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"We are Lotus and we are back"
Kinda reminds me of "300"
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. 
Tony Fernandes is pushing ahead with the rebranding of his F1 team to Team Lotus, after the official website and factory signage were redesigned to feature the new name and CABC logo.
Fernandes bought the rights to Team Lotus after Group Lotus withdrew its naming license at the end of last season. His right to use the historic name is set to be debated in court, but Fernandes is confident he will be given the go-ahead.
"The migration to Team Lotus brand has started," Fernandes wrote on Twitter. "It's a shame. I liked Lotus Racing and always thought Team Lotus should be returned to Chapman family. But that's the deck of hand [cards] we got handed."
The new website can be viewed at www.teamlotus.co.uk.
The Group Lotus sponsored Renault F1 website, located at www.lotusrenaultgp.com, will be launched on January 31.
lotus racing becomes team lotus http://www.teamlotus.co.uk/Home.aspxTony Fernandes is pushing ahead with the rebranding of his F1 team to Team Lotus, after the official website and factory signage were redesigned to feature the new name and CABC logo.
Fernandes bought the rights to Team Lotus after Group Lotus withdrew its naming license at the end of last season. His right to use the historic name is set to be debated in court, but Fernandes is confident he will be given the go-ahead.
"The migration to Team Lotus brand has started," Fernandes wrote on Twitter. "It's a shame. I liked Lotus Racing and always thought Team Lotus should be returned to Chapman family. But that's the deck of hand [cards] we got handed."
The new website can be viewed at http://www.teamlotus.co.uk.
The Group Lotus sponsored Renault F1 website, located at http://www.lotusrenaultgp.com, will be launched on January 31.
This is all mighty confusing, but......Lotus renault is more the real lotus.........right???
Lotus Renault confirms Petrov for 2 years
22 December 2010
The Lotus Renault Grand Prix team announced on Wednesday it has signed Vitaly Petrov for the 2011 and 2012 Formula 1 season. The Russian will partner Robert Kubica at the Enstone-outfit.
Vitaly Petrov was the first Russian Formula 1 driver in 2010 to compete in the sport. Petrov is obviously pleased to see his future in F1 secured for another two seasons. Speaking about the announcement Petrov said: “I am very happy to continue with the team and proud to be representing Lotus Renault GP for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. I learned a lot about the sport, the circuits and the car this year. That will help me improve even more in the future.
“I am very excited about working with this great team once more, and I’m confident that I will deliver. In many ways, 2010 was about learning. 2011 will be about performing. Today, I feel I am ready to rise to this challenge.”
The family of Colin Chapman has thrown its support behind Group Lotus's ambitions with the Renault team, after expressing its view that it would prefer the Team Lotus name not to return to Formula 1.
With no end in sight to the naming row that will see the Group Lotus-sponsored Renault team going up against Team Lotus in F1 next year, Lotus founder Colin Chapman's son Clive has now made his views clear for the first time.
In a statement issued on Thursday on behalf of the Chapman family by Clive, who is managing director of Classic Team Lotus, he says he is fully behind the efforts of Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar.
And although previously he gave his blessing to the efforts of Lotus Racing when it had a deal in place with Group Lotus to use the name, he claims the situation is different now that the outfit’s licencing deal with the road car company has ended.
"The Chapman Family is impressed by the exciting developments underway at Group Lotus, and it is very grateful to Proton for the significant investment that is being made, to secure a strong future for the excellent workforce at the Hethel factory," stated Chapman.
"In 2010 the Chapman Family and Classic Team Lotus have been pleased to support Group Lotus in many ways. In consultation with Proton, this included supporting the use of the Lotus name in Formula 1, which was licensed by Group Lotus.
"The Chapman Family was impressed by the achievements of Lotus Racing as a new team, and appreciated its respect for Team Lotus history. However, then its license to use the Lotus name was terminated and things changed."
Tony Fernandes’ operation is taking Group Lotus to court over the termination of its licencing deal. While that matter is ongoing, the outfit purchased the Team Lotus name from its owner David Hunt in a deal agreed in September so it could rebrand the outfit.
The Team Lotus name is the moniker that Colin Chapman’s F1 team originally ran under, and his son says the family would like its name not to be used in F1 again.
"During 2010, the Chapman Family, as and when appropriate, made it clear to those involved that it would prefer that the Team Lotus name should not be used in Formula 1. Indeed, assurances to this effect were received," he said.
"The Team Lotus identity represents the motor racing legacy of Colin Chapman, and this was preserved by the Chapman Family and invested within Classic Team Lotus. The association by Group Lotus with Team Lotus history is much appreciated and entirely appropriate, especially as it is in keeping with how things were in Colin Chapman’s time.
"The Chapman Family is looking forward to continuing to give its support to Group Lotus, which is the ongoing Lotus entity created by Colin and Hazel Chapman. After all, the Lotus marque is the responsibility of Group Lotus, and Hethel is the home of Lotus."
ANOTHER twist. why oh why oh why does all this drama have to ruin one of the good things.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88759The family of Colin Chapman has thrown its support behind Group Lotus's ambitions with the Renault team, after expressing its view that it would prefer the Team Lotus name not to return to Formula 1.
With no end in sight to the naming row that will see the Group Lotus-sponsored Renault team going up against Team Lotus in F1 next year, Lotus founder Colin Chapman's son Clive has now made his views clear for the first time.
In a statement issued on Thursday on behalf of the Chapman family by Clive, who is managing director of Classic Team Lotus, he says he is fully behind the efforts of Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar.
And although previously he gave his blessing to the efforts of Lotus Racing when it had a deal in place with Group Lotus to use the name, he claims the situation is different now that the outfit’s licencing deal with the road car company has ended.
"The Chapman Family is impressed by the exciting developments underway at Group Lotus, and it is very grateful to Proton for the significant investment that is being made, to secure a strong future for the excellent workforce at the Hethel factory," stated Chapman.
"In 2010 the Chapman Family and Classic Team Lotus have been pleased to support Group Lotus in many ways. In consultation with Proton, this included supporting the use of the Lotus name in Formula 1, which was licensed by Group Lotus.
"The Chapman Family was impressed by the achievements of Lotus Racing as a new team, and appreciated its respect for Team Lotus history. However, then its license to use the Lotus name was terminated and things changed."
Tony Fernandes’ operation is taking Group Lotus to court over the termination of its licencing deal. While that matter is ongoing, the outfit purchased the Team Lotus name from its owner David Hunt in a deal agreed in September so it could rebrand the outfit.
The Team Lotus name is the moniker that Colin Chapman’s F1 team originally ran under, and his son says the family would like its name not to be used in F1 again.
"During 2010, the Chapman Family, as and when appropriate, made it clear to those involved that it would prefer that the Team Lotus name should not be used in Formula 1. Indeed, assurances to this effect were received," he said.
"The Team Lotus identity represents the motor racing legacy of Colin Chapman, and this was preserved by the Chapman Family and invested within Classic Team Lotus. The association by Group Lotus with Team Lotus history is much appreciated and entirely appropriate, especially as it is in keeping with how things were in Colin Chapman’s time.
"The Chapman Family is looking forward to continuing to give its support to Group Lotus, which is the ongoing Lotus entity created by Colin and Hazel Chapman. After all, the Lotus marque is the responsibility of Group Lotus, and Hethel is the home of Lotus."
I don't see Bruce Mclarens family having any say in what happens to the Mclaren group!
I don't see Bruce Mclarens family having any say in what happens to the Mclaren group!
Good point.
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