Caterham to go to Formula One?
Discussion
Sort of.....
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90907
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90907
Autosport said:
Team Lotus has been linked to a tie-up deal with sportscar manufacturer Caterham, with an announcement about a takeover possible as early as next week.
The Hingham-based outfit has announced that it is to hold a major press conference at Duxford Airfield next week - although it has not confirmed any further details.
In an invite sent to the press, the team stated that the media event would be "an incredibly exciting announcement about the future of the team".
Sources have revealed to AUTOSPORT that Team Lotus could be on the verge of a takeover of Caterham - which if it came off would provide obvious marketing and technical opportunities between the F1 operation and the road car business.
The link with Caterham could also in theory give the F1 team another option in terms of a future brand name for the outfit, if it opts to move away from the 'Team Lotus' moniker on the back of the dispute with Group Lotus.
Team Lotus declined to comment on the Caterham speculation when contacted by AUTOSPORT on Thursday.
Next week's press event will also likely come before there is any firm answer from the British courts about the ongoing Lotus naming dispute.
It had originally been hoped that the judge could issue his verdict as early as this week, but sources suggest that there will now be a delay for several weeks – meaning the issue will not be settled until next month.
The Hingham-based outfit has announced that it is to hold a major press conference at Duxford Airfield next week - although it has not confirmed any further details.
In an invite sent to the press, the team stated that the media event would be "an incredibly exciting announcement about the future of the team".
Sources have revealed to AUTOSPORT that Team Lotus could be on the verge of a takeover of Caterham - which if it came off would provide obvious marketing and technical opportunities between the F1 operation and the road car business.
The link with Caterham could also in theory give the F1 team another option in terms of a future brand name for the outfit, if it opts to move away from the 'Team Lotus' moniker on the back of the dispute with Group Lotus.
Team Lotus declined to comment on the Caterham speculation when contacted by AUTOSPORT on Thursday.
Next week's press event will also likely come before there is any firm answer from the British courts about the ongoing Lotus naming dispute.
It had originally been hoped that the judge could issue his verdict as early as this week, but sources suggest that there will now be a delay for several weeks – meaning the issue will not be settled until next month.
Next years colours? 
Another hilarious move designed to p
s off Behar.
"We're the 'real' Team Lotus, we represent what Lotus stands for, and we're going to prove it by allying ourselves with another company that shares the same viewpoint. Go on and make your fat, bloated Ferrari knock-offs."
I expect Lotus Cars will have an amusing counter-move to follow.
s off Behar."We're the 'real' Team Lotus, we represent what Lotus stands for, and we're going to prove it by allying ourselves with another company that shares the same viewpoint. Go on and make your fat, bloated Ferrari knock-offs."
I expect Lotus Cars will have an amusing counter-move to follow.
PW said:
After many years of having no interest in that part of their heritage, as part of Lotus' new billion dollar business plan headed by a slick, successful businessman, they are suddenly very interested in making road cars, and therefore will sponsor Caterham cars in a new Caterham Lotus venture, with all Caterham cars to be sold only in the corporate colour scheme of an entirely unrelated 3rd party, as part of some shallow, half-baked plan to try and fool the general public into thinking that they are the one, true Lotus marque.
Only kidding! No one would do something that childish and daft.
Apart from Group Lotus, obviously.
Is this not Team Lotus, not Group Lotus..?Only kidding! No one would do something that childish and daft.
Apart from Group Lotus, obviously.
Imagine the scene in a pub car park somewhere in leafy England
Q) - Oh thats nice old British Sports car you have there, is that a Lotus 7? My dad used to have one like that in the 60's.
A) - Er well no, its not a Lotus 7, it does look and drive just like a Lotus 7, but we are not allowed to call it that. Is actually a Team Lotus Caterham 7 Lotus 7 copy, they used to be made in Kent (after they stopped making them in Norfolk), but now they make them in Malaysia.
Q) - Oh thats nice old British Sports car you have there, is that a Lotus 7? My dad used to have one like that in the 60's.
A) - Er well no, its not a Lotus 7, it does look and drive just like a Lotus 7, but we are not allowed to call it that. Is actually a Team Lotus Caterham 7 Lotus 7 copy, they used to be made in Kent (after they stopped making them in Norfolk), but now they make them in Malaysia.
I was very behind the Team Lotus thing in the early days of the new team when they had support from the factory, then Group Lotus got a bit silly about it and now having two Lotus on the grid is just ridiculous. Personally i'd adopt the Caterham name to F1 and Tony Fernandez can make his own history, he clearly has his head and heart in the right place, so ditch the distraction of arguing with Lotus and rebrand as caterham.
Better to go down as the hero who took caterham to F1 and did a respectable job, rather than the guy who took a 'fake' team lotus back and spent the whole time arguing with group lotus and trying to convince people they were worthy of a history impossible to live up to.
Better to go down as the hero who took caterham to F1 and did a respectable job, rather than the guy who took a 'fake' team lotus back and spent the whole time arguing with group lotus and trying to convince people they were worthy of a history impossible to live up to.
certainly will help them grow and i doubt tony will go down the "were going to build 7 new cars that are totally different to what our fans want" (yeah lotus, i am looking at you!)
but just maybe they can finally make that coupé sportscar everyone wants..
are they renaming the f1 team to caterham? it doesn't seem right tbh.
but just maybe they can finally make that coupé sportscar everyone wants..
are they renaming the f1 team to caterham? it doesn't seem right tbh.
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