Gascoyne reveals Lotus debut date, double diffuser ban

The new F1 team Lotus' 2010 car will not be ready to run at the opening two group tests of the pre-season at Valencia and Jerez next month, Mike Gascoyne has admitted.

Autosport.com reports that the Malaysian team's single seater will instead be driven for the first time at the third test, at Jerez, in the middle of next month.

Lotus technical boss Gascoyne said the team will also travel to the final test at Barcelona prior to the Bahrain season opener.

"That (Jerez) will be the first time the world will see the car in action -- and we are hoping that chassis two will run for the last two days of the Barcelona test," he said.

Gascoyne told the same website that double diffusers, controversially introduced and then declared legal by the FIA in 2009, are likely to be banned for 2011.

"I think it is very sensible and very easy to do -- just tighten up the regulations and it is done," he said.