Gascoyne's Lotus team have yet to score a world championship point

The Canadian Grand Prix saw a big step forward for Lotus, according to their chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne.

Heikki Kovalainen came 16th after starting 19th on the grid but, at one point, was as high as sixth while other cars switched tyres.

"This weekend marked a turning point for us," Gascoyne told BBC Sport.

"We were racing throughout with the mid-field teams. OK, some of them had got delayed but we were genuinely racing them."

Jarno Trulli failed to finish for the Norfolk-based team, retiring on lap 42, but Kovalainen's pace saw him finish in front of Renault's Vitaly-Petrov.

"I think for us it was a big step forward from just trying to be the best of the new teams," said Gascoyne.

"Now we're trying to get on the back of the established teams and that's exactly where we wanted to be at this stage of the season."

It's a special thing for us as the new Lotus team Mike Gascoyne on Lotus's forthcoming 500th Grand Prix

Hispania, Virgin and BMW Sauber drivers all failed to get ahead of the Finn, who achieved his highest finish of the season, 13th, in Australia in March.

This is Lotus's first campaign back on the track after a 16-year absence and the next race in Valencia will be the team's 500th grand prix.

"It's something we've been very aware of," added Gascoyne. "It's a special thing for us as the new Lotus team.

"I think it's right that we recognise that heritage and hopefully people will enjoy watching Lotus go racing again."

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