Team Lotus apply for F1 entry

[Johnsean]

It appear that Mike Gascoyne has applied for F1 entry using the Team Lotus name!
The entry is preliminary. David Hunt, owner of the naming rights, has given Litespeed, a Norfolk based race team permission to use the name.
I'm sure the Hethel factory will have mixed emotions about this development.
Thursday 11 June 09 Autosport released this article:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76013

One team source at the new Team Lotus outfit said: "We've kept Lotus fully informed of our intentions and are well aware of the need to protect its brand image. We look forward to having closer ties with it in the future."

[Mark B.]

If it works out it'll be great publicity for Lotus.

[Andy B]

If it works out it'll be great publicity for Lotus.

And if it's a flop?

[WayneB]

I find this news somewhat interesting and quite exciting.:)

Just having the Lotus name back in current F1 is definately a step in the right direction IMO, and whilst the pain and anguish of seeing the old Team Lotus wither and die in the 90's is still burned into my memory, I'm sure the new Team will be giving it their best shot, which is all we can hope for really.

I dont know what involvement the factory has or will have with the team, but I'm sure Mike and the boys are dreaming up ways to connect and capitalise on this.

[Autocross7]

I am not sure if an F1 entry will do anything for Lotus in the USA. The 5 people that still care about F1 here already want a Lotus car!:ohmy: However, being one of those 5 people I will be throilled to see Lotus back in the game. I wore my Lotus hat to every F1 race I attended at Indy...

It will not hurt my feelings if the team can produce at least a top 5 car in the first couple years, however, Lotus needs to be viable in ALMS or Indy Car if they want to create a marketing show in the USA. I keep hoping for a good return of interest in F1... but it is not going to happen anytime soon.


Cameron

[Martin]

Wow.....this does sound very interesting. And hopefully it will be a good kind of "interesting".

Any links to the news on the web?

[WayneB]

Wow.....this does sound very interesting. And hopefully it will be a good kind of "interesting".

Any links to the news on the web?

I found one this morning:-

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns21550.html

A few of the guys involved are Ex Team Lotus, so the involvement should include alot of the old Team Lotus "spirit".

I dont think alot of people realise that the "Team Lotus" name actually belongs to David Hunt (James Hunt's Brother) and not Clive Chapman or the Chapman family.

David Hunt bought the rights to the name when the team went bankrupt in 1994.

Good to see its all going to happen in England and in the Norfolk region , and I'm sure Colin Chapman would be happy that the Lotus name will once again be on an F1 car.

Thanks for starting the thread Johnsean, you are certainally a plugged in guy!
http://www.club-lotus.fr/typo3temp/pics/9771140c6b.jpg

[Mark B.]

And if it's a flop?

Any publicity is good publicity. And judging by the Brawn Team it's possible to get right to the top in your first season.

[WayneB]

I hope we can get the Canadian GP back next year, so I can go and cheer them on!:thumbup:

[Esprit2]

The Team Lotus that we knew ended in 1994. The group of people and the facilities that were Team Lotus lingered together for something like a year after the business failed, in hopes of pulling it all back together as a unit. However, in the end, it all went away. Be realistic, unless Lotus Cars brings it back, it's gone in any way relevant to our cars.

David Hunt has owned the rights to the name "Team Lotus" since then, but has not been successful in launching a racing team using the name. But even if he had, it would have had nothing to do with Lotus Cars or the old Team Lotus which meant so much to the history of Formula One, Indy Cars and other forms of racing that Colin Chapman and Lotus touched.

Now that Mr. Hunt has given permission to Litespeed to use the Team Lotus name for a potential new Formula One team in 2010, it doesn't constitute a return of Lotus to racing (a third party hand-off is stretching the DNA pretty thin). Group Lotus PLC, Lotus Cars, and Lotus Engineering have nothing to do with the new effort, and there is no link to Lotus' legacy in F1 racing.

If the new team does poorly, it can't help but tarnish the Lotus name in the public eye. 99.9% of everybody won't know it's not the old Lotus wearing the new clothes. On the other hand, if the new team does well, then it wasn't Lotus that did it. So, there's no real upside, but there is a potential downside by word association.

