ZitatNicholas Chester will take James Allison’s role at Lotus. James would then indeed take up some gardening with the British summer just around the corner his timing is impeccable. untitled
Nick Chester: Courtesy of Lotus F1
Nicholas Chester is unknown to many but he graduated from Cambridge in 1991 with a degree in engineering. He spent 5 years at Arrrows as a race engineer and then joined the Renault F1 in 2000. He was promoted in 2005 to Head of Vehicle Performance Group and from 2010 spent a couple of years working for Renault following the sale of the works team to Genii.
In April 2012 Nicholas returned to Enstone and was appointed as Engineering Director which of course becomes the natural successor of the Technical Director.
ZitatLotus F1 Team is pleased to announce the promotion of Nick Chester to the position of Technical Director. Nick will replace the departing James Allison, who will leave Enstone after working with the team most recently since 2005 and previously from 1991-1992 and 1994-1999.
Nick has worked at Enstone since 2000, most recently as Engineering Director, and previously as Head of Performance Systems, Head of Vehicle Performance Group and Race Engineer. Prior to coming to Enstone, Nick worked for Arrows Grand Prix for five years. Eric Boullier, Team Principal:
it’s something of an Enstone tradition for new Technical Directors to be promoted from within
“We are pleased to announce Nick Chester as our next Technical Director. Nick is well known to everyone at Enstone having been with the team for over twelve years. He is already directly involved with this and next year’s cars, ensuring a smooth transition which has been underway for some time. It’s an illustration of the strength and breadth of talent at Enstone that we can draw on personnel of the calibre of Nick and it’s something of an Enstone tradition for new Technical Directors to be promoted from within. He assumes his new position at a tremendously exciting time for the sport. The 2014 technical regulation changes present many challenges, while our current position of second place in both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ World Championships mean we cannot lose sight of this year’s development battle. Nick really has his work cut out, but we know he is more than capable of handling the tasks ahead. As a team and individually, we would all like to thank James Allison for his efforts during his three stints at Enstone and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”
Nick Chester, Technical Director, Lotus F1 Team:
“I have worked at Enstone for over twelve years and am delighted to take on the role of Technical Director. I am grateful to the management at Enstone for the faith they have shown in promoting me to this position. I am very aware of our need to keep pushing development of this year’s E21 whilst developing next year’s car to a set of very different regulations. There are some exciting times ahead for Enstone and I’m honoured to be part of it.”
Zitat Lotus appoints Nick Chester as James Allison's replacement By Matt Beer Wednesday, May 8th 2013, 11:12 GMT
AUTOSPORT revealed earlier on Wednesday morning that Allison had decided to leave the squad, and that Chester would be promoted to fill the vacancy.
Team boss Eric Boullier said promoting Chester from his current role as engineering director would minimise the ripples caused by Allison's exit.
"Nick is well known to everyone at Enstone having been with the team for over 12 years," said Boullier.
"He is already directly involved with this and next year's cars, ensuring a smooth transition which has been underway for some time.
"It's an illustration of the strength and breadth of talent at Enstone that we can draw on personnel of the calibre of Nick and it's something of an Enstone tradition for new technical directors to be promoted from within.
"He assumes his new position at a tremendously exciting time for the sport. The 2014 technical regulation changes present many challenges, while our current position of second place in both the constructors' and drivers' world championships mean we cannot lose sight of this year's development battle.
"Nick really has his work cut out, but we know he is more than capable of handling the tasks ahead."
Boullier also paid tribute to Allison's contribution to the team.
"As a team and individually, we would all like to thank James Allison for his efforts during his three stints at Enstone and wish him all the best in his future endeavours," he said.
NICK CHESTER CV
1995: Joins the Arrows team as a race engineer
2000: Switches to Benetton as a race engineer
2005: Promoted to head of vehicle performance group.
2010: Becomes head of performance systems.
2012: Appointed engineering director of Lotus.
AUTOSPORT SAYS Edd Straw, F1 editor @EddStrawF1
James AllisonThe loss of technical director James Allison is a serious blow to Lotus, but it comes as no surprise.
