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Huge News: Team Lotus F1 team may takeover Caterham


rnr

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Article from F1 journo James Allen saying that Fernandes wants to make a "sports car for everyone" that targets the 20-40 GBP market. He also makes a great point that from 2013 onwards F1 engines are going to a 1.6L turbo which could drop into Caterhams.

 

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2011/04/fernandes-to-use-formula-1-to-promote-a-sports-car-for-everybody/

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Quote from an article:

The first fruits of the tie-up with Team Lotus is a new range of limited-run Team Lotus Special Edition Sevens. Just 50 of the Team Lotus kits will ever be offered, with 25 destined for the UK. For £3000 you can upgrade any new Seven with the famous green and yellow colours, while also included is a cockpit-mounted plaque carrying the signatures of Team Lotus F1 drivers Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen, a Seven history book signed by Team Lotus chief designer Mike Gascoyne and a tour of the F1 factory in Norfolk.

 

http://jalopnik.com/#!5795695/wednesday-april-27th-2011

 

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Industry-News/Team-Lotus-buys-Caterham-Cars/

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For $5K you get a plaque, a book and a tour?

 

I bet they will find 50 people to pay that. They get $250,000 free cash and maybe it is even a good deal for the buyers in re-sale of a "collectors" editon.

 

So while really silly I think this is a bright idea.

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I'm trying to get my head around this.

Most of the lower tier F1 teams have a "Paying Driver" in addition to chasing sponsors.

These guys buy a low volume specialist manufacturer?

Seems to me that they're not keeping their eyes on the ball.

 

m

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Well, it would appear to be Tony Fernandes buying it under Team Lotus Enterprises as opposed to Team Lotus F1 itself buying it (which was my original concern as well). So while there is obviously a tie-up between Caterham and the F1 team I highly doubt that the purchase is taking any resources away from the F1 outfit.

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I'm trying to get my head around this.

Most of the lower tier F1 teams have a "Paying Driver" in addition to chasing sponsors.

These guys buy a low volume specialist manufacturer?

Seems to me that they're not keeping their eyes on the ball.

 

m

 

I don't care about his F1 team, I only care about Caterham. I don't think that Heikki or Jarno are pay drivers, at least they haven't been in the past. They could be now. Fernandes has pretty deep pockets, so I have some confidence that their immediate success or failure in F1 won't have much impact on the road cars.

 

Cool shot below. Note the colors of the background. Nicely done photographer(s)!

 

http://www.evo.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_875/car_photo_437890_25.jpg

Edited by supersportsp
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I don't care about his F1 team, I only care about Caterham. I don't think that Heikki or Jarno are pay drivers, at least they haven't been in the past. They could be now. Fernandes has pretty deep pockets, so I have some confidence that their immediate success or failure in F1 won't have much impact on the road cars.

 

I think it is not in the interest of Caterham cars, to be owned by a low tier F1 team, that needs money.

Looks like they may change their name to Team Caterham from Team Lotus. :leaving:

 

m

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