Lotus Racing announced it will change its name to Team Lotus

[Anishcgnr]

The Lotus Racing declares on Friday that it will change its name to Team Lotus from 2011. The relocation from Lotus Racing to Team Lotus will take place over the coming months and the renamed team will be the direct successor to the iconic earlier incarnation of Team Lotus when they take to the track in the 2011 Formula One World Championship and beyond.

[horse]

First of all, I did not realise that Proton and 1Maylasia were not related entities. I had been thinking that these were both government backed and therefore had the resources of each other at hand. I started to suspect this might not be the case after the development of the (F1 inspired) Lotus T125 did not involve the F1 team in any way. Then now there is the news that the name "Lotus" is just being leased by Proton, for a fee, of course.

Obviously the purchase of "Team Lotus" will save Tony Fernandes a few bob, by not having to pay Proton for rights; however, now, Proton are disputing the validity of this assumption.

The whole affair reminds me of a bad chairman at a football club, where blunders are common and mostly played out through the press. First there was all this Force India wind tunnel business and now the naming issue with Proton. A good chairman should avoid airing all this dirty laundry is public as, most of all, investors will be less likely to get involved if they see blunder after blunder filling press column inches.

To be fair to TF, he does seem to have done a good deal with switching engine suppliers. Cosworth seem appeased, and I assume a new Renault deal will be in the pipeline soon. More of this sensible, low key, management is what is required for Lotus.

[ESPImperium]

Intresting interview on the naming rights issue:

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/11/ ... eam-lotus/

[gridwalker]

First the name, now the iconic livery :
http://en.espnf1.com/lotus/motorsport/story/33695.html

But who will appear in place of the (now banned) JPS brand?

Answers on a postcard ...

[rich1701]

You would think that running a car in a black livery will cause it to run hotter than a car that is white or chrome? Wouldn't this compromise performance slightly? for car and driver.

[ESPImperium]

The reason for the Black & Gold livery is rumor has it Gerrard Lopez (Renault Owner) used to play with a toy car in his childhood that was a Lotus-Renault in the JPS livery, seemingly he idolised that toy.

I have a feeling that there will be a ruling on the Lotus name soon, most probably in the next 2 weeks.

As for a sponsor, im sure there will be a suitable one lined up, most probably one that isnt a Air Asia or Tune Group logo.

[Arunas]

You would think that running a car in a black livery will cause it to run hotter than a car that is white or chrome? Wouldn't this compromise performance slightly? for car and driver.

It depends on what you mean by slightly
On a serious note: how much white helped Sauber with it's Ferrari engine problems?

[agip]

Wow! Someone with Photoshop skills please make the black and gold livery on a 2010 car!

[marcush.]

tony fernandez is not going to give away the name rights ,why should he?
Lotus cars/Proton are to be blamed for doing serious damage to their own reputation with their activity.But then be it. we got team lotus and Lotus Cars F1 in 2011..
Maybe it would be a good idea to give the rights back to David Hunt and take a licence only and keep going.
Roll on Team Lotus...

[agip]

I found this. But I think it could be made much better by the fact that a toy was used as reference.

[Giblet]

Johnny Walker should be looking to jump ship from Mclaren me thinks?

[Holm86]

Its gonna be awsome with the black/gold livery

[GTO]

I found this. But I think it could be made much better by the fact that a toy was used as reference.

Way too retro & traditional for modern cars! Black looks cool, but the car needs to stand out more. Needs more gold, but not too much so that it will resemble the Renault. Gold accents should be more contemporary to make the car pop out as if it is moving in high speed.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

On a hot day next year, do you see the Renault V8 holding together with that black paint work driving the temps up??

[FW17]

2011 F1 entry list as published by the FIA
1 Sebastian Vettel (DEU) Red Bull Racing (AUT) Red Bull Racing Renault
2 Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull Racing (AUT) Red Bull Racing Renault
3 Jenson Button (GBR) Vodafone Mclaren Mercedes (GBR) Mclaren Mercedes
4 Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Vodafone Mclaren Mercedes (GBR) Mclaren Mercedes
5 Fernando Alonso (ESP) Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro (ITA) Ferrari
6 Felipe Massa (BRA) Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro (ITA) Ferrari
7 Michael Schumacher (DEU) Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team (DEU) Mercedes
8 Nico Rosberg (DEU) Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team (DEU) Mercedes
9 Robert Kubica (POL) Renault F1 Team (FRA) Renault
10 TBA Renault F1 Team (FRA) Renault
11 Rubens Barrichello (BRA) At&T Williams (GBR) Williams Cosworth
12 TBA At&T Williams (GBR) Williams Cosworth
14 TBA Force India F1 Team (Ind) Force India Mercedes
15 TBA Force India F1 Team (Ind) Force India Mercedes
16 Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) Sauber F1 Team (Che) Sauber Ferrari
17 Sergio Perez Mendoza (MEX) Sauber F1 Team (Che) Sauber Ferrari
18 TBA Scuderia Toro Rosso (ITA) Str Ferrari
19 TBA Scuderia Toro Rosso (ITA) Str Ferrari
20 Jarno Trulli (ITA) Team Lotus (MAL) Lotus Renault
21 Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) Team Lotus (MAL) Lotus Renault
22 TBA Hrt F1 Team (ESP) Hrt Cosworth
23 TBA Hrt F1 Team (ESP) Hrt Cosworth
24 TBA Marussia Virgin Racing (GBR) Virgin Cosworth
25 TBA Marussia Virgin Racing (GBR) Virgin Cosworth

More to follow

So is this issue closed