He has been the subject of interest from several major teams, notably Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes, of late and came close to leaving the team several months ago.
Then, he turned down significantly more lucrative offers to stay at Enstone having been convinced that the team did have the necessary resources to continue to be competitive. Largely, this was down to his loyalty to a team that he has worked for on and off since 1991. But rivals have continued to pursue him.
In Allison, Lotus has lost a key player. Since being promoted to technical director ahead of the 2010 season, he has overseen the team's re-emergence as a race-winning and perhaps even title-challenging force, with his intelligence and expertise doubly effective thanks to a formidable work ethic that stands out even by F1 standards.
It is impossible to say what effect his departure will have on Lotus. As far as 2013 is concerned, he will already have played a key role in the development parts scheduled to be bolted onto the nimble Lotus E21 over the next few months, so the real question is what it means for the future, particularly with the new engine formula coming in for 2014.
On the positive side, Lotus is promoting from within rather than poaching from another team, meaning the technical department that he led so effectively will remain largely intact.
Fortunately, it is far from a one-man show, with some very highly-rated staff, including Allison's replacement Nick Chester and head of aerodynamics Dirk de Beer among the key factory-based technical personnel.
The key now is for Lotus to ensure that the transition is as seamless as possible.
I think the decision of Allison didn´t come as a surprise, so the team had enough time to find a good solution and a follower. Nick Chester is working a long time for the team and knows it very well. Let´s think us in a positive way!
Zitat von Olgaif i say i'm not deeply disappointed i wont be saying the truth. but this is how things are. i hope the new guy is as good as Allison. the thing that scares me is only that Allison was talking often about budget. the fact that he is leaving makes me fear that perhaps he realized he could not fulfill his own dreams there anymore. this thought scares me most as it would greatly affect KImi.
yeah that what I fear more too. sure it's a big loss but like Straw wrote it's not a one-man show, other people are important too and they are still there. Also Newey doesn't do it alone. At least for this year I think it's not too bad probably more for the development of next year's car.. But if he turned down all offers before because him being loyal to the team.. what changed? Did he get a better offer, one he just couldn't resist or is Lotus' financial situtation the reason? " title="hmm" />
Another problem for Lotus regarding next year might be the engine situation. Lotus has no deal with Renault yet, like other teams too but what I have read it's likely that Renault will supply RB, Toro Rosso, Williams and Caterham and that would leave Lotus out as Renault always stated that they don't want to supply 5 teams.
Thinking back, I think people also thought that Lotus would fall apart without Bob Bell as technical director. But they just promoted James Allison at that time. I think Lotus might have a good internal structure of recruiting young engineers, and grooming them. Looking at the picture of Nick Chester I think he has been more visible around the pitwall and paddock this season. I recognized him, I just didn't know his name.
ZitatLotus to move on without technical director James Allison
The Lotus F1 team has today announced that technical director James Allison is to leave the team and that Nick Chester has succeeded him as technical director.
While Chester’s credentials for the role are unquestionably strong, the loss of an innovator like James Allison is a blow to the team, which has made great progress in the last two years on a significantly lower budget than the other front running teams.
They won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year and started this year with a win in Australia. The Lotus has been a front running car, with a double podium in Bahrain last time out.
Lotus currently lies second in the Constructors’ Championship on 93 points, 70 ahead of McLaren and 16 ahead of nearest rivals Ferarri.
At this stage last year the team after four races they had just 57 points on the board, indicating their upward progress.
Although some of the innovations he has overseen have not been a success – the front blowing exhausts of 2011 for example – Allison is highly regarded in F1 engineering circles for his stints at the Lotus team, formerly Benetton and Renault.
He is not a lifer with the team, he has moved around teams, including a stint at Ferrari with Michael Schumacher in the glory years between 1999 and 2005, when he returned to Enstone. He had previously been at Enstone from 1991-1992 and 1994-1999.
There is inevitably significant speculation about where Allison is headed and why he has left. The timing is strange as he will not be able to join a new team until the end of the year and will have limited input into the crucial 2014 designs.
Money could well be a motivator in this – the funding seems to be gathered around a handful of teams now in F1.
