Feffman

I keep expecting to hear Soap Opera music playing! Team Lotus Confident Over Naming Case By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, January 25th 2011, 10:33 GMT Team Lotus has declared itself 'confident' that it will win its legal dispute with Group Lotus and be able to use its famous name in Formula 1 this year, in the wake of the first court skirmish between the parties. The London High Court on Monday rejected a bid by Group Lotus for a summary judgement on issues relating to what Team Lotus claims was an early termination of a five-year licencing deal it originally put in place from 2010. But as well as Mr. Justice Peter Smith stating that he felt the dispute could only be settled with a full-blown case, he also said that he wanted the trial to begin as early as possible. A push to try and get the matter into court before the start of the 2011 season could not be realised, but a March 21 date has been pencilled in for the proceedings to begin. With that date falling between the first two races of the season in Bahrain and Australia, it means that unless there is an out-of-court settlement in the next few weeks Team Lotus will definitely be starting the campaign with its current name. A statement issued by Team Lotus after the court hearing said it was pleased with how the proceedings went and that it remained bullish the final outcome would go its way. "Team Lotus is delighted that we were successful at the Summary Judgment Application hearing today and that the Judge threw out Group Lotus' application even before hearing the arguments of the barristers on either side," said the statement. "Although this decision was never in doubt, it means that we start the 2011 season under the Team Lotus name. Whilst we expected that the Judge would refuse this application, it is good to have the decision in black and white. "The Judge also felt that it was in everyone's best interests to bring the hearing date for the full trial forward and that is now fixed for 21st March rather than us having to wait until Autumn 2011 or even later. We remain confident that we will succeed at the full trial and we can now focus on the challenges ahead in the 2011 FIA Formula 1 World Championship." Team Lotus boss Tony Fernandes wrote on his Twitter feed that he too was delighted with the current situation. "Very, very happy over the judgment today," he wrote. "And extremely happy that full trial brought forward to March 21st.The good do always eventually win."

Court Hearing Will Not Resolve Lotus Row By Jonathan Noble Monday, January 24th 2011, 11:12 GMT The row over the use of the Lotus name in Formula 1 hits the courts in London today - but irrespective of the outcome of the first legal skirmish, the matter will certainly continue to drag on until much later this year. Team Lotus, which is owned by Tony Fernandes, is facing a legal battle with Group Lotus over the rights to use his outfit's name from the start of 2011. He is not only involved in a court case over what he claims was an illegal termination of a five-year licencing deal he had to run as Lotus Racing, but he is also fighting an action from the sportscar manufacturer which disputes that he is not allowed to race under the Team Lotus banner either. Group Lotus is going to court today to apply for a summary judgement over the termination of the licencing deal, which it believes means Fernandes' operation - 1Malaysia Racing – is not allowed to continue using the Lotus name in F1. A judge will decide whether there are grounds for a full-blown legal case, or whether the matter is so cut-and-dry that there is no need for one. The latter outcome is believed to be unlikely, however. Even if the judge did decide that Group Lotus has a valid argument to prevent 1Malaysia Racing from using the Lotus name in its title, the ruling would almost certainly go to appeal – forcing the court case further down the road anyway. Fernandes himself said on Monday there was no possibility of the legal situation coming out of this week's court case preventing Team Lotus from racing under that name in 2011. "Many confused about case today," he wrote on his Twitter feed. "It's not about Team Lotus name who owns it, which is in November. We brought that case to prove once and for all. "Today's case is Group [Lotus] desperate attempt to use their one way unlawful termination of license agreement of Lotus Racing. Saying 1Malaysia can't use Lotus [name]. Part of post termination clauses. So nothing changes on Team Lotus." The court hearing is scheduled to begin at 2pm on Monday, with a verdict not expected until Tuesday.

