KUALA LUMPUR -  Expectation is high on the Malaysian camp as its Lotus Racing F1 team prepares to rev up at Bahrain's Sakhir circuit this weekend, when the 2010 Formula 1 season kicks off.

The team has big plans to seize a world championship in future but for now  it remains modest of its chances  though it is prepared to spring some surprises.

Speaking at a press conference here on Friday, the eve of the team's departure for the first leg of  the circuit, team leader Tony Fernandes said Bahrain is a hard race to start.

"It’s very hot, dry and there is sand. So, it’s a baptism of fire for us.

"But,. hey, you got to start somewhere! So, let’s hope that we finish the race. The great thing is that anything can happen.

"For me, personally, if we can finish the race that will be great. Everything above that will be a bonus, whether we come last, second last or third last."

Fernandes, who heads budget carrier AirAsia, added: "The important thing is we are on the grid.

For him and deputy team principal Kamarudin Meranun, the last eight years had been non-stop excitement in building  the airline.

But, he said, Lotus Racing is "something else."

"To be there and qualifying with the likes of Ferrari, McLaren, Renault and Red Bull – teams that have been around for a long time - it's fantastic.

"To be able to have the Malaysian flag on the car and, hopefully, one day, the national anthem 'Negaraku' will be played at the race. We hope all Malaysians are proud of this.

"No Malaysian should be looking at where we come from because no Asian country - with the exception of Japan and India - has done it.

"The key is to finish the race. Just like AirAsia, you start small and slowly build it."

Racing from the back

He, however, is pleased with their three drivers - (pic, from right) Jarno Trulli, Heikki Kovalainen and Fairuz Fauzi.

"They get on so well together. They are really working and helping each other and having some fun."

He said the fact that  the team has Trulli and  Kovalainen is a testament to the team itself.

"Kovalainen was in McLaren, which has been world champion many times. For him to know that this year he will be at the back shows his belief in our ability to grow.

"Hopefully, he’ll get up there and compete with the front guys in the not too distant future."

Fantastic role model

Fernandes said there was initially a lot of concern about the engine.

"The Cosworth is a new engine. All the teams that are using Cosworth are very happy with the engine. It has given good power and good reliability.

"And Lotus has always been linked with Cosworth. The famous Lotus cars were Coswoth-powered."

Regarding Fairuz, Fernandes said: "He’s so calm, very determined and I think he is a fantastic role model for all Malaysians.

"He’s been very professional, very positive, never let anything knock him down and I hope we can make his dream (to drive in the race) come true soon.

"He is going to be the first driver to test the Lotus T127 in Bahrain, taking out the car for the first practice.

"He was also the first guy to drive the T127 in Jerez, Spain.

"The car was not fitted with power steering then but he drove 72 laps without power steering to get his super licence. He did a fantastic job; he never complained.

"He is very positive and he did some good times. He kept the car on the track and he’s a fantastic guy; a fantastic asset to the team."

Fernandes further said: "I think the proudest thing is that even the Americans (USF1) didn’t get to the grid despite starting three months before us.

Important to Malaysia

He said the Malaysian leg of the circuit at Sepang is the most important for the team.

"It's our homecoming. We haven’t had the chance to bring the car home to Malaysia yet as we only have two chassis and no show car.

"The Malaysian race is the most important in the season for us. We want the whole of Malaysia to see the car and feel part of it," adding that his team plans to do an event at the Pavillion KL when the cars are here at the end of the month.

"Since we do not have a show car, we’ll put one up and you’re going to be seeing the real car. This is the car that we will be racing in in Sepang. Other teams will bring show cars but ours is going to be the real car.

On sponsorships, he said: "The good thing about sponsor source is that although they know you will be driving from the back, we are getting more publicity than even Ferrari.

"It’s probably what we’ve been good at – getting good PR and good mileage. We are getting a lot of response from sponsors, also because of the coverage we are getting.

"Also, Lotus is fantastic name. And I suppose the battle with Richard Branson will guarantee some coverage – yes, it is still on, there’s no going back.

Fernandes and fellow aviation moghul Branson, who is launching Virgin Racing in 2010, have a madcap cross-dressing bet on whose team will win.

If the Malaysian tycoon loses, he will have to be stewardess on Branson's aircraft and if Branson loses he has to be a stewardess on AirAsia. Routes have been picked, the Virgin boss will do the London-Kuala Lumpur route while Fernandes will do London-Lagos.

The branding and merchandise

On why he is using the Tune Group on the racing car instead of the AirAsia brand, Fernades said: "AirAsia is already well established. And we already have a contract with AT&T Williams F1 Team.

" I don’t think AirAsia will be on a Lotus car anyway. AirAsia has reached a certain level but Tune Group is now up and coming. Tune Hotels.com is opening 15 hotels in London. Tune Money and Tune Talk are growing rapidly too.

Asked about the Lotis Racing merchandise, he said the team will start selling in Bahrain.

Regarding the comeback of Michael Schumacher in the circuit, Fernandes said: "It’s great for him to be back in F1.

"It also shows that our timing was perfect. It’s going to be great for Malaysia; the amount of branding that Malaysia got over the last six months has been fantastic for 1Malaysia.

"It really brings us together as well and it really fits in with the 1Malaysia concept. For us it’s good for Malaysia because there’s going to be a lot of interest in F1. - Malaysian Mirror