Trulli in line for a Lotus race-seat

Saturday 7th November 2009

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.

Lotus will make their Formula One debut next season having secured a place on the grid as one of the four new entrants. The team's preparations are already well underway, however, they have yet sign either of their two drivers.

Trulli, who is without a race-seat for next year's Championship after Toyota withdrew from the sport, has been in Formula One since 1997, giving the Italian the much-needed experience that Lotus are looking for.

"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 to. 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."

Formula 1 2010 Season. Click here to bet.

Your Comments

Gambitt

"Kobayashi would be a better choice; a young driver you can build on, instead of a house-of-cards that isn't going anywhere but down.

diego

"This would be a HUGE mistake to sign up that ticking time bomb ... Kobayashi and Fauzy would make a much better combo."

splashlog

"he's in line alright......the back of it, that is!"

stormwarning

"JeanAlesi, from what I can garner, the original Lotus in Formula 1, called Team Lotus (sister to Lotus Engineering), sold their name to James Hunt's brother, David, when they left Formula One. This is where my info gets a bit hazy, but it seems Litespeed either bought the name from Hunt, or Hunt is in some way connected to Litespeed? Anyway, Litespeed legally have the Lotus name to use in Formula 1, but they are not calling themselves Team Lotus, instead preferring Lotus F1. Then it gets more complicated. Lotus have distanced themselves from Lotus F1 (I don't think they ever applied to sue Litespeed, I think they just stressed their willingness to legally protect their name), meanwhile, the Malaysian Government are backing Litespeed to use the Lotus name in Formula 1 because Malaysian car company, Proton, currently own Lotus Engineering, despite the fact the two Loti have nothing to do with each other... Further, Lotus Engineering AND Lotus F1 are in Norfolk, but the latter will move HQ to Malaysia later. Confused?"

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