I would love to see Lotus back on the F1 grid (or in racing somewhere), "IF" Lotus did it. But there's no way the current small corporate Lotus will do that without the passion of a man in power, like Colin Chapman, making it happen. Formula One was Chapman's personal hobby and passion, and Lotus Cars funded his habit. Lotus is a business now, with owners. It's P&L, ROI, and bottom line... frosted with a love of cars.

So I have mixed feelings about the new team. I guess I'll have to support the the effort in spirit since I don't want a poor performance to tarnish the Lotus heritage. But I'll know the woman I'm kissing is not the woman I loved. Know what I mean?

Regards,
Tim Engel

90% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

[Autocross7]

It could def. require some "spin"... Group Lotus being seperate can work out well in this case (can being the magic word).

People in the USA, where Lotus needs a boost for recognition by the masses, are not really all that sharp when it comes to such differences. Anyone on this board would not qualify as "the masses" or you would not be on this board. Group Lotus is going to go on with the daily grind it has. Team Lotus is going to the track and the masses will simply see "Lotus". So, Tim has a good point. If they flop it could hurt...

However, with a little spin it could help. If Team Lotus does okay and then good a few years into it, the masses will see Lotus and so the brand will get recognized (all be it in name). So, the I want one and the win on Sunday buy on Monday effects could come into play for Group Lotus without Group Lotus having to lift a finger.

Now, if Team Lotus flops, then Group Lotus can play out the fact in car mags etc... that they are seperate and the opening for a "works team" in one serise or the other (everyone knows I am for ALMS/LeMans) remains open.

Group Lotus, should it ever enter anything as a 'works team' would need to have a good showing in such a turn of events... but te door remains open and clean just the same IMO.


Cameron

[WayneB]

I happened to be talking to a Ford executive a few years ago who was involved with their Premier Automotive Group and I asked him whether it was paying Jaguar back in increased sales from their then high profile involvement in F1.

"Absolutely not", was his reply.

I seriously doubt that If the Lotus factory were to field an F1 car of their own they would see enough of an increase in road car sales to offset the enormous costs, and I'm sure they have explored that avenue to see If it was feasable from time to time.

Of course If they were to land a dream sponsor to pay for the effort that would be different, but in todays world economic situation finding corporate sponsors who are willing to invest in a F1 team has become very difficult , If not next to impossible.

As for "what if Team Lotus flops", well alot of GP teams have endured bad periods of little success in the sport (Ferrari included) , but that is all part of motor racing I'm afraid, and I tend to support my chosen team(s) whether they are winning or DNF.

As for the observations on the apparent lack of genuine Lotus DNA in the new team, David Hunt thought enough of the name to plunk down his hard earnt money to save it, and the fact that at least 4 of the members of the new team are ex.Team Lotus (Nino Judge, Steve Kenchington and Johnny Herbert to name three) and they are locating the new team in Lotuses home area (Norfolk, England) isnt enough , what would be? Colin Chapman is dead,Clive Chapman has no interest in running a current F1 team, Peter Warr is retired ,the factory can't or won't, so this effort is realistically how its going to be If anything is to happen at all.

How much of Bruce McLaren is actually left at McLaren or Enzo Ferrari at Ferrari?


I for one am happy the Lotus name is returning to F1 .:)

[Martin]

A little more news:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8084475.stm

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45738000/jpg/_45738356_spain1986pic512.jpg

[clockwork]

Rather like me applying for membership of Mensa,not a hope,Tyrell,Brabham,Lotus,Lola,all been mentioned since Fota said it would pull out IF,just another of Smaximus`s little pranks,they would all be looking for an engine,hence Cosworth smokescreen,geese and eggs spring to mind,it will all be sorted soon and the the gravytrain will continue and if we are at all lucky there may be some racing as well.Clockwork :)

[Andy B]

From what I understand Team Lotus with Litespeed didn't make it in on the FIA 2010 Entry list.

[clockwork]

The A.C.E.A. which represents all the European manufacturers have finally got involved and said F1 could not continue under the present F.I.A. management and unless thier stance of asking teams to sign up to a seriies whose rules would be revealed at a later date was a non starter and the likelyhood of them organising their own races was now becoming a distinct possibility.This is a real threat for the F.I.A and Mr B. and time will tell now but it will be interesting.Clockwork :)

[WayneB]

That's That then.:(
http://www.blackwatchracing.com/v/vspfiles/photos/1009-2T.jpg

[Autocross7]

It ani't over till it's over as they say. Lotus will eventually turn up in one form or other IMO... the history is to strong and the calling is to constant.

