The Lotus F1 team fired up the engine on their 2012 challenger for the first time today at their Enstone-based factory. The 2012-spec Lotus will be unveiled online by the team on Sunday, February 5 at 1700 CET and will make its on-track debut at the start of the first pre-season testing session in Jerez on February 7.

The engine was started up successfully, according to Lotus team manager Paul Seaby, saying via his personal Twitter feed, “The new Lotus F1 fired up successfully at 1.12pm… All systems good! Bring on the first test!”

Lotus employees were present to watch the 2012 engine being fired up for the first time, breaking into applause as the engine roared into life. Also present at the Enstone factory were Lotus team principal Eric Boullier, Lotus driver Romain Grosjean and reserve driver Jerome d’Ambrosio.

Kimi Raikkonen however, was not present at the Enstore factory, having taken part in a two-day private testing session on Valencia and had media obligations in Zurich on Thursday.

F1-Zone.net