Lotus aim to build for the future
Date published : 12 Feb 2010 - 21:18:03
Lotus Racing supremo Tony Fernandes is confident the foundations are in place to take the re-born Formula One team on towards a successful future.
On Friday the Norfolk-based outfit officially launched their new T127 car for 2010, which begins with the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir on March 12 and will see the famous gold and green return to the sport for the first time in 16 years, with Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen behind the wheel.
"I hope this year will be the start of the building block, to build a strong foundation," said Fernandes.
"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."
AirAsia founder Fernandes admitted the weight of history was on their shoulders as the team follow in the footsteps of Sir Sterling Moss, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Aytron Senna, Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell, who was present for Friday afternoon's launch at London's Royal Horticultural Halls.
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 - accepts there is a stark sense of reality weaved in with all that history.
Fernandes added: "We know we have a huge burden on our shoulders, standing on the shoulders of giants - Clark, Moss, Hill, and Mansell.
"We know we have a tremendous journey in front of us, we are honoured and cherished to be a part of history - we will leave no stone unturned in our efforts and we will do our best to return Lotus to its glory days."