Renault (Lotus?) Eyes Top Three This Season By Jonathan Noble Thursday, January 20th 2011, 11:37 GMT Renault is setting its sights on a top-three finish in the world championship this year, as the team hints about a very 'brave' design for its R31. The Enstone-based outfit is due to unveil its 2011 challenger in Valencia on January 31, and there are high hopes that the car will help the outfit make further progress on the steps it delivered throughout last year. The team's chief operating officer Patrick Louis has said that the ambition is for a top-three finish in the title chase - with technical director James Allison hinting about an aggressive design to its new car. Speaking in a pre-season video interview on the Group Lotus website, with the sportscar manufacturer being the team's title sponsor this year, Allison said: "This time of year is a heady mix of both thrilling excitement of finding out, confirming that all your plans are coming to fruition, and also abject terror that you will not deliver the thing in time. "Anyone who follows the sport will have seen that words like aggressive [and] brave are being bandied around across several of the teams this year for their solutions. "I believe that we have chosen a direction that is really on the brave end of brave." Renault team principal Eric Boullier told AUTOSPORT last weekend that the team was hoping to win races this year - and he admitted in the Lotus video that the pressure was on the outfit to deliver on those ambitions. "We want to win and we want to be successful in Formula 1," Boullier explained. "The more attention we can get from the fans and the Lotus people and from all our sponsors, we put ourselves into a pressure mode because we have to win. "We know now we will be much more competitive than last year. We don't know yet obviously what the other teams, and the other forces, will be in F1 - but we already know we will be much stronger." http://www.MVPTrackTime.com

Genii, Not Group Lotus, Owns Renault Team - Boullier By Motorsport.com/GMM Date 2011-01-19 Eric Boullier has moved to clarify reports about the ownership structure of the Enstone based F1 team called Renault. French carmaker Renault SA recently sold its remaining shareholding in the team to the Luxembourg based Genii Capital investment company, a report in the Italian magazine Autosprint explained. There has been some confusion about whether new sponsor Group Lotus has already bought a share of the team or whether it merely intends to in the future. The Autosprint report clarified that Genii in fact currently owns 100 per cent of the team. "Renault decided to re-focus its resources in F1 and sold its remaining 25 per cent to Genii Capital," team boss Boullier confirmed. He said the long-term agreement signed with Lotus is essentially for sponsorship at present but that it could "lead to Lotus Cars becoming a shareholder" at a later date. Meanwhile, Boullier revealed that while the R31 car will debut at Valencia next month, he is not yet sure if Magneti-Marelli's KERS system will be fitted to the car at that stage. And it has emerged that 25 engineers belonging to Group Lotus' Malaysian carmaker owner Proton will be sent for two-year engagements to work at the F1 team. "It's a good way to get fresh ideas and a new way of thinking," Boullier said.

Lotus Naming Case To Begin Next Week By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, January 18th 2011, 11:00 GMT The legal battle over the use of the Lotus name in Formula 1 is to hit the courts much earlier than originally anticipated - with the car company's bid for a summary judgement to be heard next week. It had been expected that the legal row between Group Lotus and Team Lotus would not be in court until the early summer. But Group Lotus is seeking a summary judgement on the main legal issues – that its early termination of its licencing deal with Lotus Racing was a breach of contract and over whether Team Lotus is allowed to use the name in Formula 1 this year. The matter is set to be heard in the London courts on January 24. A summary judgement is applied for by parties involved in legal disputes as a way of trying to avoid a full-blown trial and all the legal costs associated with it. In a separate development, the Renault team's plans to run a black-and-gold livery for title sponsor Lotus has come under the spotlight of anti-tobacco campaigners. With the colour scheme synonymous with the John Player Special sponsorship of the 1970's and 1980's, concerns have been voiced in Canada about whether the team will be allowed to run it there because of the country's strict anti-tobacco advertising legislation. A spokesperson for Health Canada, which enforces the country's Tobacco Act, told the Toronto Globe and Mail: "Tobacco inspectors would need to fully review to assess whether a violation of the Tobacco Act has occurred. "The Tobacco Act prohibits the promotion of tobacco products or tobacco product-related brand elements in Canada, except as authorized by the Act or regulations. Tobacco product sponsorship is prohibited entirely and tobacco advertising is severely restricted." Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar told AUTOSPORT in December that he was not worried the black-and-gold colours would be linked with tobacco. "I don't think we are using the kind of logos that the John Player Special cars used," he said. "I simply believe, and again this is my personal opinion, I believe this is one of the two most beautiful liveries in Formula 1. This is why we will use it, and nothing else. I do not believe we will have any negative implications with potential tobacco advertising." http://www.MVPTrackTime.com

