Lotus and F1

[Lotusacbc]

I was just thinking, since I dont know the whole story, but why did Lotus stop competing in racing? And what do you think it would take for them to be a major competitor in todays races?

[cnh1990]

Money and a driver.

[karlfranz]

"I was just thinking, since I dont know
the whole story, but why did Lotus stop
competing in racing?"

Money $$$

"And what do you think it would take for
them to be a major competitor in todays
races?"

Money $$$

[melw]

The answer to both your questions really is that simple. After Senna left Lotus went into a downward spiral, they lost Honda engines and couldn't find a decent replacement. They took on Nelson Piquet at the end of his career, a move that probably cost a fair bit but didn't bring results. Sponsors went elsewhere and their last chance of a decent result, Johnny Herbert at Monza, was trashed by a half asleep Eddie Irvine at the start!

Jordan are probably in the same situation now as Lotus were in '92. No cash, struggling for sponsors, can't afford top designers, drivers etc. The only difference is in '92 there were lot more prospective teams. Nowadays loosing another team would be a disaster for F1, ie Jordan will get help if things get really rough.

I still don't understand why someone doesn't buy the name, after all Lotus are still synonymous with GP racing in it's heyday. Far more than say Jaguar. That said I can't imagine Proton care much for the heritage and despite Team Lotus being a seperate concern it wouldn't be in say BAR/Hondas interest to resurect the name only to promote a rival car manufacturer.

Any Lotus fanatics with say £100 million to spare for a season in the midfield?







[

>> Edited by melw on Thursday 13th November 17:06

[Lotusacbc]

It is such a shame, Lotus is a dying legend

Maybe one day, it will all fall into place again.

[lotusguy]

Lotusacbc said:

It is such a shame, Lotus is a dying legend Maybe one day, it will all fall into place again.

Hi,

First off...legends never die! Alfa, Masserati, Bugatti and several other marques haven't raced for decades, yet still command respect from those in the know. Lotus surely is one of these.

Also, just because Lotus doesn't currently fill the starting rows at Grand Prix doesn't mean they are not still being raced all over the world. Elises, Sevens, Europas, Esprits, Elites and Elans are still very competitive in many classes and venues, beating many newer, more technologically advanced, cars on a regular basis.

Personally, I wouldn't care if Lotus ever got back into Grand Prix or any other Factory sponsored racing, especially if it were a half-hearted and half-funded effort resulting in mediocre performance designed only to boost sales. If technology developed for the track isn't adopted for their street cars, I don't see the point. And the state of technology currently in use in F1 is so expensive that it can only be brought to market in an extremely high-priced vehicle, or watered down for the cambry.

I am not one of those who lives vicariously through the efforts of professional race drivers, driving fully prepped race cars, like the guy plodding along in his Monte Carlo imagining he's driving the same car as Dale Earnhart (as if!).

I love my Esprit for the way it drives, not for what people may think about the car or the marque. I love racing for the competition, not because a particular marque may be temporarily more competitive than the next.

And, before you go chastising me for my views, imagine what a half-hearted, half-funded, effort would do to the Premier reputation Lotus already has earned. Just my humble $0.02. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE

[Lotusacbc]

LotusGuy - well put.

[melw]

Hey Lotusguy,

Too true... it would do more harm than good to see Lotus racing the likes of Mindardi, mind you I'd love to see the name back in international racing again.

A LeMans entry would be amazing, if TVR and Morgan can do it why not Lotus?

>> Edited by melw on Thursday 13th November 19:31

[paul c]

Top drivers have the chance to retire at the top.
Teams do too,but always opt for the swan song...
I think lotus did well to crash out of F1 without losing too much of the legend at all. I hope nobody 'buys the name',this always smacks to me of a company without a good product,needing to sell it.

A couple of years ago some guys built a roadster,and then got the right to stick the JENSEN name on it,remember?. It was not a JENSEN from the start,that name was bought to make it sell. It was then heralded as the return of JENSEN...

Who remembers that now?,but everyone still remembers the interceptors.

[sanj]

lotusguy said:

Personally, I wouldn't care if Lotus ever got back into Grand Prix or any other Factory sponsored racing, especially if it were a half-hearted and half-funded effort resulting in mediocre performance designed only to boost sales. And, before you go chastising me for my views, imagine what a half-hearted, half-funded, effort would do to the Premier reputation Lotus already has earned.

Hear, hear!

Cheers,
Sanj