Lotus to cause Spygate Round 2?

[dpbird90]

Force India seem to have recognised bits of the Lotus 2010 car from that picture they released a while back:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80029


Meanwhile, they've been talking to "experienced" drivers only. Trulli I think is a given now, especially seeing as there's no Toyota. But why are they even speaking to Villeneuve? He was past it years ago, so why would things have changed? Unless he pulls off the most epic comeback ever...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80026


Personally, I'd pick Ant Davidson. Apart from one small thing, the BBC R5L commentary wouldn't be as good.

[miniman]

I don't get it. They take on Mike Gascoyne, who is ex-Force India. Surely he is not expected to deliberately come up with something completely different so that there is no claim of plagiarism?

[LY99]

miniman said:

I don't get it. They take on Mike Gascoyne, who is ex-Force India. Surely he is not expected to deliberately come up with something completely different so that there is no claim of plagiarism?

Exactly. Is he meant to forget everything he knows about F1 design?

[team underdog]

Have a read, these guys were on the case long ago...

http://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1...

[Ian Davidson]

dpbird90 said:

Personally, I'd pick Ant Davidson. Apart from one small thing, the BBC R5L commentary wouldn't be as good.

Fingers crossed.

I don't know of many drivers, who could offer a team so much, whilst asking for so little in return.

[6655321]

Ian Davidson said:

dpbird90 said:

Personally, I'd pick Ant Davidson. Apart from one small thing, the BBC R5L commentary wouldn't be as good.

Fingers crossed.

I don't know of many drivers, who could offer a team so much, whilst asking for so little in return.

I like Ant Davidson... His brother, on the other hand...Pfft

[Project 644]

LY99 said:

miniman said:

I don't get it. They take on Mike Gascoyne, who is ex-Force India. Surely he is not expected to deliberately come up with something completely different so that there is no claim of plagiarism?

Exactly. Is he meant to forget everything he knows about F1 design?

Shadow/Arrows 1978 was it?

[fivesixseven8]

team underdog said:

Have a read, these guys were on the case long ago...

http://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1...

Some interesting stuff on that thread (only 5 pages in so far) but they seem to have appointed themselves judge, jury and executioner so far! People left right and centre calling out Lotus as having "stolen" property from FI!

[10 Pence Short]

LY99 said:

miniman said:

I don't get it. They take on Mike Gascoyne, who is ex-Force India. Surely he is not expected to deliberately come up with something completely different so that there is no claim of plagiarism?

Exactly. Is he meant to forget everything he knows about F1 design?

Shouldn't take him long...

"Well Mr. Gascoyne, what is your plan for our car design?"

"Hmm, I was thinking along the lines of producing a bit of a dog to start with, then I'll tell everyone it's got a good base, then after race two start talking about a 'B Spec' of the design which 'should' appear about half way through the season."

"And will it?"


"Oh God, no. It'll appear about 4 races after that. I'll still be promising it'll be at the front of the grid when it appears, though"

"And will it?"

"Oh God, no. By the time I get off my short-arse and get the thing finished all the other teams will have gained 1.5 seconds and my B Spec will still be languishing in 15th place"

"Sounds great! How much do you want paying?"

"Just some pies, please. Hmmm, pies"

[TheDetailDoctor]

LY99 said:

miniman said:

I don't get it. They take on Mike Gascoyne, who is ex-Force India. Surely he is not expected to deliberately come up with something completely different so that there is no claim of plagiarism?

Exactly. Is he meant to forget everything he knows about F1 design?

Would be a better car if he did, the bloke is a tt.

[KaraK]

dpbird90 said:

Personally, I'd pick Ant Davidson. Apart from one small thing, the BBC R5L commentary wouldn't be as good.

Sorry for the slight hijack but if I were lotus I'd be looking to hire Ant Davidson (talented, cheap, deserves a chance to shine) and Nick Heidfeld (vast experience, reliable, quick enough to show up Kubica) - if I couldn't get Nick I'd look towards Heikki (unspectacular but experienced at running big fuel loads and comes across as a grafter)

[DrTre]

10 Pence Short said:

LY99 said:

miniman said:

I don't get it. They take on Mike Gascoyne, who is ex-Force India. Surely he is not expected to deliberately come up with something completely different so that there is no claim of plagiarism?

Exactly. Is he meant to forget everything he knows about F1 design?

Shouldn't take him long...

"Well Mr. Gascoyne, what is your plan for our car design?"

"Hmm, I was thinking along the lines of producing a bit of a dog to start with, then I'll tell everyone it's got a good base, then after race two start talking about a 'B Spec' of the design which 'should' appear about half way through the season."

"And will it?"


"Oh God, no. It'll appear about 4 races after that. I'll still be promising it'll be at the front of the grid when it appears, though"

"And will it?"

