Lotus will be looking forward to the upcoming Turkish Grand Prix after a disappointing display in the Monte Carlo. The team will be looking to get back to the track in Istanbul after seeing both cars retire in Monaco.

The circuit continues the European schedule of the championship and despite seeing Jarno Trulli crash out in Monte Carlo the team will be eager for the Italian and team mate Heikki Kovalainen to get back to the track as soon as possible. The team will undoubtedly be looking to another strong qualifying performance with session two being a real possibility for the Lotus drivers.

The circuit in Istanbul has only been on the Formula One calendar since 2005, with Ferrari driver Felipe Massa having taken three consecutive victories between 2006 and 2008.

For the new teams it will be another brand new circuit to master, so far in the season the drivers have learnt and taken to the tracks relatively quickly.

Lotus will need to rely on their established drivers who have the most experience of the new teams at Istanbul, particularly Jarno Trulli who will have a point to prove after his crash in Monaco. One of the notable aspects of the track is that it is one of only a handful of races in the calendar which runs anti-clockwise, with a difficult opening corner which could catch out the unwary come race day.

The race is probably most recognised for its intimidating turn 8 which is taken at full throttle in 7^th gear by the drivers, it certainly isn’t for the faint hearted. The demanding details of the track will be a stern test for all the new teams over the race weekend, not just Lotus.

In the wake of their performance in Monaco, Lotus have already declared their intentions to start developing the 2011 car ready for the rule changes for next season’s challenge. Alongside this they have also suggested new upgrades ready for the British Grand Prix in July, suggesting that the push for mid table finishes might not be too far away.

If Lotus can turn their fortunes around in Turkey and get both drivers to either a mid table or low table finish it could spell a rejuvenation in their season. The squad will certainly see Turkey as a chance to get both their cars to the finish line after a run of poor finishes.

The track is one of the modern developments which will become a regular site on the F1 calendar as more venues are added in the next few years. Lotus will be looking to their experienced heads to deliver a result and turn the team’s luck around. On paper the season suggests further struggle for Lotus, but they still have the resources and talent to produce some promising results, don’t write them off just yet, there could be some surprises in store.

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