Comments on: New Lotus team gets BMW Sauber’s slot on the F1 grid

By: Rich C

Rich C — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:44:54 +0000

It is NOT the same ppl. Check this item from Wiki:

Following the 1994 collapse, the rights to the name Team Lotus were purchased by David Hunt, brother of former F1 champion James Hunt.[3] In 2009, when the FIA announced an intention to invite entries for a budget-limited championship in 2010, Litespeed acquired the right to submit an entry under the historic name.[4] Lotus Cars, the sister company of the original Team Lotus, distanced itself from the new entry and announced its willingness to take action to protect its name and reputation if necessary.[5] When the 2010 entry list was released on 12 June 2009, the Litespeed Team Lotus entry was not one of those selected.[6] In September 2009, reports emerged of plans for the Malaysian Government to back a Lotus named entry for the 2010 championship to promote the Malaysian car manufacturer Proton, which owns Lotus Cars.[7] On 15 September 2009 the FIA announced that Lotus F1 Team (note not Team Lotus) had been granted admission into the 2010 season.[8

By: James Allen

James Allen — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:12:06 +0000

On BBC website in a video interview from last weekend.

By: Jon Wilde

Jon Wilde — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:35:46 +0000

Hi James,

Can you give more insight into where and when Max Mosley has stated he doesn’t believe all the teams will make the grid next year? By no means am I questioning the statement, I’m just interested to see when it was said.

Also under the current engine regulations assuming all the teams do make the grid next year don’t we know have one too many teams running the Cosworth engine? (given Mercedes having to request permission from the FIA and FOTA to supply more than 3 teams) Does this mean Campos isn’t happening or USF1 have already made a deal with Toyota (or another engine supplier)

Keep up the great work!!

By: Rudy Pyatt

Rudy Pyatt — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:43:45 +0000

Very interesting. Mind you, I would be much, much more excited if we had BRM returning to the grid in its classic green and red… Rubery Owen can probably still do it, complete with their own engine. Yummy prospect. How about a write-in campaign?!

I would actually like to see 15 teams and 30 cars per race. I know there are objections to the pit facilities, but come on. If NASCAR can grid and pit 43 cars (each with its own pit box and crew) at tracks like Richmond and Bristol, surely there’s room at the F1 tracks.

Then again, I would also like to see other impossible things like the chicanes removed from Monza, a USGP at Laguna or Watkins Glen, and the return of the French GP to Reims, Monthlerey or Rouen…

By: Paul Moss

Paul Moss — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:52:01 +0000

No-one’s mentioned much about the team principal here. Tony Fernandes (CEO Air Asia) is a remarkable guy and i suggest you go wiki him before writing off this team. If he’s the Malaysian Govt’s ‘guy’ in the operation, i can’t think of a better choice. He’s outspoken, and not afraid to ‘do things different’, to zig when the other guys zag (ref James’s earlier post)
Most importantly, i believe he’s the right guy to help deflect the political maneuvering away from Mike Gascoyne and let him do the job as it needs to be done.

By: Paul Moss

Paul Moss — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:38:15 +0000

erm..its the same people that MAKE Lotus cars now. Are they shameful? Would you have them fail immediately too?
If anything i’d question the backer’s motives and ‘are they in it for the long-haul’? Its politically-motivated and after the BMW experience i cant help worrying about ‘motive’.

By: Rich C

Rich C — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:29:57 +0000

I wish people would get over it: It NOT Lotus! Just some guy that bought the name. They’re totally lame imposters.

By: Rich C

Rich C — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:21:51 +0000

No its not. See my prev post.

By: Rich C

Rich C — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:17:23 +0000

Didn’t they sign this new COncorde agreement and agree to stay in for X years?

By: Rich C

Rich C — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:15:40 +0000

Dont get too excited – its not really Lotus. Just some guy that bought a name from the dust bin of history.
And its shameful. I hope they fail immediately.