Trulli: Lotus Dispute Has Motivated Team By Jonathan Noble Monday, January 17th 2011, 15:25 GMT Jarno Trulli says that his and Team Lotus's motivation for 2011 are higher than they have ever been before - as he claims the naming row surrounding the outfit has actually helped spur it on this winter. With less than a fortnight to go before the new Team Lotus car hits the track for the first time at Valencia, Trulli says there is genuine excitement within the Hingham-based outfit about what is achievable this year. He believes his team's deal for Renault engines and Red Bull Racing transmission will be critical in helping the team deliver a good car. "We know we have the package to compete for at least the midfield and our aim is to race for points at every race," Trulli told AUTOSPORT in an exclusive interview on Monday. "I know it will be hard, but we know the package has the potential. "We have a brand new Renault engine, we have a Red Bull gearbox - so we are thinking we can do well. Mike [Gascoyne, technical chief] has worked hard to set up a great team and get ready for this year. "But while no-one exactly knows where they are going to be, I always dream and hope that we can do better than we expect. It has happened many times in the past - so maybe we can exceed our expectations for this year. I feel very confident." Much of the talk surrounding Team Lotus over the winter has focused on the naming dispute between it and rival Renault, which has signed a sponsorship deal with Lotus. Although that spat became quite heated in public, Trulli thinks the situation has been a blessing - acting as a rallying call for all the staff at Hingham. "I think it has motivated a lot of people here," he said. "That stretches from the management like Tony Fernandes through to the shareholders, who have been through a lot of difficulties, and down to the last members of the team. "What Tony did was unique. He has worked hard to bring the Lotus name back on track, which no-one had done for many years. He also just didn't go out there and buy a team. "He and Mike [Gascoyne] made up the team from scratch – which comes from the Lotus mentality. It would have been easier to buy a team, but that is not what Colin Chapman did. He drew his own and manufactured his own F1 cars. "That is why this is the real Team Lotus – and that is what makes it unique and different from the other Lotus team on track. We know that Group Lotus is going to sponsor the Renault team, and that is a very different thing – we have to make that very clear. "They can argue and they can go to court, but at the end of the day the people understand what Team Lotus is and why it is doing what it is doing. "It belongs to the heritage and the story of Colin Chapman. I am sure that Colin Chapman would have been proud of what we are doing. And to do that we need to deliver. That is not going to happen from just one day to another, and it will take a bit of time, but there will be more satisfaction when we do that. "In my opinion, Tony is doing the right thing, even though we feel a bit sad about the row." Trulli also says the progress Lotus has made over the winter has left him eager to get back to his best on track. "Last year was the beginning of a new era for Team Lotus and we knew that with even limited time we could compete," he said. "So we put all our efforts onto this season, so we are very confident. "I am very fired up, to be honest. It is like my first day of racing again. I admit that 2010 was difficult – but my confident feeling is back now."

WOW! Nice looking ride. Makes me want to trade the Radical in on one. Feff http://www.MVPTrackTime.com

Lotus Take on Le Mans with Jetalliance Lotus Motorsport and Jetalliance unite to create GTE challengers Lotus Jetalliance Under the careful direction of Team Manager Jan Kalmar, the newly formed Lotus Jetalliance team will field two Lotus Evora GTE cars in the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC). The two Evora GTE race cars, currently being developed by Lead Designer Nicola Scimeca, will be put through their paces as the team tackles some of the most challenging and competitive endurance races including the six hour race at Spa, Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta and of course the world famous Le Mans 24 hour race. Commenting on the announcement, Lotus Director of Motorsport Claudio Berro said: “Moving into the ILMC is an exciting step for us and it will provide a good opportunity to showcase what can be done with the Evora. In every motorsport discipline that we participate in we aim to pick the best expertise to partner with and we have very high standards. The Jetalliance racing team has a lot of experience and a respected pedigree in this field so we’re delighted that they have agreed to work with us on what is bound to be an incredible challenge. We’re looking forward to seeing what ILMC 2011 brings.” Jetalliance Chief Executive Lukas Lichtner-Hoyer said: “We’ve enjoyed success in recent years at iconic endurance events such as Le Mans and I’m looking forward to repeating if not improving on these results with Lotus. Some people have asked why we would take a risk working with new cars - my answer on this subject always remains the same: we believe in Lotus and we believe that in uniting with them will create something very exciting, very special and most of all very successful.” Lotus Jetalliance will be contesting the following events: 8th May 2011: Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hours (BEL) 11&12 June 2011: Le Mans 24 Hours (FRA), 3rd July 2011: Imola 6 Hours (ITA) 11th September 2011: Silverstone 6 Hours (GBR) 1st October 2011: Petit Le Mans (Road Atlanta , Georgia , USA ) 12th November 2011: 6-Hours race China The driver line-up will be announced in due course.