On another note... High fives to Peugeot for the 24 Hours of LeMans overall win this AM! :thumbup:

Cameron

[clockwork]

Well the poo is very close to hitting the fan now,Fota haveannounced that they will set up a rival series in 2010,it is no longer a threat it is now a fact,this will leave Max and Bernie on a spit of sand with the tide coming in fast.The Tv deals will evaporate for them,the Fota series will only have to make half as much for the teams to make the same revenue,Max will be left with two teams with no engines so will have to turn it into a one engine supplier(cosworth)series,the only way out for the FIA is to reveal that Smax is going to stand down and will not seek re-election,this may take a golden handshake from the poison one but as it stands the gravy train has started to congeal.Clockwork :ohmy:

[Esprit2]

FOTA's plan to start its own series could still be a threat, a big lever crafted to get Bernie and Max to come around. The whole thing is a little Peyton Place, we'll just have to wait for the big climax at the end. It ain't over 'til it's over.

Engine supply is the big hammer. The big three engine suppliers (Ferrari, McLaren and Renault) are all in FOTA. If the split does occur, where will FIA teams get engines? Cosworth hasn't been much of a factor in engines lately, at least not like it once was. But they have a new engine and a plan to supply the three new expansion teams next year. Could they supply an entire field? That would be a stretch. Would Honda step into the engine business despite having recently left F1? That would give them a place to play without being directly compared to their main rival, Toyota.

Engine supply is a big-bucks business, so "maybe" the FOTA teams that currently supply engines would still supply the FIA teams... just for the money. But it's reasonable to presume their first priority would be their own needs, followed by the other teams in the new FOTA series, and FIA teams' needs last.

Bernie has an established program and grand venues, but needs engines and big name teams with their bleeding edge technology centers. FOTA has the major teams and engines, but no plan, no schedule, no venues.

The wild card is A1 GP. It's been running for a while now, but with relatively low visibility on a world wide scale. So, what happens if FOTA takes it's marbles and plays with the A1 GP game?

In the meantime, the fans lose.

Regards,
Tim Engel

[Autocross7]

Bernie has an established program and grand venues, but needs engines and big name teams with their bleeding edge technology centers. FOTA has the major teams and engines, but no plan, no schedule, no venues.

In the meantime, the fans lose.

Regards,
Tim Engel

IMO, Berrnie has dissed the grand venues in favor of non historical venues in locations in the Middle East and rumored India. With the exception of Brazil, the western world is pretty much out of the picture now and more than a few Americans (and Canadians at this point I expect) are fed up with F1. For the most part here at home, even the previous die hard fans could give a rip about F1 today. I have to watch it by myself... and even then I do not follow it like I did. The sport has become whizmo ghizmo cars, the Ferrari Internationl Assistance group, and venues that I really don't care for... the most entertaining thing in a while has been the "trist with Nazi hookers" affair! LMAO!


And yes... the fans loose. To a point. At some point, the sport will simply be replaced by other venues. I have always been a much bigger fan of IMSA (today ALMS) and sports cars in general and I for one am glad to see an increase in interest. Until one group or the other gets it's s*!t together, I am afraid NASCAR has the US wrapped up...:no:

Cameron

[clockwork]

In regards to venues I don`t think Fota have a problem,Silverstone are just waiting,Bernie has forsaken a lot of prime venues,and Fota have already put his nuts in the vice by saying that circuit owners will not have to pay anything like F1 prices to host their races in order to keep admission prices affordable,Montreal would love that,Monaco,the Prince has already said will host the series with the Red team in it,add to that the circuits he abandoned to host racing for the visually impaired in outer Mongolia and Fota are looking a better bet.The teams are owed millions by Bernie and/or the rights holders and they were trading this morning at roughly 50cents for a dollar so his future is not looking too rosy. With regards to the actual racing two more teams have withdrawn their applications to join so there is not a lot for the two of them to be cheerful about.Clockwork :)