Team Lotus has today confirmed that John Iley, one of the leading aerodynamicists in global motorsport, has joined the team as Performance Director, heading up all aerodynamics, CFD and related activity for the team and reforming the successful partnership he previously enjoyed with Mike Gascoyne at Jordan and Renault F1.
John joins from Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, where he was Head of Aerodynamics and will start with the team, which will be running as Caterham F1 Team from December 14th 2011, in June 2012.
A graduate of Imperial College, London, John made his start in motor racing with Brun Technics, a British design office working for the Eurobrun F1 team and worked on the design of the Brun-Judd C91 sports car during 1990. Early in 1991 he was hired to be the aerodynamicist on the Allard J2X sports car and then joined Jordan Grand Prix in 1995 as an aerodynamicist. By 1998, Mike Gascoyne had also joined Jordan and promoted John to Chief Aerodynamicist where they worked together on the team’s most successful F1 chassis before he and Mike moved to Renault F1 in 2002. From there he moved to Ferrari and finally McLaren before making the move to Caterham F1 Team for 2012.
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh said: "John greatly contributed to the aerodynamic capability at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes but has taken the decision to accept an offer from Caterham F1 team for 2012 and beyond. We enjoyed working with John and wish him well for the future."
Riad Asmat, Caterham Group CEO added: "We are absolutely delighted that John has taken up the challenge we have offered him, to help take us to the next level on and off track in one of the key areas of performance in Formula 1. It is a real sign of our growth and development as a serious contender for long-term honours that we can attract someone of John’s calibre and we are all very excited about the contribution he will make to our future success from the moment he starts work with our team."