[Apparpsmose]

http://chiefofficers.net/888333888/c...ecomes_surreal
Battle over Lotus name becomes surreal
The deal is done but the news hasn't been released by either party, it appears. Group Lotus, the wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysian car manufacturer Proton, is to buy out the 25% of Renault F1 team that is owned by .... Renault. But Renault will keep their name on the car. Whose logo will be on the nose-cone of the Lotus-Renault remains to be seen.
By making the investment and re-branding the Renault outfit, Group Lotus expect to immediately be ahead of the Team Lotus cars in 2011.Renault - which has many years F1 experience (it was, at one time, the Benetton team) finished 5th this year aided by the impossibility of overtaking in the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi; Lotus Racing finished 10th in its first season - a remarkable achievement.

[tipokotap]

*slap hand head*

[Injurnerona]

Just came across this - goes into a lot of detail about the "Lotus Wars"...

http://www.saveteamlotus.com/

I hope Fernandes comes to his senses and fights for Team Lotus! Would hate to see Proton and Group Lotus just walk away with something they never had....

[kennyguitar]

Fernandez- Proton F1 Malaysia
Group Lotus- Lotus-Renault F1

Proton wants to promote the Lotus Brand via racing = makes sense. Proton essentially pays Fernandez for the rights he purchased to the Lotus name by promoting Proton. Proton/ Group Lotus keep Cosworth happy after dropping their F1 engines by agreeing to a tie with Cosworth for Lotus badged cosworth engines in Indycar.

Those Malaysian Ringgit are getting around!

[kennyguitar]

I really could care less. It's not like this was truly "Lotus Racing" Let Lotus use the Lotus name, with proper compensation of course. I like the idea of that compensation coming in the form of Proton marketing and naming of the
"Malaysian" team which makes a hell of a lot more sense. It's not like Fernandes owned team was going to see a dollar of support from the Lotus brand. Win-win

[Beriilosal]

I effing give up, this is bloody ridiculous. Pretty sure Group Lotus is run by maniacal children.

[TepSteade]

Just came across this - goes into a lot of detail about the "Lotus Wars"...

http://www.saveteamlotus.com/

I hope Fernandes comes to his senses and fights for Team Lotus! Would hate to see Proton and Group Lotus just walk away with something they never had....

As opposed to Tony Fernandes who also never had it?

I really like Tony Fernandes. He's an extremely nice person and I think his team is poised for success. With Mike Gascoyne at the helm, Renault engines and Red Bull transmission, I expect them to challenge some of the old teams in 2011. His team did the Lotus name justice so far, which was highlighted by the support of the Champan Family.

But I don't believe he has more moral right to the Lotus name than Group Lotus. Yes, Group Lotus was a separate company that wasn't directly involved in Team Lotus's racing activites. But it was founded by Colin Chapman and, legalities aside, for all intents and purposes, Team Lotus was the factory team of Group Lotus. He kept them legally separate to prevent them going down in case the other one goes bankrupt but Team Lotus was used to promote Lotus road cars.

I think at this point, it would be wise if Tony let Group Lotus use the Lotus name in Formula 1 and rebrand his team as Air Asia F1 Team or Tune Racing F1 Team or Fernandes Racing or something like that. Even the Chapmans support Group Lotus now.

I believe this website was set up by David Hunt or people close to him, and its tone suggests that he will be more of a road block to peace than Tony Fernandes himself.

[kennyguitar]

IMHO, as soon as Fernandes relents, David Hunt knows the IP he owns is essentially worthless, so I think it will be Hunt fighting Lotus, as he is already on record as saying he will.

[enteltcheft]

What a mucking fuddle

[OrefZorremn]

But I don't believe he has more moral right to the Lotus name than Group Lotus.

