24 replies to this topic

[Guy Munday]

"The team has in fact won the Spanish Grand Prix twice 1995 (Schumacher, Benetton) and 2006 (Alonso, Renault)".

VERY astute reply to this from David Croft, Sky TV commentator, as follows...

"Interestingly Graham Hill in 1968 and Ayrton Senna in 1986 both won the Spanish GP in a Lotus and you don't count those then?"

Identity crisis? What identity crisis?

[USAndretti42]

Sounds to me as though they know exactly who they are. They know they are not the Team Lotus of old but remember their history of what they have done over the years.

[Iconic Ride]

My head hurts.

[Exploded]

Well I think the guys from Genii or Renault from Enstone, they still know what they are doing and saying. They know who they are, where they come from and with 2 world titles on their side, they must be pride. They have nothing to be ashamed of, it's a great team.

Funny though that Lotus F1 Team can say such a thing, where as I say such a thing I get almost all the moderators and their closest followers all over me; saying it is Lotus, not Renault...

[ramjet]

Guy, what was the context of the tweet? What was it in response to?

[simonb]

I think it is just as rich for them to pass themselves off as Benetton, far too much water under the bridge.

Thought it was quite interesting that at in Bahrain, Lotus brand ambassador Jackie Stewart was celebrating the Lotus 2 -3, and seemed oblivious to the victory of the Stewart / Jaguar / Red Bull.

On the BBC there seemed to be no fondness for the Force India from Eddie Jordan (or for that matter Damon Hill)

Mind you after the Indy debacle, I am not surprised that the enstone team is putting some distance between itself and Group Lotus' racing expertise

[NedaSay]

Sounds to me as though they know exactly who they are. They know they are not the Team Lotus of old but remember their history of what they have done over the years.

+1, they are just being honest with themselves and the rest of us!

[Bibs]

They know what their history is, unlike Fernandes who 'adopted' the history of Team Lotus when he called Litespeed 'Lotus Racing'. Anyone remember their 500th race, I think it was the 5th time the team had been to a track. (PS Did David Hunt ever get paid when they became 'Team Lotus' for a short period of time?)

Being called Lotus is the current situation of the team. No doubt in a few years they'll be called something else but I'm sure throughout everything they'll retain their own identity as the team that are based in Enstone and were once Toleman, then Benetton then Renault and now Lotus.

Funny though that Lotus F1 Team can say such a thing, where as I say such a thing I get almost all the moderators and their closest followers all over me; saying it is Lotus, not Renault...

This kind of insinuation really gets my goat. THE TEAM IS CALLED LOTUS, it's not called Renault any more, get over it.

[Kimbers]

But its just a name. They obviously see themselves as Renault/Bennetton hence the tweet. Its from them so can't be mistaken imho.

[ramjet]

Like I've already said, we don't know the context of the statement and without that, most of the above is speculation and opinion. Sorry, but that's the way it is.

If they win in Spain, the history will say Lotus F1.

[Exploded]

If they win in Spain, the history will say Lotus F1.

Which is NOT Team Lotus, so that will be victory #1 for Lotus F1 Team

[ramjet]

And you're point is?

I didn't say Team Lotus. Why did you bring it up?

Looks like you may not have read my post properly.

[Kimbers]

Calm down dear!

Its good everyone is so passionate about Lotus and F1. But theres no need to argue about this...mainly because I'm right and you are all wrong...teehee

[Exploded]

And you're point is?

I didn't say Team Lotus. Why did you bring it up?

Looks like you may not have read my post properly.

Excuse me!!!!!!!! Let me rephrase that:

Like I've already said, we don't know the context of the statement and without that, most of the above is speculation and opinion. Sorry, but that's the way it is.

If they win in Spain, the history will say Lotus F1.

+1

And I would like to add as a personal opinion, please note this is NOT Michael's opinion:

Which is NOT Team Lotus, so that will be victory #1 for Lotus F1 Team

You know Michael, beleive it or not I often agree with your comments, as I do with Bibs his comments!

Edited by Exploded, 09 May 2012 - 10:43 AM.

[Iconic Ride]

So, in theory (and if money were to fall from the heavens upon Hethel), Group (who now own the rights [again?] to the Team Lotus moniker) could, if they so desired, enter a separate team as Team Lotus, whilst continuing to sponsor Lotus F1 Team for "billboard" purposes only.

In theory, you understand.

Which would make for some truly interesting podium combinations.

[Bibs]

David Hunt still owns Team Lotus.

[gtornes78]

Are you sure about that Bibs? The press release back in November release by Group and Fernandes quite clearly said that "the deal sees the "LOTUS" brand reunited under the sole ownership of Group Lotus. This includes the rights to the "LOTUS" and "TEAM LOTUS" names in Formula 1 motor racing. (From here:http://www.lotuscars...t-press-release )

[Roger the Dodger]

That was my understanding. Though these days, without actually sighting the agreement oneself, it's hard to be definitive.

[gtornes78]

Well, www.ipo.gov.uk now lists all the TM's previously held by David Hunt (aka Team Lotus Ventures) as now being registered to Group Lotus, so that confirms it. You can find some of them here:
http://www.ipo.gov.u...sticnum=1338435
http://www.ipo.gov.u...sticnum=1337455
http://www.ipo.gov.u...ticnum=2297413B

[Chris Southam]

A while ago they asked on Twitter the number of races won by the team. I took some while counting them back to 1960 and came up with 121.
The official team answer was 40 something, and they listed their previous names there. Team Lotus wasn't considered part of their heritage back on the 4th April. Only went as far back as Toleman.