Wednesday in Montréal

Source: lotusf1team.com

As the team convened on a grey and wet afternoon back at Enstone on Tuesday, there was a distinct air of determination around the factory after the trials and tribulations of Monaco, with conversation rife as to how the team can bounce back in Canada.

Despite this, it must be said that arriving in Montréal that evening did bring one minor disappointment from the outset – the weather! Anyone who caught up on some sleep during the flight would be forgiven for thinking the plane was still sitting on the same runway back at Heathrow!

With off-track events already getting underway, Wednesday has thankfully brought far fairer conditions. To kick things off, Kimi and Romain are due to attend a meet & greet session with guests of team partner Total in the vibrant city centre this evening in an early start to the week’s festivities.

Thursday brings a packed schedule for the drivers and senior management. Aside from the regular tyre meeting, the official autograph session will be held at 10:30 followed by a host of interviews and appearances in the paddock and elsewhere for the throngs of media in attendance this week.

As if that weren’t enough for one day, the evening will see Kimi appear as the guest star for a special event hosted by team partner TW Steel in downtown Montréal, while Romain, Jérôme and Eric Boullier will be a part of the Canadian Grand Prix gala dinner.

Friday of course sees the real action get underway, as the drivers take to the circuit for their first taste of the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve this year. The three days of on-track running are decidedly sparse in terms of promotional activities when compared to Monaco, with just the usual group media sessions and television interviews to keep the drivers occupied away from the car.

It seems strange to think that the last race in Monte Carlo came and went only a week or so ago. The team are already itching to get back out on track and push the E20 back up to the front of the pack where it belongs.

This venue created one of the biggest surprises of the year in 2011; with such an unpredictable season as we’ve seen thus far in 2012, could we possibly have a seventh winner from seven races? It would take a brave man to bet on this one…