Jan 26, 2012, 12:43 GMT
Berlin - Caterham on Thursday were the first Formula One team to present the 2012 car and their technical chief Mike Gascoyne well aware that its looks would stir a debate.
But Gascoyne said on the team's Facebook page that new regulations will force other teams as well to come up with what Caterham call a 'platypus nose' of the green and yellow CT01 model.
'As we're the first car out it is obviously stirring up a lot of debate, but because of the 2012 regulations I think you'll probably be seeing this type of nose on most of the cars this year,' Gascoyne said.
'The regulations have changed to limit the height of the nosebox to try to ensure that noses don't get too high. Our challenge is that you always want to get the chassis as high as possible to allow clean air flow to the underside of the car, and what you see on the CT01 is our solution to that.'
Othere teams such as Ferrari have also hinted ahead of their unveiling that the 2012 model will not be as beautiful as past models, with the word 'ugly' also used on several occasions in connection with the expected new-look cars.
Caterham, formerly competing as Lotus, said the car will be ready for the first round of pre-season testing February 7-10 in Jerez, Spain. The drivers for the season starting on March 18 in Australia are Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen.
Gascoyne said the team powered by a Renault engine and with a Red Bull gearbox will have the power-booster Kers onboard for the first time as it seeks its first championship points.
'I think we need to see the car on track first and get feedback from the first tests. Until we run the car, we only have numbers and simulation data to work with. But every team wants to move up the grid and we're no different.
We finished 10th in the last two years, which has been our target, but now I think it's time we moved forward again. Let's see what happens we get out on track.'
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