The Lotus team (Team Lotus) have announced that they must score points in 2011. They are under pressure to prove that they are making progress after a successful debut season last year. Lotus finished 10th overall in the 2010 season, behind Torro Rosso and BMW Sauber. they also finished ahed of the other new teams (Hispania and Virgin) and were awarded the best of new team aword. Chief executive officer Riad Asmat told BBC reporters "This year, I've got shareholders on my neck saying it's points time. We know where we need to be - that's running with Toro Rosso and Sauber." The team are owned by Malaysian businessman Tony Fernandes - the owner of the Air Asia airline - and his fellow shareholders Kamarudin Meranun and SM Nasarudin. They invested a budget of approximately £50m in the team in 2010 as the start of a five-year programme that they hope will end with them winning races. The outfit competed under the name Lotus Racing in their debut season last year but have adopted the historic Team Lotus moniker after buying the rights to the name.
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