Caterham launch 2012 car

The Caterham team [formally Lotus] have launched their new car for the 2012 Formula One season.

The team sticks with the Green and Yellow livery that it raced under while formally known as Lotus, with title sponsor Air Asia splashed across the car in white.

The car however has an awful looking nose, reminiscent of someone who has previously broken it and apparently other teams could look just as awful due to new regulations in Formula One.

For 2012 the new FIA regulations require a lower nose for safety purposes, however the height of the chassis behind a certain point has remained the same as previous seasons, which leaves this rather unsightly appearance.

'The rules for the lower noses have dictated a development direction and I'm sure we won't be the only or the worst-looking one out there.

'I think it's going to be a common theme. Caterham Chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne told the BBC.

But as we have seen in previous seasons an ugly car can be a quick car and ultimately that is the aim in Formula One.

It's also an important season for Caterham as they look to make the biggest leap of all the 'newbie teams' and start competing with the mid-pack runners in what will be their third season.

'I feel one hundred per cent ready to go and ready for even better performances this season, As a team we want to move into the midfield. We've set the target that we want to always be qualifying in Q2 and challenging the teams directly above us - whether that's Williams or whoever it is. It's really, really close and we want to be in that group.' Heikki Kovalainen told Sky Sports.

The reason behind Caterham's confidence is because of some major changes for the team for the 2012 season.

They will be running an improved aerodynamic package, after using the Williams Teams wind tunnel, while a deal with Red Bull Racing will see them run Red Bull's gearboxes and KERS, the first time the team will have run with the power-boost system in F1.

Those factors should see the performance of the car improve greatly and Heikki is looking forward to the new season. '[KERS is] something that will really enable us to race those around us, especially at the race starts, In terms of lap times, it should be worth around four tenths.'