Trulli Demands Progress From Lotus By Jonathan Noble and Michele Lostia Monday, January 10th 2011, 14:29 GMT Jarno Trulli says he will not suffer a repeat of the troubles he had during 2010, as he eyes a decent step forward in performance this season. The Italian, who is about to embark on his second campaign with Team Lotus, has made no secret of the fact that he felt his results last year did not live up to expectations. But with Lotus having had much more preparation time ahead of 2011 - and having made the switch to Renault engines and Red Bull Racing gearboxes - Trulli says there are reasons to feel progress can be made. However, he has dropped a hint that if things do not improve then he may well decide to call time on his F1 career. "We have improved our organisation," Trulli told Gazzetta dello Sport. "But we've been racing for one year, not 20, we can't even think about fighting with the top teams. "My objective is to fight in the midfield and have a chance to score points. I knew that 2010 would be a transition year: [although] it turned out to be worse than I had expected, but it's okay. "But I won't accept to have another year like that. I don't like to show badly after a lifetime at the front. I can suffer for one year, but I can't for another one." Trulli does concede that the big changes in F1's regulations this year, including new Pirelli tyres and the return to KERS, will make life hard for small teams like Lotus. "It can hardly be tougher than 2010," he said. "But the rules have changed: even Red Bull, who had a great car, doesn't know whether it can repeat its success. "There have been too many changes: from aerodynamics to tyres, to KERS. That's something we won't be able to afford: it costs a fortune and it's totally useless, it's nonsense. They talk about saving money, but every year the regulations change, people don't understand and the spectacle gets worse." When asked about the ongoing situation regarding the naming row between his Team Lotus outfit and the Lotus-sponsored Renault team, Trulli said: "Which one is the real one is unknown, [and] that's embarrassing. "I meet people telling me they've seen my car's new black and gold livery and I reply it's green. It's surreal."

2011 MVP Track Time Midwest Schedule Hello Fellow Flatlanders: MVP Track Time (http://www.MVPTrackTime.com) is very excited to announce our 2011 Midwest track schedule. All the usual suspects are present. We aim to bring the best track value to you with more actual track time at each event for less money. Below you will find our 2011 Midwest schedule, subject to revision as the year progresses. Look for additional track events throughout 2011. April 16 – 17: Putnam Park (Greencastle, IN.) - Sold Out! June 6: Autobahn Country Club (Joliet, IL) - Sold Out! August 8: Autobahn Country Club II (Joliet, IL) - Sold Out! October 15 - 16: Road America (Elkhart Lake, WI) – 2nd Annual “Cheese Heads on Track” Registration (on line or mail in) for all our track events is available at: http://www.MVPTrackTime.com/id47.html I hope you’ll join us for plenty of excitement with MVP Track Time in 2011. Feel free to contact me if you have questions about any of our track events. Happy Motoring and I hope to see you at the track! Mark Pfeffer - MVP Track Time http://www.MVPTrackTime.com (314) 249-3770 Feffman@MVPTrackTime.com

Good Evening All: MVP has received a number of e-mails and calls asking about entry fees for our (http://www.MVPTrackTime.com) 2011 track events. This same information is on our web site, so no one is "surprised”. The dates and entry fees for our initial 2011 track events are listed below. April 16 – 17, 2011: Putnam Park - Sold Out! June 6, 2011: Autobahn Country Club (FULL 3.56 mile track) - Sold Out! August 8, 2011: Autobahn Country Club II (FULL 3.56 mile track) - $250 October 15 – 16, 2011: Road America: $375-Weekend $250-Single Day November 19 – 20, 2011: Road Atlanta: $400-Weekend $250-Single Day All info and registration is available on our "Track Day Registration" page of the web site at: http://www.MVPTrackTime.com/id47.html As always, we schedule a minimum of six, 20-minute run sessions for each of the three run groups daily. Complimentary, qualified instructors are available for the Novice drivers. Please feel free to call (314) 249-3770 or e-mail Feffman@MVPTrackTime.com if you need more information. All are welcome. Happy Motoring! Feff

