Monday morning when Jarno Trulli crashed at the Circuit de Catalunya’s Turn Nine due to a car failure. Trulli was unhurt, but without the necessary parts to repair the T128, the team were forced to abandon the last of their four days in Spain.

“It's obviously disappointing to have the test cut short like this but these things happen in motor racing,” said Trulli. “We started the day well and until the accident happened I had picked up where I left off yesterday.

“The car has good balance, pace we can build on and has the potential to help us take the fight to the midfield, so I'm leaving here feeling confident about the season ahead and am looking forward to the next test, wherever that will be."

Trulli had completed just 18 laps when he suffered his off, but chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne remained upbeat with Lotus’s progress, the T128 having now run for over 2,400 kilometres since testing began.

“I still think there are a great deal of positives to take from the test in terms of the pace of the car and the fact that we are on top of the reliability issues,” he said. “With that in mind we leave here with work to do but still on target for where we want to be.

“We will wait to see where the next test will be held and with the time we now have back at the factory we will be working hard to make sure we run through our complete programme at that test."