Lotus F1 Press Conference at Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

Lotus F1 Press Conference at Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

On Tuesday, I was invited to the inaugural Lotus F1 Press Conference in Pavilion KL. Thank you, Advertlets and Tune Hotel for the invitation. The center foyer of Pavilion is transformed to a Lotus F1 party. Well, as a Formula One fan, I am delighted to go there.

I reached there early after I had lunch with my client in Subway. I got my media tag and immediately I spotted a blogger from far.

Well, its me and Hanie Hidayah, the blogger. She is everywhere lately, been seeing her quite often lately.

There was a Lotus F1 Merchandise stall there selling authentic original Lotus F1 goods. I bought a Lotus F1 cap. Loved it!

The press conference supposed to start at 3 pm but due to heavy rain, it got delayed. Tun Dr. Mahathir was there as well as the 2 Lotus F1 drivers but the media and press flooded the front area, I got no chance snapping a picture of them.

Well, I bumped to Timothy Tiah (again) with a cutie here (I forgot her name).

There was a flash mob dancing on the staircase area. Everyone was taken by surprise.

Not forgetting the Advertlets bloggers, BBoyrice, Rebecca, Josh Lim, Hanie and me.

The Lotus Cosworth T127 is on display at the Pavilion’s main concourse area from 3pm to 10 pm today and it will be the first opportunity for F1™ fans in Malaysia to catch a glimpse of the machine since it was launched in London on 12 February.

“This is the real Lotus Cosworth T127 that will be racing in Sepang on 2-4 April. This is a very rare opportunity for our fans to see our actual car up close” added SM Nasarudin.

Apart from an autograph session with drivers Jarno Trulli, Heikki Kovalainen and Fairuz Fauzy, Lotus Racing merchandise is also on sale for the first time during the event. The team also launched the Malaysian Chapter of the official Lotus Racing Fan Club.

On the side of the celebration is a photo gallery containing some rarely seen photographs that provide a chronology of the team’s history, development and progress.

The Lotus Racing team was announced by Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak in September 2009. Currently based in Norfolk, UK, the team launched its lean, green racing machine in London on 12 February 2010, exactly a month before its maiden race in Bahrain and five months to the day after they received confirmation of their entry into the 2010 Formula One™ World Championship.

A private investment by Malaysia’s leading entrepreneurs, Lotus Racing’s current partners and sponsors include Proton Holdings, which licences out the use of the Lotus brand name to the team, Tune Group of Companies, of which Team Principal Dato’ Sri Tony Fernandes and Deputy Team Principal Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun are co-founders, Naza Group of Companies of which SM Nasarudin is Group CEO, Bridgestone, Hackett and CNN.

At the event today the team also announced its latest sponsor, Maxis Berhad. Sandip Das, Maxis Berhad Chief Executive Officer said, “Maxis is pleased to broaden its sports involvement through the sponsorship of the Lotus Racing Team in Formula One™. This is the pride of the nation and as the leading and most innovative Malaysian Telco, which is also globally respected, we wanted to be a part of this wonderful Malaysia moment. Maxis’ commitment to Lotus Racing promises to deliver a more integrated F1™ experience to our customers with immediate access to the latest racing news and information via their mobile phones, wherever and whenever they want. In addition, lucky Maxis customers will have the exclusive opportunity of watching the Sepang Grand Prix live this coming weekend compliments of Maxis.”

I went off early due to another appointment. The event was packed and there were lots of Lotus F1 displays as well as other Formula 1 displays. It’s Formula One fever in town, and don’t forget to catch the race this weekend. Our very own, Malaysian Fairuz will be driving for the first practice this Friday. Stay tuned and support Lotus F1 yeah.

Thank you Advertlets and Tune Hotel for the invitation.

Wilson Ng