FORUMula1.com

[irons_4_ever]

Lotus are to return to Formula 1 for the first time since 1994 after being granted the 13th slot on the grid from next season.
They will line up as one of four new teams for 2010 - alongside Campos Grand Prix, Manor and US F1.
More to follow.

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[Denthúl]

fakeLotus? :-\

At least the FIA are looking to add another two places to the grid for 2010 and that would allow Sauber to get in if they find investment.

[Jabberwocky]

we need some British Racing Green on the grid, no matter how fake it is.

[irons_4_ever]

Lotus are to return to Formula 1 for the first time since 1994 after being granted the 13th slot on the grid from next season.
They will line up as one of four new teams for 2010 - alongside Campos Grand Prix, Manor and US F1.
Current team BMW Sauber was awarded "14th place" in the championship, meaning it will be entitled to fill any vacancy arising on the 2010 grid.
F1's governing body, the FIA, said it wants to expand the grid to 14 teams.
"The FIA believes that a good case can be made for expanding the grid to 14 teams," read an FIA statement released on Tuesday.

"It will be consulting urgently with the existing teams regarding the introduction of an appropriate rule change to expand the grid to 28 cars in time for the first Grand Prix in 2010."
While the FIA said it had received an "impressive application" from the BMW Sauber team, it added: "However, given that BMW has announced it will withdraw its support in 2010, there are still uncertainties regarding the future ownership of the team."
Lotus, which competed in F1 from 1958 through to 1994, was also awarded its place ahead of Epsilon Euskadi following an intensive selection and due diligence process conducted by the FIA.
The team won seven constructors' crowns and six drivers' champions, including Jim Clark and Graham Hill, during their golden era in the 1960s and '70s.
In its new incarnation the team is a partnership between the Malaysian Government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs and is being led by team principal Tony Fernandes, the founder and CEO of the Malaysian-based Tune Group which owns Air Asia airline.

Classic F1 - Spanish Grand Prix 1986

Mike Gascoyne - who has 20 years experience in the sport after working with Jordan, Renault, Toyota, and most recently Force India - returns to F1 as the team's technical director.
The team will be initially based in Norfolk, though its future design, research and development, manufacturing and technical centre will be purpose built at Malaysia's Sepang International circuit.
Their withdrawal from F1 in 1994 owed to financial pressures, but Lotus remains the fourth most successful constructor of all time.

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[EwanM]

A weird decision given that the FIA have granted BMW-Sauber the provisional "14th place" and said that want to expand the sport to 14 teams.

I think they know something about Renault or Toyota that we don't.

[The Oz]

YEEAAAAHHH!!!!! Woot!!!!!! LOTUS RULZ!!!!!!

[FerrariFan63]

If whoever is leading the Lotus F1 2010 project changed his name by deed poll to "Colin Chapman", would that result in jubilation because "Colin Chapman is coming back to F1"?

[EwanM]

If whoever is leading the Lotus F1 2010 project changed his name by deed poll to "Colin Chapman", would that result in jubilation because "Colin Chapman is coming back to F1"?

Nope. I personally don't like the idea of the Lotus name coming back into the sport. Especially when it has no real links to the original setup.

[Rusko]

malaysian lotus, niiiiice.

[EwanM]

Gascoyne said in an interview with the BBC that "Lotus are still the fourth most successful team in the history of Formula One". That got me thinking.

If fake-Lotus were ever to win the championship or, say, win a race then can the achievement actually be added to the original team's records?

I don't think so. If anyone tried to it would just be wrong.

[prozac26]

I love the possibility of 28 cars next year.

[FerrariFan63]

I don't think so. If anyone tried to it would just be wrong.

Bet they do though. For publicity at least. Surely that history won't count in terms of money though.

[Gaz]

fake lotus ? - not sure

happy the slots been filled and the potential for 28 cars is cool

Mike Gascoyne is back too and hes a cool guy.

[Selcouth_Feline]

Nope. I personally don't like the idea of the Lotus name coming back into the sport. Especially when it has no real links to the original setup.

Although I will, of course, be supporting them

[EwanM]

I don't think so. If anyone tried to it would just be wrong.

Bet they do though. For publicity at least. Surely that history won't count in terms of money though.

I agree. They will attempt to link to the new team to Classic Lotus at every opportunity.

Nope. I personally don't like the idea of the Lotus name coming back into the sport. Especially when it has no real links to the original setup.

Although I will, of course, be supporting them

Colin Chapman wouldn't be throwing his cap into the air if he heard this news.