Lotus operates on a tighter budget than its rivals and Allison told the JA on F1 podcast in April that there are always challenges to developing a car in competition with better funded teams.
McLaren and Ferrari already have technical directors in post, while Mercedes has Paddy Lowe joining the team shortly so is well stocked for senior technical figures.
A Ferrari return is a possibility, to work alongside figures like Nick Tombaszis with whom he worked closely in the early 2000s, but this would require upheaval for Allison’s large family; his teenage children are at schools in Oxfordshire and they already have Pat Fry, who does not seems to have weathered the recent pressure. McLaren would seem a possible choice given that they have lost Lowe recently, while Red Bull cannot be ruled out; of all the contenders they are the team into which someone like Allison could fit without upsetting existing employees.
More is bound to come out on this over the weekend in Barcelona.
There has also been speculation that Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen may leave the team at the end of the 2013 season to join Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull. Given Raikkonen’s competitiveness since comeback, his relationship with Red Bull via rallying and his friendship with Vettel it makes a great deal of sense. It will be interesting to see what effect this latest development in the technical department has on his future.
Zitat von an1thThere is no deal with renault? i thought renault gets the most publicity from lotus even iif redbull is their works team.
They are also sponsoring Lotus this season. I think they do get the best publicity from Lotus. The ones who might object is Red Bull, but then they have never given Renault much recognition. They have a long history with Lotus, I dont just see them dropping the team.
what do you mean with they are sponsoring Lotus this season? sure they get good publicity but as long they have no deal it's all possible. here is the article from last week:
ZitatJames Allison closing in on Ferrari move, but no deal yet By Jonathan Noble Thursday, May 9th 2013, 10:19 GMT
James Allison is closing in on a move to join Ferrari in a senior technical position, AUTOSPORT has learned, but a deal is not done yet.
After intense speculation about the future of Allison, whose exit as technical director at Lotus was confirmed on Wednesday, AUTOSPORT understands that he and Ferrari are working towards an agreement.
If the talks come off, then Allison will return to the team where he spent five years from 2000 during its most successful recent spell.
It is not clear exactly what position Allison is being lined up for, but it is likely that he will work alongside its current technical director Pat Fry as the outfit bids to bolster its structure.
However, no deal is yet in place, which means there remains the remote possibility that a move may not come off if final terms cannot be agreed.
With no contract yet finalised, and non-disclosure agreements in place over the discussions, Ferrari has played down talk about Allison rejoining the team.
When asked whether Allison was joining the team, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said at an event in Maranello on Wednesday: "I don't know any truth in that. I must deny it."
However, when speaking about the wider Allison situation, di Montezemolo later said: "We will communicate when there is news to say, but not where there are rumours."
Allison, who is one of the most highly-rated design engineers in F1, has been the target of several teams in recent months with his contract at Lotus coming to an end later this year.
McLaren made an approach in the wake of Paddy Lowe's switch to Mercedes, but was declined, while Williams is also understood to have sounded Allison out about a senior team role.
Of other teams that would be logical contenders, Mercedes already has a wealth of senior technical figures, while Red Bull still remains fully focused on the structure that revolves around Adrian Newey.
Lotus has replaced Allison with Nick Chester with immediate effect.
Zitat von miezicatwhat do you mean with they are sponsoring Lotus this season? sure they get good publicity but as long they have no deal it's all possible. here is the article from last week:
I have seen and read the speculation, but to be honest I think this situation will really not be such a big problem. No one from Lotus has even mentioned that this could potentially be an issue. And Renault is actually sponsoring Lotus this season, which they didn't do last season. Although I suspect the sponsoring has something to do with the fact that Kimi was chosen as the face of Renault. At the end of the day Renault is getting better PR from Lotus then are from Red Bull. But even if the worst comes to pass and Renault decides it will not sponsor Lotus, then I dont think it would be a real concern, there is still Mercedes, and they sound really confidant about their new engine. The FIA and Bernie wants decent teams in F1, they will not let Lotus go without a engine. In fact it has happened before, and the FIA just instructed Renault, to take up more teams. Lotus will get an engine whether they make a deal themselves or whether the FIA instructs an engine manufacture to pick them up.
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