When Lotus technical director Nick Chester announced this week that the Enstone outfit would not be attending Jerez it surprised me. A lot. Normally, skipping the first test of the season would not be something to get too concerned about. Unwrapping the car ahead of the season at a later stage can be advantageous as it allows a few design features to be kept secret and developed further, blocking other teams from copying what could be an innovative performance solution sooner. The first test is generally regarded as a ‘shake down' anyway, so what's all the fuss about? Jerez is often described as an unsuitable environment to go testing at: the track surface is unnaturally abrasive...
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