Lotus back in F1?
Discussion
SOURCE AUTOSPORT:
A consortium backed by the Malaysian government is pushing hard for Lotus to beat BMW Sauber to the final slot in next year's Formula 1 world championship, AUTOSPORT has learned.
BMW Sauber chiefs have been looking for a buyer to secure the team's future, and there has been speculation that the outfit's Malaysian backers could support a buyout bid.
However, AUTOSPORT understands that the sponsors are instead close to throwing their support behind the totally new team that will use the Lotus name.
AUTOSPORT understands that the Malaysian government is keen to continue the promotion of its oil company Petronas in F1, but also start delivering a higher profile for the Lotus company name - which is owned by Malaysia's national car maker Proton.
The push for the Lotus name in F1 could also be boosted by the arrival of former Ferrari brand guru Dany Bahar as the company's new CEO, although it is believed his appointment at the current time is coincidental and not linked to the F1 plans.
Lotus's ambitions are being spearheaded by respected technical chief Mike Gascoyne, whose original Lotus team linked with the Litespeed operation were widely talked about earlier this year.
Malaysia's Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek refused to deny talk that the government is looking at its involvement in the team when speaking to local media yesterday.
"Nothing has been finalised and there's nothing to comment," he told the Malay Mail. "I'm not confirming, neither am I saying otherwise."
Shabery also did not rule out that an announcement about the team's plans was scheduled to be made after the Singapore Grand Prix later this month by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
He said: "Let's wait for the PM to make the announcement. Who knows what will happen after the Singapore GP."
The FIA is currently evaluating the entries for the 13th team in F1, with an announcement expected in the next few weeks.
A consortium backed by the Malaysian government is pushing hard for Lotus to beat BMW Sauber to the final slot in next year's Formula 1 world championship, AUTOSPORT has learned.
BMW Sauber chiefs have been looking for a buyer to secure the team's future, and there has been speculation that the outfit's Malaysian backers could support a buyout bid.
However, AUTOSPORT understands that the sponsors are instead close to throwing their support behind the totally new team that will use the Lotus name.
AUTOSPORT understands that the Malaysian government is keen to continue the promotion of its oil company Petronas in F1, but also start delivering a higher profile for the Lotus company name - which is owned by Malaysia's national car maker Proton.
The push for the Lotus name in F1 could also be boosted by the arrival of former Ferrari brand guru Dany Bahar as the company's new CEO, although it is believed his appointment at the current time is coincidental and not linked to the F1 plans.
Lotus's ambitions are being spearheaded by respected technical chief Mike Gascoyne, whose original Lotus team linked with the Litespeed operation were widely talked about earlier this year.
Malaysia's Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek refused to deny talk that the government is looking at its involvement in the team when speaking to local media yesterday.
"Nothing has been finalised and there's nothing to comment," he told the Malay Mail. "I'm not confirming, neither am I saying otherwise."
Shabery also did not rule out that an announcement about the team's plans was scheduled to be made after the Singapore Grand Prix later this month by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
He said: "Let's wait for the PM to make the announcement. Who knows what will happen after the Singapore GP."
The FIA is currently evaluating the entries for the 13th team in F1, with an announcement expected in the next few weeks.
Maybe the Malaysian government should sort out some of their civil rights issues before trying to run a nationalised F1 team.
"The car was perfect, the team are great, we have the best and fastest package out there."
"but your car is 3 seconds of the pace?"
"Our car is the fastest out there (if I say otherwise they will put me in jail for 25 years)"
F4F1 ring any bells?
"The car was perfect, the team are great, we have the best and fastest package out there."
"but your car is 3 seconds of the pace?"
"Our car is the fastest out there (if I say otherwise they will put me in jail for 25 years)"
F4F1 ring any bells?
Sounding promising for a legendary name to return to the sport. The shame of it is thats there is nothing whatsoever to do with Lotus about the outfit except the name!
I for one would love to see a black and gold lotus (throwback to the JPS cars) appear on the grid - but there has to be some other teams putting strong cases forward too at the moment that might be in better shape to get up and running?
I for one would love to see a black and gold lotus (throwback to the JPS cars) appear on the grid - but there has to be some other teams putting strong cases forward too at the moment that might be in better shape to get up and running?
