Lotus name

[blacktulip]

???Tony Fernandes' claims to the Lotus title for his Formula 1 team have been dealt a blow after the family of Lotus founder Colin Chapman expressed their support for Group Lotus' association with Renault.


Team boss Fernandes and the Proton-owned Lotus car company are locked in battle over the use of the Lotus name in F1, with Fernandes having acquired the Team Lotus title associated with the F1 operation from David Hunt (who had owned it since the original Lotus team collapsed in 1994), while Group Lotus insists it has sole right to use the name - and has become a partner in the former Renault F1 team, meaning that as things stand there will be two Renault-powered Lotus teams on the 2011 grid.


The Chapman family had initially supported Fernandes' efforts to re-establish the Lotus brand in F1, but says it is on Proton/Group Lotus' side in the current row.


"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," said the family in a statement quoted by Autosport.

[blacktulip]

From ITV F1

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 licence to use the Lotus name was terminated and things changed."


The statement hinted that the Chapmans were displeased with Fernandes' decision to switch from the Lotus Racing name to Team Lotus for 2010.


“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.


“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 statement underlined that the family felt it was Group Lotus' activities that were more in keeping with the spirit of Colin Chapman's work.


“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," it said.


"After all, the Lotus marque is the responsibility of Group Lotus, and Hethel is the home of Lotus.”


Fernandes and Proton's fight over the use of Team Lotus is set to go to the courts next year.


The former Lotus Racing team has recently begun rebranding its headquarters with Team Lotus logos