Now Mansell Backs Group Lotus in F1 By Motorsport.com/GMM Date 2010-12-23 Nigel Mansell is the latest to wade into the Lotus debate, insisting he is "delighted" to see the name "return to Formula One" by partnering with the Renault team. Briton Mansell drove iconic Lotus F1 cars in the 80s before moving on to Ferrari and finally winning the title in a Williams in 1992. "It is particularly pleasing for me to see the union of Lotus and Renault again and the return of the iconic Black and Gold colours as driven by the late greats Ayrton Senna and Elio de Angelis, Johnny Dumfries and of course, myself in the 80s," he said. Mansell's comments coincide with the publication of the abandoned black and gold livery that would have adorned the 'Team Lotus' cars next year amid the naming dispute with the separate Tony Fernandes camp. The comments also coincide with the issuing of a statement by the family of Lotus' late founder Colin Chapman, whose famous black cap was proudly displayed on the pitwall by Fernandes' team in 2010. But Chapman's son Clive said the family thinks the "Team Lotus name should not be used in Formula One". "Indeed, assurances to this effect were received (last year)," he added. Chapman said the family supported the Fernandes team when the Lotus Racing name was used with the consent of Group Lotus. "However, then its license to use the Lotus name was terminated and things changed," he confirmed, adding that his family now backs Group Lotus as "the ongoing Lotus entity created by Colin and Hazel Chapman". Mansell also recalled Colin Chapman in his statement posted on Group Lotus' official website. "I am extremely grateful to Lotus and especially to Colin Chapman, who was so inspirational and almost like a second father to me and have been watching with great interest the developments that have been taking place recently at Hethel with their ambitious race and road car projects. "I am really delighted to see that Lotus is back where it belongs competing with the best in the top echelons of motor sport," he added.

Arabadzhiev, Gonzalez To Test For Lotus By Steven English Friday, November 12th 2010, 11:09 GMT Lotus Racing has announced that it will run GP2 racers Vladimir Arabadzhiev and Rodolfo Gonzalez in the young driver test at Abu Dhabi next week. Bulgarian Arabadzhiev, 26, contested most of this year's GP2 series with Coloni Motorsport, but was replaced by New Zealander Brendon Hartley after Spa. Meanwhile, 24-year-old Venezuelan Gonzalez has spent this season with Arden with a best result of fourth at Monza after starting from the reverse-grid pole. Lotus Racing's chief executive officer, Riad Asmat, said: "We are very pleased to have confirmed that Rodolfo and Vladimir will be driving for us in Abu Dhabi. "They both come from countries with growing interest in motorsport and the chance to give emerging drivers the opportunity to step up to Formula 1 is central to the Lotus Racing philosophy of embracing young talent. "Everyone in the team is looking forward to working with them over the two day test and I am delighted we could give them this opportunity."

Lotus To Return To Black And Gold Livery By Steven English Thursday, November 11th 2010, 09:11 GMT Lotus will revive its historic black and gold colours for the livery of its 2011 car. The famous scheme was first launched in 1971 and carried the colours with John Player Special sponsorship from 1972-'79 and then from 1981-'86, before the team switched to Camel backing in 1987. Lotus Racing will also hold a competition for a fan to design the new livery. The team's chief executive, Riad Asmat, said: "When we first unveiled our 2010 car there was unanimous praise for our decision to bring the historic green and yellow livery back to the modern F1 grid. "I know the return to the track of the legendary black and gold will be met with even more universal support as it strikes such an emotional chord with fans around the world. "Giving those fans the chance to help us bring it back to the contemporary grid is true to our core belief of putting our supporters right at the heart of Lotus Racing - we can't wait to show the world what we come up with."

2011 MVP Track Time Schedule Good Day Fellow Track Fanatics: MVP Track Time (http://www.MVPTrackTime.com) is excited to announce our 2011 track events. We hope to add a few new events as the year progresses. MVP Track Time’s goal is to bring great value to you with more actual track time at each event for less money. Our three run groups (Novice, Intermediate and Advanced) allow us to maximize actual time driving on the track. Below you will find our initial 2011 schedule, subject to possible revision as the year progresses with additional events. April 16 – 17: Putnam Park (Greencastle, IN.) - Sold Out! June 6: Autobahn Country Club (Joliet, IL) - Sold Out! August 8: Autobahn Country Club II (Joliet, IL) - Sold Out! October 15 - 16: Road America (Elkhart Lake, WI) – 2nd Annual “Cheese Heads on Track” November 19 – 20: Road Atlanta (Braselton, GA) - 3rd Annual “Flyin’ Turkey Trot” Registration (on line or mail in) for all our track events is available at: http://www.MVPTrackTime.com/id47.html We schedule a minimum of six, 20-minute sessions for each of the three (Novice, Intermediate and Advanced) run groups daily with qualified instructors available for the Novice run group. I hope you’ll join us in 2011 for plenty of on-track excitement with MVP Track Time. All are invited and welcome. Please, don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions about any of our track events or if you are interested in working with MVP to host a track event near you. Happy Motoring and I hope to see you at the track! Mark Pfeffer - MVP Track Time http://www.MVPTrackTime.com (314) 249-3770 Feffman@MVPTrackTime.com