Check out the new Lotus CEO - from Ferrari with an interest in motorsport...
Dany T. Bahar has been appointed as the new CEO of Group Lotus effective 1st
October 2009, replacing Michael J. Kimberley, who retired in July.
Prior to this appointment, Dany Bahar was Senior Vice President, Commercial &
Brand for Ferrari SpA where he was responsible for worldwide road car sales
and after sales business, overall road car and F1 marketing activities, licensing,
and merchandising business.
(ETA - must learn to read whole OP....)
Dany T. Bahar has been appointed as the new CEO of Group Lotus effective 1st
October 2009, replacing Michael J. Kimberley, who retired in July.
Prior to this appointment, Dany Bahar was Senior Vice President, Commercial &
Brand for Ferrari SpA where he was responsible for worldwide road car sales
and after sales business, overall road car and F1 marketing activities, licensing,
and merchandising business.
(ETA - must learn to read whole OP....)
Edited by andy_s on Friday 4th September 11:56
TonyHetherington said:
Will they STILL be using that bonded aluminium chassis? 
Would be great if so (though annoying for me as I've had Lotuses for 4yrs and now won't have another for a few!), but nevertheless would be great to get the right people involved and have a team "worthy" of being called Lotus.
Thing is, Lotus F1 are largely associated with two things: JPS colours, not possible any more due to ciggie sponsorship largely being banished from the sport; and technical innovation, something that does not and can not happen with such tightly written and interpreted rules.Would be great if so (though annoying for me as I've had Lotuses for 4yrs and now won't have another for a few!), but nevertheless would be great to get the right people involved and have a team "worthy" of being called Lotus.
Whatever it might bring to the party with a team using the Lotus name, any backer / team / government won't be looking any further than the marketing and merchandising opportunities it provides. You only have to look as far as VAG, who "brought Bentley back to Le Mans" for one entire year before binning the lot once they'd sold enough hats and T-shirts and returned to pushing Audis.
Alex Yoong must be excited, best and only chance he's got of getting back into F1.
I'm not sure lotus are that associated with just the JPS colours, what about the original BRG and Yellow, or the equally stunning Gold Leaf red/gold/white, even to a lesser extent Senna in the yellow camels, i don't think the fact they perhaps wont be in those colours will change anything, i mean if lotus have the choice of any colours to run a new f1 team in i'd put money on them returning to BRG and yellow.
FNG said:
It's just my impression but every time the subject of Lotus comes up on these boards, some or many people hark wistfully back to black and gold JPS colours.
I preferred the Camel livery, but there you go.
have to say, I personally prefer the JPS colours.. ALWAYS wanted a JPS Capri when I was a kid!!I preferred the Camel livery, but there you go.
Getting slightly confused here...?
(very easy of course with ageing grey matter)
But, which Lotus?
Lotus Cars owned by Proton isn't Team Lotus the old F1 outfit, so would whoever owns the rights to the dormant Team Lotus name be able to object to 'another' Lotus F1 team.....or is this a proposed 'merging' of the old Team Lotus nameplate rights back into Lotus Cars...?
(very easy of course with ageing grey matter)
But, which Lotus?
Lotus Cars owned by Proton isn't Team Lotus the old F1 outfit, so would whoever owns the rights to the dormant Team Lotus name be able to object to 'another' Lotus F1 team.....or is this a proposed 'merging' of the old Team Lotus nameplate rights back into Lotus Cars...?
FNG said:
technical innovation, something that does not and can not happen with such tightly written and interpreted rules.
Really? Are you telling me Colin Chapman wouldn't have put a double diffuser on his car?!? Ok, not quite as exciting or radical as moveable skirts I'll grant you...
I'm not sure about this. I'd love to support Lotus in F1, but it sounds like the Malaysian government hiding behind the Lotus name, rather than the Malaysian government funding Lotus. BBC says that ultimately the car will be built in Malaysia.
"The team will be initially based in Norfolk, though its future design, research and development, manufacturing and technical centre will be purpose built at Malaysia's Sepang International circuit."
"The team will be initially based in Norfolk, though its future design, research and development, manufacturing and technical centre will be purpose built at Malaysia's Sepang International circuit."
Edited by Vlad. on Tuesday 15th September 10:27
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