Lotus Racing delighted with Bahrain result after landmark finish
Kovalainen and Trulli finished in 15th and 17th places respectively in Bahrain
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By DArren Estwick. |  |
Wednesday, 17, Mar 2010 01:54
By Adam Leveridge.
Lotus Racing are delighted with their performance during Sunday's Bahrain grand prix and are proud to be the only formula one newcomer to get both cars to the chequered flag.
Six months after the team's inception, the Lotus name returned to the F1 grid on Sunday for the opening round of the 2010 world championship season, along with two additional new teams, Virgin Racing and Hispania Racing (HRT).
In a processional race, both Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli managed to bring their T127's home in 15th and 17th places respectively, despite hydraulic problems and an early trip into the gravel for Trulli.
"I made a good start and avoided the accident at the second corner but found myself in the gravel so at this stage I was nearly last, but then I started picking up pace and catching the people in front," said Trulli.
"The car was understeering quite a lot and I couldn't really predict the balance so at the pitstop the team, who did a really good job, changed the front wing setting and I started pushing again and putting in some good laps.
"At the end of the race I had a hydraulic problem so I just had to get it to the end of the race.
"I'm really happy and proud for the team because in six months every single target we have fixed we have met so it's really good, and, as Tony said, one day Lotus will win and I hope to be here when we do."
Kovalainen, on the other hand, had a less eventful race, allowing the team to reach its primary goal of finishing the race, although he admits that the hard work is yet to begin.
"It was a good race for our team - to get both cars to the finish is a great achievement," said Kovalainen.
"Everybody in the team should be really happy but now the honeymoon is over and we need to start working on better results."
Lotus' team principal Tony Fernandes said he is proud of what the Norfolk-based team has achieved in the last five months, expressing delight at getting both cars across the finishing line in their inaugural grand prix.
"I'm completely over the moon," said Fernandes.
"I cannot describe the feeling. Six months of work and to have both cars finish is just unbelievable.
"We're thrilled, we're happy and the spirit in the team is fantastic.
"It's a great start and better than I could have dreamt of.
"We wanted to finish the race and to do so ahead of established teams is fantastic."
Lotus fellow newcomers Virgin and HRT both suffered retirements when their cars were struck by mechanical issues or through driver error.
Karun Chandhok, who hadn't turned a wheel in his car before qualifying on Saturday, only managed a short distance before ditching his car in the gravel when he hit a bump in the track surface.
Lucas di Grassi was the next to retire with recurring hydraulic problems and Bruno Senna in the sole remaining HRT was the last to come to a halt.