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Genii Capital and Group Lotus plc today announced the creation of Lotus Renault GP, the successor to the Renault F1 Team that will contest the 2011 Formula One™ World Championship. This exciting announcement is made in the context of a strategic alliance between the two companies that will provide Group Lotus with significant technological and commercial opportunities for its range of road cars.
One of them is based in Oxfordshire with direct lineage to Toleman and Benetton, and was more recently owned by a large corporation flying the french flag.donskar wrote:OK, rigidly on topic:
for 2011 we will have two entities carrying the word "Lotus."
1) One bought it and has a legal/monetary right to use it. Beyond the fact that they paid money for it I see no other reason for them to use it (or not use it).
2) The "other" Lotus will be sponsored by the corporate / manufacturing entity that is named Lotus and which has built thousands of cars bearing that name.
I simply can't see why 2) has been castigated in this thread. They have done nothing in violation of the rules (as far as I can see). They are not claiming to be anyone other than Lotus. By their sponsorship they are helping a good team stay in business. (I think most of us would NOT like to see Renault disappear?)
Are some of you equally incensed at the "BRM" wrist watch? How about the BMW "Cooper"?
Me too. The Renault thing is like a big brother seeing the little brother having fun and stealing his toy. Would Renault have become Lotus if Tony hadn't already created the buzz this year?forty-two wrote:I support the "underdog" in this case (Tony Fernandez' mob), and wish them well.
Without Group Lotus and Malaysia government $upport from the beginning, there will be no Tony Fernandes Team Lotus. And prior to Team Lotus, what has Tony and Mike have got to do with the Lotus brand?N12ck wrote:I think the only reason group lotus wanted to go with renault is because they realised how much hype there was around lotus racing and the fan base and wanted to get up the grid quicker instead of waiting and trying to steal the fans by confusing them and claiming they are the 'real' lotus. In other words group lotus wanted the same hype and advertisement more quickly and more cheaply than actually being a team so are now a sponsor, we have to remember there is only 1 lotus team on the grid next year, the other is a lotus sponsored team, another thing is the fact that group lotus say that team lotus should be left in the past and yet are going with a black and gold livery?? how is that leaving team lotus in the past. i feel that tony fernandes' lotus is the closest to the team lotus of old in attitude and in the way they work,
Me too.gibells wrote:I'll throw my tuppence in with this. I vigorously support Tony F & Mike G. I think they've done an amazing job and have commendable spirit. I do, however, think that us as a mob of enthusiasts would support him no less if they would create their own history by giving themselves their own name. Something drawing from their growing repertoire of experience and savvy.
As he did with Air Asia, bought it from the Malasian Government for 50 Sen and asumed all its $150m in debts as well, within 18 months the debt had been paid off and he was making a profit.dren wrote:Bahar is trying to obtain overnight success for the Lotus name. The venture will most likely fail and Fernandes will get it (Lotus the car company) at an even cheaper price.
