Friday 4th September 2009

Does New Lotus Boss Have F1 Plans?

Former Ferrari exec takes top job at Lotus as F1 rumours fly

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Remember that video we posted a couple of weeks back with a suavely dressed bloke spouting-off about the Ferrari 458 Italia? Dany Bahar was his name and, as of October 1st he'll be the new Chief Exec of Group Lotus, replacing Mike Kimberley who retired in July.

New Lotus top man has F1 credentials

The last time we heard from him, Bahar was speaking in his capacity of Senior VP, Commercial and Brand for Ferrari SpA, where he was responsible for worldwide road car sales, aftersales, road car and F1 marketing, as well as Ferrari licensing and merchandising. Phew, sounds pretty busy, so perhaps it's no wonder he fancied a move from Maranello to the rather more bucolic heart of Norfolk...

Alternatively, instead of seeking a quieter parish, it may be that Bahar is part of a grander scheme to put Lotus back into the limelight with a return to F1. Reports have suggested the Lotus Group could be planning to purchase the BMW Sauber team, in a deal largely funded by the Malaysian government, although it's also deemed possible the factory instead intends to officially back the Litespeed/Team Lotus F1 application being pursued by former Toyota technical chief Mike Gascoyne. Either way, only one slot remains open in the 2010 World Championship.

With a high profile background in global F1 and sports marketing - before Ferrari he was head of Corporate Projects Business for Red Bull, setting up Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso among other things - Bahar sounds just the man to implement such a scheme.

Lotus could be back on the grid in 2010

"I am looking forward to taking on the challenges as CEO of this legendary and iconic company with a peerless motorsport history. Lotus has a worldwide reputation for innovative engineering and superb sportscars that lead the world in efficiency, design and dynamics. With the recent launch of the award-winning Evora, there is proof that Lotus is better placed than many to capitalise on the rapidly changing automotive market. I can't wait to get my plans underway in October," he says.

And we can't wait to hear what those plans are!

[threespires]

This sounds great, good luck to him. I'd love to see the Lotus name return to F1.