Lotus F1's Tony Fernandes is hopeful the re-born marque can eventually establish itself again in a sport it once dominated.
Team principal hopes to challenge frontrunners within three or four seasons
Lotus F1 team principal Tony Fernandes is hopeful the re-born marque can eventually re-establish itself in a sport it once dominated.
The Norfolk-based outfit launched their new T127 car in London on Friday with drivers Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen behind the wheel for the 2010 season, which starts in Bahrain on March 14.
AirAsia founder Fernandes admitted that his team, who are using a name whose original incarnation won seven world titles in the 1960s and 1970s, have quite a history to live up to.
However, the Malaysian businessman - who bought the rights to the name and is racing with the blessing of the family of Team Lotus founder Colin Chapman - is realistic in assessing their immediate chances of success.
Fernandes said: "I hope this year will be the start of the building block, to build a strong foundation.
"We are under no aspirations we are going to be up there with McLaren and Ferrari.
"Our first objective would be to have a car which is reliable - if we can finish every race, that would be a phenomenal start.
"From that reliability if we can build to beating the new teams and then challenge some of the more established teams, that would be a great target.
"We are not here to come last every year, and while we are not going to be challenging the front this season, within three or four we have the ability. It is in our hands."
Ambition
Lotus F1's ambition and backing may be measured by the fact that they are the second of four new teams to launch their car, despite only being awarded their place in September.
Virgin Racing unveiled their car last week, meaning that Lotus have already leapt ahead of both USF1 and Campos Meta - who are both said to be struggling to be ready for the start of the season.
With the new car set to hit the track in time for next week's group test at Jerez, technical director Mike Gascoyne said Lotus are determined to score points this season.
"My first target was to get here with the car, so that feels like a race win," the former Renault and Toyota technical chief said.
"It is not about where we are in race one, we have got to be solid and professional.
"It is about where we are in race five, where we are race 10 and race 18, because if we are not racing people to score points, then the drivers will be kicking me, and I don't like that.
"It is all about the progression of the team - we have done the first hurdle, now we need to make it into a proper racing car.
"We have got to be racing for points at the end of the year."
Potential
Trulli, who joins Lotus from the now defunct Toyota team, said he was excited by the prospect of helping a new team try and realise their potential.
"What has happened is really an achievement," the 35-year-old Italian said. "When I first walked in to the factory, I said: 'Wow, there is nothing. How can a Formula One car be ready in four months?'
"At the end of the day, I had to take a kind of a gamble, but on the other hand, I knew these guys were presenting a brand which is second only to Ferrari in motor sport.
"We all have a big responsibility, and that is why this has happened, with people who are all serious about it.
"We cannot aspire to join the club this year and straightaway be the best, but we know what our goals are.
"You will not believe the atmosphere we had at Silverstone where for the first time in 16 years, the green and yellow car with the Lotus brand hit the track for the first time.
"That was something really special, now we have to learn and get the whole team rolling."
The original Team Lotus raced in Formula One between 1958 and 1994.
