Malaysian ex-PM opens Lotus factory

Date published : 22 Feb 2010 - 17:17:05

Malaysia's former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir was the guest of honour at the official opening of the Lotus Racing factory in Hingham, Norfolk, on Monday.Mahathir played a key role in promoting motorsport in Malaysia and securing the country's first grand prix in the late 1990s, while the revived Lotus team is the product of a collaboration between the Malaysian state and a consortium of entrepreneurs led by aviation tycoon Tony Fernandes.After a tour of the Lotus factory Mahathir was seated in the team's T127 car while its Cosworth engine was fired up.Fernandes said the team and Malaysian motorsport owed the former premier a big debt of gratitude.It is very exciting for us and the team that Tun Dr Mahathir has been able to come to Norfolk to officially open our factory, he said.He is the father of motor racing in Malaysia, the visionary behind the birth of the Sepang International Circuit and the Malaysian Grand Prix, and has given us all the inspiration to reach for the skies and achieve our dreams.As such it is a tremendous honour for us to welcome him here and we are extremely proud he has opened our factory today.