"Oh God, no. By the time I get off my short-arse and get the thing finished all the other teams will have gained 1.5 seconds and my B Spec will still be languishing in 15th place"

"Sounds great! How much do you want paying?"

"Just some pies, please. Hmmm, pies"

[team underdog]

fivesixseven8 said:

team underdog said:

Have a read, these guys were on the case long ago...

http://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1...

Some interesting stuff on that thread (only 5 pages in so far) but they seem to have appointed themselves judge, jury and executioner so far! People left right and centre calling out Lotus as having "stolen" property from FI!

There is some compelling evidence to suggest it is the FI model though, is there not?!

[Ian Davidson]

6655321 said:

Ian Davidson said:

dpbird90 said:

Personally, I'd pick Ant Davidson. Apart from one small thing, the BBC R5L commentary wouldn't be as good.

Fingers crossed. I don't know of many drivers, who could offer a team so much, whilst asking for so little in return.

I like Ant Davidson... His brother, on the other hand...Pfft

Oi! Lol

[CampDavid]

Anthony should shorten his name to Tony. The US F1 Team will find it easy to Americanize him a bit and that'll do for there sponsors.

He should also invest in a baseball jacket

[llewop]

Ian Davidson said:

6655321 said:

Ian Davidson said:

dpbird90 said:

Personally, I'd pick Ant Davidson. Apart from one small thing, the BBC R5L commentary wouldn't be as good.

Fingers crossed.

I don't know of many drivers, who could offer a team so much, whilst asking for so little in return.

I like Ant Davidson... His brother, on the other hand...Pfft

Oi! Lol

Tell Ant, good luck with getting a drive, I'm sure most PHers would love to see him out there racing next year (even if we lose him from the R5L commentary - which we've been listening too in parallel to Russian language TV coverage )

[Project 644]

Autosport said:

Aerolab rubbishes data-passing reports

By Pablo Elizalde Friday, November 6th 2009, 10:22 GMT


Aerolab has rubbished suggestions that it has passed on Force India data to parent company Fondtech, amid reports that the Silverstone-based team is concerned about the similarities between its old car and the new Lotus.

Lotus's wind-tunnel model has been designed by Fondtech, a parent company to Aerolab, the aerodynamic engineering firm that worked with the Force India team until September this year.

Both Fondtech and former Force India technical chief Mike Gascoyne are working on the Lotus team, which will make its Formula 1 return next year.

Sources suggested that Force India's senior management have been alarmed by the similarities between its old car and the Lotus's wind-tunnel model, of which the team released pictures last month.

Aerolab, however, has moved to deny any suggestions that it passed on car-design information to Lotus.

Furthermore, the company said it is taking legal action against Force India for "serious and persistent breaches of contract".

"It is quite unusual for us to comment on negative matters but we have been given no other choice but to make public the facts after press reports in recent days suggested that Aerolab has passed on information to parent company Fondtech which enjoys a close technical relationship with Lotus F1 Racing," said Aerolab's managing director Jean-Claude Migeot.

"These rumours are designed only to tarnish the company's reputation and professionalism and to divert attention away from the facts.

"The truth is that Aerolab is suing Force India for not fulfilling its obligations."

Aerolab said its legal case was still pending and subject to review.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80039

at the bold bit. Dodgy Vijay at it again. I wonder if Aerolab would accept the use of a journeyman driver for half a season to cover their costs?

[fivesixseven8]

team underdog said:

fivesixseven8 said:

team underdog said:

Have a read, these guys were on the case long ago...

http://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1...

Some interesting stuff on that thread (only 5 pages in so far) but they seem to have appointed themselves judge, jury and executioner so far! People left right and centre calling out Lotus as having "stolen" property from FI!

There is some compelling evidence to suggest it is the FI model though, is there not?!

I still haven't read it all so cannot comment too much, all I saw in the first 6 pages was guess work and speculation though. All being based on the fact that it 'looks' like the FI car, when to my eyes a lot of it looked different.
Can you surmise the evidence you've seen?

[Man-At-Arms]

llewop said:

even if we lose him from the R5L commentary

maybe he could commentate whilst driving ?

[MartG]

llewop said:

Ian Davidson said:

6655321 said:

Ian Davidson said:

dpbird90 said:

Personally, I'd pick Ant Davidson. Apart from one small thing, the BBC R5L commentary wouldn't be as good.

Fingers crossed.

I don't know of many drivers, who could offer a team so much, whilst asking for so little in return.

I like Ant Davidson... His brother, on the other hand...Pfft

Oi! Lol

Tell Ant, good luck with getting a drive, I'm sure most PHers would love to see him out there racing next year

Agree with that wholeheartedly - he's long overdue a drive