Former-Force India technical chief Mark Smith will begin his new role at Team Lotus today, where he will become technical director.
Smith, who has had to wait until today to start work due to contractual commitments with Force India, will report to chief technical officer, Mike Gascoyne.
The pair will continue to develop the T128, whilst working on next years chassis which Smith is confident will be a competitive car, but he is seeking championship success in the future.
“I am very excited about the challenge that lies ahead with Team Lotus. This is the first time I have been in the factory and I am very impressed with what I have seen across all the departments.
“Throughout my career I have had some interesting spells with a number of F1 teams including Jordan, Renault, Red Bull Racing and Force India and I have enjoyed the experience of winning races wherever I have been.
“However, I have never been involved in a Championship win with any of those teams and I see that as one of my key goals with Team Lotus.
“I was genuinely impressed at how this team reached the 2010 grid with a good functional car and a professional looking operation in such a short time. That was a huge achievement and they have built upon that in 2011, so the foundations are there for long-term success and I am looking forward to helping the team achieve its goals for many seasons to come.”
