New Lotus Renault signing Romain Grosjean admits that he cannot wait to get started on the 2012 F1 season after completing his return to a full-time role with the Enstone outfit.The Frenchman, speaking a little over a week after being confirmed as the team's second signing, revealed that he had alrready upped hi training regimen, but was itching to get out on track and begin developing LRGP's 2012 challenger.
The car itself has not even been given a definitive launch date, but it is indicative of Grosjean's rejuvenated ambition that he is eager to do all he can to ensure that the 2012 season is more of a success than last year, which tailed off badly after a promising start.
"My training has remained very similar, but I must now focus more on strengthening the neck as this is essential for an F1 driver and a difficult area to train," he told the official LRGP website, "The main problem with training in winter is trying not to get too cold outside!"
"[Despite that], I will be training hard until Christmas and then taking a few days holiday to relax on the beach and get some sun before January.
"[However], I'm mostly looking forward to being back at Enstone to meet with the team and prepare for testing in February. I will be looking to give the best I can to help the team develop the car as much as possible before Melbourne.
"Testing is essential in preparing for the season ahead, and I am really looking forward to working with the guys and giving feedback on the car so that we can be ready for Australia. Also, each driver will only get six days of running before the start of the season, so every kilometre in testing will have to be useful. I can't wait to get started!"
Having decided to dispense with the services of both Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna for 2012, Lotus Renault will start the new campaign with a fresh driver line-up, but Grosjean at least enjoys the advantage of having worked with the engineers during his brief stint behind the wheel in Friday morning practice at the season-ending Abu Dhabi and Brazilian GPs.
With new team-mate Kimi Räikkönen coming straight to Enstone from two years in the World Rally Championship, the Frenchman knows that his existing relationship with the team could be important.
"I came to Enstone last week and it was great to visit the factory as an F1 race driver," he conceded, "The good thing for me is that I have already worked with the team at the end of last season, [but] I met with the guys last week, and also had a chance to go into the wind tunnel and see next year's car.
"It is always something special for a driver to see the car being developed and to meet the people working so hard to give us a good car for next year."
Grosjean revealed that he has also had the chance to get to know his ne team-mate, and says he is looking forward to working with the 2007 world champion.
"I met him last week and he is a nice guy," he said of Raikkonen, " I think we have more or less the same philosophy, we both want to give our best for the team to get good results next year. I am looking forward to working with him."
The rumour mill continues to suggest that Senna could return to the team in a reserve driver capacity, with increased involvement in Friday morning practice sessions at grands prix, but Jerome d'Ambrosio is also being suggested as a potential third driver, thanks to his Gravity Sports Management links with LRGP team boss Eric Boullier.
Source: Crash.net
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