Trulli closing on Lotus seat

Trulli: Experienced

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Lotus are hoping to have their 2010 driver line-up signed and sealed by the end of November with Jarno Trulli coming in as one of the favourites.

The team will make their Formula One debut next season having secured a place on the grid as one of the four new entrants, and preparations are already well underway despite having yet to sign either of their two drivers.

Trulli, who is without a seat for next year's Championship after Toyota withdrew from the sport, has been in Formula One since 1997 and appears the ideal candidate for Lotus.

"We are looking for two drivers with experience. We are not looking for pay drivers or new drivers. We think that is very important for the team," technical chief Mike Gascoyne told Autosport.

"What is becoming clear to everyone of the new teams, is that we have gone from last to first of the new teams very rapidly. We are being seen as a serious entity. We have got quite a lot of interest, but we want two experienced drivers there, we hope by the end of November.

"We don't want to be hanging around, we want to be proactive in what we are doing, rather than reactive. That is something we want to tie up pretty soon."

Asked if Trulli was top of the list, Gascoyne said: "He is one of the guys we would like. Jarno has, over one lap, always been sensational. That is even more important in a new team because you need to know where you are on a Saturday. Jarno can always give you that.

"I've always got on well with Jarno, and know how to work with him. He enjoys working with me too, so he is definitely an option."

But Trulli is not the only experienced driver who could join Lotus, as former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has already had a chat with the team.

"It is nice that we are getting interest from experienced people," Gascoyne said. "There will be a few people who drop off the established teams and we are being seen as the best option after that, which is good."

Meanwhile, Kamui Kobayashi believes he could also be a target for Lotus after two impressive run-outs for Toyota.

The Japanese driver replaced the injured Timo Glock in the final two races of the season but with Toyota falling by the wayside he is on the lookout for a seat next year.

"I do believe I'll get a seat, if I had to choose a team, I'd choose Lotus. The name is enough really," he said.

Kobayashi is also getting some assistance from Toyota with the Japanese outfit doing what they can to secure him a race-seat for next season.

"They're working with myself and my agent to help me find a seat, they are doing the same for Kazuki Nakajima as well, Toyota explained to me that they couldn't compete in the sport no longer but will help me in my career as much as possible."