Moral rights or not (this is something that is often subjective and debatable), but Group Lotus leaves an impression of lacking common sense. They get free publicity from a professional racing outfit, but are not satisfied with it and want to "control" things themselves. Lotus Cars has got involved in all kinds of racing series and arguably with taxpayers money with the help of Malaysian government (while Fernandes' team uses his private money). So besides all, I am unsure, for how long can Lotus Cars afford such mammoth program in motorsports. And we are arguing about it, IMO current Lotus Racing is closer to the real Lotus stuff than Renault. Seeing Renault in Lotus' colours wouldn't make too much sense to me, but seeing Lotus as a private racing team based in Norfolk makes.

[enteltcheft]

Tony Fernandes has made it clear his team will be "Team Lotus" in 2011 but is predicting battles ahead - http://twitter.com/tonyfernandes/sta...86151787307008

[enteltcheft]

Group Lotus has ramped up its involvement in Formula 1 by becoming title sponsor and a major shareholder in the rebranded Lotus Renault GP Team. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88616

[Tzqowwyt]

All I need to know is which Lotus team Kovalainen drives next year, is it Team Lotus Renault, Renault Lotus team, or perhaps Lotus Renault Team, or Team Renault Lotus?

[onelovemp]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88616

That is a good looking race car. Or would have been if they hadn't gone and ****ed it up by putting red wing end plates on it in deferrence to Total.

[tipokotap]

Jesus H Christ!

Not only do group lotus p!ss all over TEAM Lotus by attempting to pull the rug out from under Tony's team after they have done all the legwork, but now they muddy the waters further by launching in black and gold after Tony Fernandes has specifically said that his team would run in that livery.

As it stands we'll have four black and gold cars competing next season, two for Renault Lotus and another two Lotus Renaults.

What. A. Mess.

[enteltcheft]

Dany bahr has done us a favour. Never felt better about our future and Team Lotus. Looks like the trying to hijak our black and gold idea. http://twitter.com/tonyfernandes/sta...42695762968577

[viawbambutt]

That is a good looking race car. Or would have been if they hadn't gone and ****ed it up by putting red wing end plates on it in deferrence to Total.

I agree. Looks hideous.


This whole situation is stupid. As ironic as it sounds, Group Lotus appears to be trying to leech off the success of Team Lotus. The Lotus name would be nowhere without Fernandes' team right now.

[diplmixxxx]

That is a good looking race car. Or would have been if they hadn't gone and ****ed it up by putting red wing end plates on it in deferrence to Total.

Lotus Racing / Team Lotus kickstart the heart of Lotus in F1 and then Group Lotus, unsatisfied that it has been a relative success, launches itself everywhere in motorsport in no time at all and takes a p*ss on Fernandes.

The decision to use black and gold in spite of Tony being a perfect example.

Group Lotus is run by pompous, jealous children.

[enteltcheft]

I'm increasingly thinking that the Lotus name should have remained on the pages of motorsport history.

I didn't like "Lotus" returning at the start of the season. For one thing the whole exercise seemed more marketing than anything else, but for another the team, to all intents and purposes, ceased to exist in 1994. There was no connection with the original when Fernandes set his team up, and that didn't change despite being located in Norfolk and having Colin Chapman's cap in a case.

That said I warmed to the team as the season went on. Fernandes seemed genuine in his enthusiasm for Colin Chapman's Lotus F1 team, and the cars looked great in their green and yellow colour scheme. They did pretty well too.

Now, this whole saga is becoming increasingly tawdry and petty. Tony Fernandes and Danny Bahr are behaving like two primary school kids playing tug of war over a name. Both apparently have the right to use "Lotus" in some form but neither are doing it any kind of credit. The use of black & gold by both teams is just another marketing ploy, and for one to follow the other in copying the iconic JPS-Lotus livery is just the latest step an increasingly pathetic schoolyard scrap.

Grow up and sort it out

[TepSteade]

Just to remind everyone: the name of the car unveiled today is Renault, not Lotus Renault, according to the current official FIA entry list. Calling them Lotus Renault would be the equivalent of calling Jenson Button's car a Vodafone McLaren. There is only one Lotus Renault, entered by Team Lotus. Of course, this all could change but that is the situation today.