Lotus say Lotus Racing cant use Team Lotus name!

EvilMonkey

Looks like there's a row brewing over the Lotus name.

Group Lotus parent company Proton said it would take 'all necessary steps' to protect its brand after claiming that Lotus F1 boss Tony Fernandes has no right to use the 'Team Lotus' name in Formula 1 next year.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87038

Lotus Racing/Team Lotus Tony Fernandes one respond saying they can

Lotus Racing insists it can use the Team Lotus name in Formula 1, despite Proton's claims to the contrary earlier on Monday.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87042

This is what happens when you try and buy history, Lawyers are going to make some money.

Iron Hide

Guaranteed in a few years time if/when Lotus were scoring regular points finishes there would be no hassle at all changing the name to Team Lotus!

EvilMonkey

Red Storm wrote: »

Guaranteed in a few years time if/when Lotus were scoring regular points finishes there would be no hassle at all changing the name to Team Lotus!

Its not just changing the name they don't want them using the Lotus name at all after seeing what Tony Fernandes has been doing i think they want to do it for themselves. In the meantime Fernandes got whoever owns the Team Lotus rights onside and bought them. So next year Team Lotus will have nothing to do with the Lotus group.(just like it was in the old days!)

Lotus Group are sponsoring ART GP2/GP3 team next year and are rumoured to have bought the Toyota F1 IP(although who hasn't been linked with Toyota F1's IP!) hoping to use it as a step into F1 but that wont happen if there is already a Lotus branded team in F1.

More here

Stevegeraghty

Yea I read this today and first thought it would be a shame not to see lotus next year
But then again Tony Fernandes is no fool,if it's true he knew about this when he acquired the name then he has somthing up his sleeve

Ghost Train

bit more here, although the source is somebody at lotus cars http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=390483&FS=F1

Tony Fernandes has reportedly lost the support of Clive Chapman.

The news was reported by the well-known French commentator Jean-Louis Moncet in his latest Auto
Plus column.

He said he received the information from "a very good source" at Lotus Cars.

The famous British sports car maker is locked in a legal battle with Fernandes, who intends to continue to use the Lotus name in Formula One next year, despite Group Lotus withdrawing its official license.

Moncet's source said Fernandes, Lotus Racing's majority owner and team boss, continually says he has the backing of Chapman, the son of the late Lotus founder Colin Chapman.

But the source said Chapman in fact has dissociated himself from Fernandes' team.

Chapman has reportedly written a letter to Bernie Ecclestone to this effect, and may also issue a press release to confirm his stance officially.

The issue could be doubly problematic for Fernandes' Lotus Racing, with Renault believed to be holding off confirming its supply of engines for 2011 until the wrangling has stopped.

Lotus Racing said last week it will not be making "any further comments" on the issue on the advice of Tun Dr Mahathir, advisor to Group Lotus owner Proton and the former Malaysian PM.

Charlie-Bravo

"The High Court decision on the Lotus naming row will be revealed on Friday afternoon when the judgement is delivered by Mr Justice Peter Smith"
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91754

Looking forward to hearing this! I personally don't want to see Fernandes' team loose the branding - The car looks well and they are making progress (albeit slowly, but progress it is).

losthorizon

Team Lotus allowed to keep name. Good to see!


http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/27052011/66/team-lotus-allowed-keep-name.html

I wonder what Mr Chapman would think?