Lotus To Build Wind Tunnel At Hingham By Jonathan Noble Sunday, October 24th 2010, 03:30 GMT Lotus is to build its own wind-tunnel facility in Hingham as part of an expansion programme that is being put in place over the next few years. With the team having already laid down some good foundations having secured Renault engines and Red Bull Racing gearboxes for 2011, the outfit has now announced plans for growing its Hingham base. As well as having its own wind tunnel facility, the team has confirmed that its new GP2 outfit - Team AirAsia - will also have its base next to the F1 factory. Lotus technical chief Mike Gascoyne said: "To compete at the highest level in Formula 1 it is important to have all of the key elements involved in the design, manufacturing, testing and development of our cars under our direct control and on the same site. "Today's announcement about the wind tunnel, which will be combined with additional production, office and administrative elements, gives us both the facility we need to lay the foundations for long-term success and is a clear sign that we are very serious about competing at the sharp end of the grid as quickly as we can. "We have already achieved a phenomenal rate of growth for the team, and now have all the main functions in place to take the next step up, but I think it is important to also see that we are using our budget effectively, and focusing expenditure where it counts. "Investing in our own wind-tunnel, to work alongside our substantial in-house CFD facility, is a key element in establishing complete control of one of the most important aspects of the design and manufacturing process in our sport, and it is clear to see that this sort of investment points towards a very bright future for the team."

Former Lotus Boss Peter Warr Dies By Jonathan Noble Wednesday, October 6th 2010, 05:52 GMT Peter Warr, who was best known as a former team boss of the Lotus Formula 1 outfit, has passed away. Although he enjoyed some minor success racing himself, famously winning the 1963 Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji in a Lotus sportscar, it was in team management that Warr made his name. Having been invited by Lotus founder Colin Chapman to help run the F1 squad at the end of 1969, Warr played a key role in Jochen Rindt's title triumph in 1970 and Emerson Fittipaldi's successful 1972 campaign. Warr switched to the Wolf team for the start of the 1977 season, helping the outfit win on its debut that year in Argentina. He remained at the team when it merged with Fittipaldi's operation, before making a return to Lotus in the middle of 1981. He became team principal after Chapman's death in December 1982 and remained there until 1989 - when he left to become an FIA permanent steward and later secretary of the British Racing Drivers' Club. Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone was one of those keen to pay tribute to Warr. "Not only have I lost a good friend who was the team manager for Lotus when Colin Chapman ran the company but Peter Warr, who died yesterday of a heart attack will be missed by the thousands of people that knew him," Ecclestone told the official Formula 1 website. "When Peter was in Formula 1 he helped me to build it to what it is today. Thank you Peter."

Lotus To Use Red Bull Gearbox From 2011 By Pablo Elizalde Tuesday, October 5th 2010, 06:28 GMT Lotus Racing has confirmed that it will use Red Bull Technology gearboxes and hydraulic systems from the 2011 season. The news follows on from the announcement that the team has ended its relationship with Cosworth. Lotus had used Xtrac gearboxes and hydraulics during its debut season in 2010. "The announcement that we have reached a multi-year agreement with Red Bull Technology for the supply of our gearboxes and hydraulics from 2011 is obviously a massive step forward for us, both in engineering terms, and as an expression of our ambitions for next year and for future championships," said technical chief Mike Gascoyne. "The gearbox / hydraulics package obviously plays a critical role in the performance of the car, not just on track but in design and packaging terms, and this deal gives our design and aero teams a very exciting platform to work with. "The removal of the double diffusers in 2011 will allow the whole grid to tighten up the rear bodywork and mechanical structures around the gearbox, and this supply deal will allow us to capitalise on that with our 2011 car. Exciting times lie ahead." Lotus is expected to make two further announcements this week, one of them expected to be a new deal to use Renault engines from next season. The move would mean Lotus would use the same engine/gearbox combination as Red Bull Racing. "We are very pleased about Lotus Racing's decision to use Red Bull Technology gearboxes and hydraulic systems from 2011," added Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner. "The fact that Red Bull Technology has been chosen to be a supplier to another team despite its short history demonstrates how much we have achieved since our first season. We very much look forward to working with Lotus Racing from 2011 onwards."

