Lotus back in formula 1

[michael54321]

Hi everybody,

yesterday evening there was a message broadcasted on the DSF (a german sports channel). The headline was: Lotus sensationally could be back soon in formula 1! This is no joke!!! It was announced, that the BAR-Team is trying to get Lotus in their boat in 2003.
What do you think??
I´m interested if there are any rumours concerning these facts in England.

As I´m a Lotus enthusiast and since a few weeks proud owner of a Lotus S2 :-)))))) I wish on one hand, that Lotus really is coming back in formula 1. On the other hand I don´t know, if this is really a good idea, as Lotus is struggling to keep alive at the moment.

Let me hear your opinions,
Mike

[podie]

Seem to recall the name is owned by James Hunt's brother (David?)... and then it's "Team Lotus" which is different and disassociated with the factory IIRC (please correct me if I am wrong).

I'd like to the name return to the fold, but witness the misery of Jag in F1... and I wonder if it's best left as a legend...?

[michael54321]

Hi podie,

yes its true, Lotus is not owner of the name "Team Lotus", as I have heard. But on the DSF-channel, they did not speak of "Team Lotus". This may be a mistake, because Lotus is not too well known here in Germany. But the fact, that Lotus cars/Lotus engineering is not owner of the name "Team Lotus" does not mean, they can not participate in formula 1. If the new name of the BAR-Team ist Lotus-BAR or there is no change of the name (remember BAR means British-American Racing) at all, Lotus has no problem and does not break the rights on the name "Team Lotus".
Hope, I got this correct. If not, would anybody please explain the facts concerning the name " Team Lotus".

[Thrust]

Apparently BAR have all but announced that the BAR name will be dropped completely for next season - although. I've heard nothing about this Lotus connection though.

[smeagol]

I really hope Lotus don't go F1 route. F1 at the moment is losing spectators hand over fist, simply because its dull viewing (just look at the views on this website, and the viewing figures of BSB, WSB etc.). I believe if Lotus does do F1, then Proton needs to put up some serious cash as they would have to win to promote sales. IMHO they would be better to concentrate on GT/Le-mans racing.

The reason Lotus was so famous for F1 was Colin Chapman and inovative ideas. Now F1 is that restricted in its regulations that Lotus would just blend in with the others. Bad idea Lotus, how about using the money on producing the replacement for the Esprit?

[michael54321]

On the DSF-site there are more infos concerning the comeback of Lotus. And as far as I have understood there shall be a completely new name before 2006.

I don´t know how good your German is, but the link is:
www.sport1.de/Sportarten/Motorsport/Formel1/Berichte/Hintergrund/f1_20lotus_20comeback_20mel.html">www.sport1.de/coremedia/generator/www.sport1.de/Sportarten/Motorsport/Formel1/Berichte/Hintergrund/f1_20lotus_20comeback_20mel.html

If this does not function, try www.dsf.de and follow the link there.

I would have translated this for you, but my English is too bad to do so. Perhaps anybody of you can do the job and post the complete story here.

[JonRB]

quote:Now F1 is that restricted in its regulations that Lotus would just blend in with the others.

So true. I was watching a programme on Motors TV about 70's GP. The difference between it and modern F1 was incredible.
For a start the cars were radically different from each other.
They didn't even have the same number of wheels!! (it was the year of the 6-wheeled Tyrell)
Airboxes were different, front wings incredibly different (air dams, wings, etc.).
In short, you could look at each car and recognise by its shape which it was.
Nowadays if all the cars were painted white and had no decals you wouldn't have a clue which was which.

>> Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 11th September 11:35

[Gargamel]

this rumour surfaces about every month

no lotus won;t go back into F1 - they don't have a supercar to spin off and they nearly went bust last time round...

Proton have just cash injected again into lotus - and lotus motorsport have got engineering commitments - they do not have ANY f1 engineers and so it would cost them at least £80 - £100 million to put a car together

There is no way either proton - bar or lotus will make that kind of investment

If I am wrong - I will eat my alloy window winders

[135sport]

"If I am wrong - I will eat my alloy window winders"

Would that be with norfolk mustard?

I think this rumour just centres arounf the Team Lotus name held by David Hunt (as others have previously stated).

On a Yahoo group there was disscussion that BAR might be trying to use an 'old' legend to boost their image (Lotus, BRM, Vanwall, etc).

Personally, I think Lotus Cars should keep well away from F1, for all the reasons already mentioned.

Best left with the legend.

[Venom]

It should be interesting to see what BAR come up with as an improvement on the current marque. Piggy-backing on someone else's name, if that is what they're planning to do stinks.
Why should they benefit from the hard work of others?
IMHO though I doubt it would make a lot of difference. Look at Jaguar. Great name, great history, shocking F1 team to date. They were better, performance-wise, when they were Stewart Racing. Slapping the Jag badge on the car seems to have slowed them down, whilst increasing expectation. Do BAR really want to line themselves up for potentially the same fate?

[whatever]

quote:

quote:Now F1 is that restricted in its regulations that Lotus would just blend in with the others.

So true. I was watching a programme on Motors TV about 70's GP. The difference between it and modern F1 was incredible.
For a start the cars were radically different from each other.
They didn't even have the same number of wheels!! (it was the year of the 6-wheeled Tyrell)
Airboxes were different, front wings incredibly different (air dams, wings, etc.).
In short, you could look at each car and recognise by its shape which it was.
Nowadays if all the cars were painted white and had no decals you wouldn't have a clue which was which.

>> Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 11th September 11:35

I've seen that one a couple of times, now. It always seems to be the '76 season with Lauda's crash and Hunt winning it. Superb racing, with fantastic oversteer/drifts round the bends. These days, unless something really obvious happens, I have to rely on Martin Brundle to tell me what's going on; in '76 everyone could see it.

[markqelise]

Lotus could not go back into F1 as they would be continually fined for bits dropping off the cars and as for exploding engines.

[clanger]

Last thing Lotus need is to be associated with a loser sport like F1. Serious probs there - really hope Bernie can sort it out.

[melw]

Then again F1 could benefit hugely from having a charismatic team name amoungst the ranks of its' faceless corperations.

[wob]

BAR will not be buying the Lotus name, partly because buying F1 heritage won't fool anybody. BAR will be "re-branding" for next season though, but it's odds on at the moment that the name won't actually change. I imagine that in a fit of originality the cars will be repainted blue or something...

Caveat - I work at BAR and so probably am either less well informed than the journalists - or I'm bluffing... ;-)

As an Elise owner, it's rather a shame actually, I'd love to find myself working under the Lotus banner, although with no direct connection to the road car company it would probably be a bit pointless.

[melw]

No offense Wob, but I think it's a real shame. BAR must surely head the list of faceless F1 corporations.

I mean it's not as if they're above 'buying heritage' either. They almost did in by getting involved with Villeneuve, shame he's an banker these days and not a racing driver.



>> Edited by melw on Saturday 16th November 18:48