Trulli came eighth in the 2009 Driver's Championship

Jarno Trulli believes Lotus can be the best of the new Formula 1 teams on the grid in the 2010 season.

The Italian joined the Norfolk-based team along with Heikki Kovalainen as Lotus returns to F1 for the first time since 1994.

He told BBC Radio Norfolk: "It's a new team but we have the experience to be successful in two or three years."

Lotus launch the car on 12 February but it will not be ready in time for the first two tests.

"It is not a worry. We know we are running out of time but people do not consider that plenty of experienced people are here," Trulli said.

"So once the car's ready, it can hit the track and run well."

Trulli was at the Lotus factory having his seat fitted

Trulli was paying his first visit to the team's factory in the Norfolk village of Hingham.

A veteran of 219 Grands Prix, Tulli will link up again with Mike Gascoyne, the Lotus chief technical officer.

"Lotus is a fantastic name which has come back to Formula 1 after so many years," Trulli added.

"Mike Gascoyne is a very strong, prepared engineer who has done great things in the past.

"I've worked with him before and been successful with him.

"It's not going to be easy at the beginning but from mid-season until the end we should show some good results and good performances."

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