Lotus Withdrew F1 Naming License Over T-Shirt Dispute By Motorsport.com/GMM Date 2010-09-29 Group Lotus terminated the naming license for Malaysian millionaire Tony Fernandes' Formula One team because of a dispute about t-shirts, team chief executive Riad Asmat has revealed. On the face of it, the Proton-owned British carmaker has simply had a change of heart, deciding now to ramp up its involvement in motor sport and regretful that its brand is already separately deployed in Formula One. It emerged last week that Group Lotus has decided to enter feeder categories GP2 and GP3 with ART, and it has now been announced that the carmaker is continuing its Indycar foray in 2011 whilst designing a prototype sports car for the LMP2 category. Group Lotus also said it is upgrading its test track in Norfolk which will be eligible for "F1 testing". "It's important for people to realise just how committed we are to doing our heritage justice," said director of motor sport Claudio Berro. At the same time, Lotus has withdrawn its naming license to the current F1 team Lotus Racing, and has vowed to fight the team's intention to deploy the alternative 'Team Lotus' name in 2011 and beyond. Group Lotus owner Proton is also withdrawing its on-car sponsorship of Fernandes' team. "Unfortunately we never reached the point where we discussed extending that one year deal," said the team's chief executive Asmat. He revealed that the naming license has been terminated due to "some very trivial points", including "t-shirt design approvals of all things". Asmat said there will need to be talks with Group Lotus about the real reasons for the termination because "we thoroughly reject" the marque's right to have done so. "Initially there was good cooperation but then issues cropped up after that and it came to a point where they said we were detrimental to their brand and infringed their rights," he told MediaCorp. "One of these was about producing t-shirts, which we were told did not follow correct procedures and they terminated our agreement about two weeks ago," said Asmat. He indicated that continuing to be called Lotus is crucial for the team, which explains the decision to take the matter to London's High Court. "There are livelihoods at stake and we had to take this course of action in the courts," he said.

Group Lotus Developing LMP2 Car By Matt Beer Tuesday, September 28th 2010, 13:50 GMT Group Lotus has announced that it is developing a brand new LMP2 car for the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours as part of a massive expansion of its motorsport strategy. The British sportscar company has already launched a GT4 version of its Evora model, with GT2 and GT3 variations set to be made available as well, but will also be entering the prototype arena. Its LMP2 coupe is being designed by Paolo Catone, who was the chief engineer behind the Le Mans-winning 908 HDi FAP, and will begin testing late next year. "This very special project is under the expert direction of technical genius Paolo Catone," said a Lotus statement. "The car is being developed to meet new ACO rules, it will have a closed cockpit and is due to be on-track late 2011, with an assault on the 24 Hours of Le Mans planned for 2012." Lotus has also promised that in addition to the GT2 version of the Evora, it will create an all-new GT2 car "based on one of our eagerly anticipated future road cars, set to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show." The announcement of Lotus' increased involvement in sportscar racing comes amid the backdrop of its escalating row with Tony Fernandes' Lotus Formula 1 team over the use of the Lotus brand in motorsport. Group Lotus also entered into a GP2 and GP3 partnership with multiple champion team ART last week, and is ramping up its grass roots motor racing programmes and its IndyCar involvement, as well as building a new test track at its Hethel factory in Norfolk that the company says "will be ideal for customer experiences, GT racing and F1 testing." Lotus Motorsport boss Claudio Berro said: "Lotus is motorsport and racing is in our DNA. We have a special place in motorsport history and now as we unveil the beginning of our future plans it's important for people to realise just how committed we are to doing our heritage justice. "There is no better platform to demonstrate the transfer of technology from track to road car than a full range of pure motorsport activity, we have to tick all the boxes."

Lotus To Team With Toyota in 2011 By Motorsport.com/GMM Date 2010-09-17 Lotus has informed the media that it will be making "a number of very exciting announcements" in Singapore next weekend. It is widely expected that the new team's current drivers will be retained for another season, and that Lotus Racing will take on the historic Team Lotus moniker for 2011 and beyond. And according to the rumour mill, with the team's 2011 contract with Cosworth now dissolved, Lotus will be confirming an engine and gearbox deal with Renault. But the Italian language Autosprint reports that Malaysian-owned Lotus could actually be set to announce a technical cooperation with Toyota Motorsport, the Cologne based outfit that raced in Formula One between 2002 and last year. Toyota is currently supplying Pirelli with a 2009-spec test car, and has been linked with a technical collaboration for 2011 with HRT, the struggling Spanish team. But Autosprint reports that Lotus and Toyota are in fact set to collaborate, with Mike Gascoyne proving the crucial link between the two outfits. Several former members of Toyota's F1 team are now working with Lotus, such as sporting director Dieter Gass. "We have to do something different and it will be done soon," team boss and owner Tony Fernandes told the BBC at Monza last weekend. "Lots of negotiations have gone on over the last couple of weeks and we're very happy with the outcome," he added.

