Feb.17 (GMM) As was expected, it did not take long for the rain clouds to open as the penultimate test of the pre-season began on Wednesday morning.

It was not raining at Jerez when Lotus' newly launched T127 made its early morning debut in test driver Fairuz Fauzy's hands, but the track was already wet.

Within an hour of the four-day session, the umbrellas were out in force.

"We are off. Lotus Racing is a go," team boss Tony Fernandes wrote on his Twitter page.

"Have completed 5 laps. No problems," he added.

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