Mike Gascoyne has for the first time named Jarno Trulli as an ideal driver for the new Lotus team.

Boss Tony Fernandes has revealed that one driver for 2010 has already been signed, although his identity will not be confirmed until a second driver also joins.

Gascoyne, Lotus' technical director, has worked with 35-year-old Trulli at the Jordan, Renault and Toyota teams.

In recent comments published by France's L'Equipe, the Briton said: "On a single lap, Jarno is always able to do an excellent time.

"It's important for a team to know fairly quickly where it is on a Saturday. Jarno would give us that," Gascoyne added.

Trulli, a veteran of 13 F1 seasons, almost 220 grands prix and victory in the 2004 Monaco GP, will on Wednesday test a Sprint Cup NASCAR in Florida.

Gascoyne said Lotus' drivers will be confirmed within November because the team wants to "act rather than just react to the others".

Image courtesy of Toyota | (GMM)