Lotus Sure Of Maintaining Position By Matt Beer Wednesday, September 15th 2010, 15:40 GMT Lotus technical director Mike Gascoyne does not think his team will struggle to stay ahead of the other new-for-2010 squads in Singapore even though it has now stopped developing this year's car. Many teams are expected to bring new packages for next weekend's grand prix, but Lotus is now pouring all its resources into its 2011 car. However Gascoyne believes the T127 will be sufficiently suited to the Marina Bay track that upgrades will be unnecessary. "The focus now is really on the 2011 car, so we won't be bringing any major new parts to Singapore," he said. "Despite that, I think we'll be able to maintain the advantage we have over our nearest rivals on what is a pretty high downforce track. The track is bumpy and some of the kerbs are pretty high, so being able to deal with the bumps and the kerbs well is important. "Both our drivers have reported that they feel like the car deals well with uneven surfaces, and they have the confidence to attack the kerbs in the T127, so let's see what happens." Lotus is expected to announce its Renault engine deal and use of the Team Lotus name from 2012 during the Singapore GP weekend, as predicted by AUTOSPORT. A team statement promised that "a number of very exciting announcements about the team's future for 2011 and beyond" would happen in Singapore.

Cosworth, Lotus Agree To End Deal By Pablo Elizalde Sunday, September 12th 2010, 21:34 GMT Cosworth has announced that it has reached an agreement to end its current engine supply deal with the Lotus team. The move paves the way for Lotus to sign a deal with Renault, with whom the team has reached an agreement in principle for a supply of engines, gearboxes and transmissions, as revealed by AUTOSPORT earlier this week. "Cosworth has reached an agreement in principle with Lotus Racing whereby the team's Cosworth engine supply agreement will come to a conclusion at the end of the current Formula 1 season," said Cosworth in a statement on Sunday night. "This agreement is subject to contract and until the agreement is signed, neither party will be making any further comment." Lotus driver Jarno Trulli retired from today's Italian Grand Prix with a gearbox problem, promting team boss Tony Fernandes to post on Twitter: "Jarno retired [due to] gearbox. Oh well, making decisions easier."

Lotus Closing In On Renault Deal By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, September 7th 2010, 10:19 GMT Lotus is close to finalising a switch to Renault engines for next season - but the deal still hinges on whether it can find an agreement with Cosworth to end its contract with the famous engine-maker two years early. AUTOSPORT understands that a deal has been agreed in principle for Lotus to secure a supply of Renault customer engines for 2011 – which would see the team receive the same specification of power-unit as other customer outfit Red Bull Racing. It is believed the move came out when Lotus originally sought out a new supplier of gearboxes and transmissions for next year – after frustrations with reliability in that area throughout the course of this season. Renault was more than happy to supply its gearbox and transmission units but, on the back of a push to increase its engine supply deals, it made a big effort to sell its power unit as part of the package too. However, despite sources suggesting that a deal is ready to be signed for Lotus and Renault to tie up for the first time since 1986, the Hingham-based outfit still needs to resolve contractual issues with Cosworth. As part of the deal it made when it entered F1 this year, Lotus signed a fixed three-year contract with Cosworth – and it is believed there is no break clause that would allow the team to get out of that unless the Northampton-based engine supplier was willing to do so. It is not clear at the moment whether a financial settlement can be reached for Cosworth to agree to cut short its deal, or whether Lotus will be forced to delay its Renault ambitions. Neither Lotus nor Cosworth have elaborated on the situation, and both insist that there are no plans for their relationship to change for now. Cosworth general manager of F1 operations Mark Gallagher said: "As with the other new teams, Lotus has a fixed term three-year contract with Cosworth and we are very pleased it is happy with our engines and the job we have done for it during its first season in Formula 1." Lotus technical chief Mike Gascoyne said: "We've got a contract with Cosworth and there is no further comment to make."

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