Lotus were left with mixed emotions during the Italian Grand Prix as only one car managed to finish Sunday’s race with Jarno Trulli retiring in the closing stages. The race weekend marked a year since Lotus were accepted by the FIA to re-join Formula One as a new team in the sport. Since their return the Anglo-Malaysian outfit have suffered a difficult spell of reliability and performance woes, despite being one of Formula One’s most talented and experienced drivers Jarno Trulli has been particularly unfortunate with the car.

The race weekend started positively for Lotus with both drivers looking to build on their run of race finishes and overall consistency in the championship, Saturday qualifying would produce a satisfactory result as Jarno Trulli outqualified team-mate Heikki Kovalainen in 17th and 18th respectively. In the circumstances it was a good result for Lotus who, throughout the season have struggled for outright pace against the more established teams in the midfield.

The race would appear to be another straightforward run to the finish with both drivers attempting to avoid any trouble and attempt to consolidate their overall positions in 17th and 18th over the 53 lap race distance. However despite avoiding any major dramas in the early stages of the race it would be the closing stages when the drama would occur, just three laps from the end Trulli would suffer engine failure as his Cosworth V8 expired on the start/finish straight.

The 2011 season will bring a new deal for Lotus with an agreement with Renault to use their current V8 in next years car after the constant frustration and unreliability of the Cosworth engine.

The disappointment of Trulli’s exit was contrasted on the final lap as Heikki Kovalainen managed to hold his original qualifying position to finish 18th after 53 laps, while the team are yet to score a point in 2010 their optimism and enthusiasm for the 2011 campaign should make them good contenders for the midfield even if points finishes are still distant dreams.

The good run of finishes might have come to an end at Monza but the team will still anticipate a return to success at Singapore, a circuit which has courted controversy and drama in equal measure since it entered the Formula One calendar in 2008.

As the only current Formula One venue to be raced during the night it offers a unique challenge to drivers and teams, with the street circuit holding similar characteristics to Monaco and Montreal with its mix of tight corners and limited run off areas, it will be a daunting arena for the new teams but Lotus can be reassured by their experienced drivers. Mike Gascoyne has lead the team through thick and thin this year and his experience as chief technical director will be invaluable for the remaining races and future seasons, particularly if the planned path to success is to be achieved so quickly in the next five years.

The team will be eager to put the disappointment at Monza behind them and conclude the 2010 campaign with a flourish, Singapore and the race of lights awaits.

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