Lotus....back In F1

[Carlos]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12433_5560578,00.html

[Steve J]

 

However it's now coming out that everything/everybody will be Malasian (except for the Lotus name)

[Mark H]

The historic marque of Lotus is to return to Formula One for the first time since 1994.

 

Motor sport's world governing body, the FIA, have granted Lotus the 13th slot on the grid from next season.

 

Although the team is based in Norfolk, some 10 miles from the Lotus Cars factory, it is funded via a partnership between the Malaysian Government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs.

 

Lotus, which competed in F1 from 1958 through to 1994, was awarded its place ahead of BMW Sauber and Epsilon Euskadi following an intensive selection and due diligence process conducted by the FIA.

 

Despite what the FIA describe as "an impressive application" from BMW Sauber, the fact the German manufacturers are withdrawing from the sport at the end of the year left "uncertainties regarding the future ownership of the team".

 

However, the FIA noted that considering BMW Sauber's application is "of high quality", they "would constitute a competitive participant in the championship".

 

The FIA added: "As such, it has awarded BMW Sauber the '14th place' in the championship, meaning that it will be entitled to fill any vacancy that arises on the 2010 grid.

 

"In addition, the FIA believes that a good case can be made for expanding the grid to 14 teams. The FIA 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."

 

It is Lotus, though, who will definitely be on the grid next year, spearheaded by team principal Tony Fernandes, who is the founder and CEO of the Malaysian-based Tune Group, owner of the Air Asia airline. Mike Gascoyne also returns to F1 as the team's technical director, with 20 years of experience in the sport after working with Jordan, Renault, Toyota, and most recently Force India.

 

Lotus, who used eight different engine suppliers during their previous 37-year stint in the sport, have agreed a deal with Cosworth.

 

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/a...bLFRHlGp6-V2q0Q

[Steve J]

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today announced that Malaysia will participate in the FIA Formula One world championship through its own racing team - 1Malaysia F1 Team, starting from 2010. The premier said that the 1Malaysia F1 team was a government and private initiative, combining the collaborative experience of Proton and Lotus.

 

He said the team was supported by world-class expertise, and backed by the Sepang international circuit, Motorsports Association of Malaysia as well as Automobile Association of Malaysia.

 

Speaking to reporters at Ministry of Finance in Putrajaya, Najib said the Malaysian F1 team will be based at the Sepang circuit with pit stop staff coming from Malaysia.

 

"It will be a Malaysia manufactured car," said a proud Najib, adding that a race to find a suitable Malaysian driver was underway. A statement issued during the press release stated that the team will reveal its two drivers by Oct 31. At present, six local and international drivers have been shortlisted for evaluation.

[Reg]

It'll be crap............

[chris_h]

Why call it lotus when its all going to be Malaysian ??

 

Although else where it does say that the cars will be made at the old Bentley LeMans base near lotus until a new facility is built at the sepang circuit in Malaysia.

[richbk]

all seems a bit sad to me, the brands proud history being used to help get an invite into F1 then proberbly dropped mid season to be

malayaGP or something

 

would be great to see lotus back properly, but it sure is an easy way to burn any budding profits

 

i say, leave it alone until the evora then esprit then elise replacement are all making good sales then maybe tackle le mans rather than F1

 

richbk

[Mark H]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8257685.stm

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/8087681.stm

[andywolf]

I hope that it will be good, but I do feel a bit sad that it will have very little to do with lotus- Surely the race team should be Proton?

[chorton_1]

I hope that it will be good, but I do feel a bit sad that it will have very little to do with lotus- Surely the race team should be Proton?

 

True but it's also the case for a lot of other cars that are commisioned for racing (albeit not usually as publicly).