Jarno Trulli admits he has taken a bit of a gamble by joining Lotus Racing, but is glad to be part of something special.

The Norfolk-based outfit yesterday launched their new T127 car for the 2010 season, which begins with the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir on March 14 and will see the famous gold and green return to the sport for the first time in 16 years with Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen behind the wheel.

Lotus Racing were only awarded their place on the grid in September, and it is an achievement in itself for the team to have their car ready for next week's latest pre-season test at Jerez.

Trulli, though, feels the latest incarnation of one of the sport's iconic names has a bright future.

"What has happened is really an achievement," said the 35-year-old former Toyota racer.

"When I first walked into the factory, I said 'wow, there is nothing. How can a Formula One car be ready in four months?'

"At the end of the day, I had to take a kind of a gamble but, on the other hand, I knew these guys were presenting a brand which is second only to Ferrari in motor sport.

"We all have a big responsibility, and that is why this has happened, with people who are all serious about it.

"We cannot aspire to join the club this year and straight away be the best, but we know what our goals are.

"You will not believe the atmosphere we had at Silverstone where, for the first time in 16 years, the green and yellow car with the Lotus brand hit the track for the first time.

"That was something really special, now we have to learn and get the whole team rolling."

Lotus Racing supremo Tony Fernandes is confident the foundations are in place to take the team towards a successful campaign under technical director Mike Gascoyne.

AirAsia founder Fernandes, who last month saw his proposed takeover of Barclays Premier League club West Ham fall through, admitted the weight of history was on their shoulders.

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 said: "I hope this year will be the start of the building block, to build a strong foundation.

"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."

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."