Lotus awarded 13th slot

Sideswipe · 15 Sep 2009, 08:34 (Ref:2540975)

From BBC site:

*BREAKING NEWS*
Lotus will return to F1 in 2010

Lotus are to return to Formula 1 for the first time since 1994 after being granted the 13th slot on the grid from next season.
They will line up as one of four new teams for 2010 - alongside Campos Grand Prix, Manor and US F1.
More to follow.

Sideswipe · 15 Sep 2009, 08:41 (Ref:2540978)

Now on Autosport http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78648

Kebab · 15 Sep 2009, 08:41 (Ref:2540979)

Lotus Cosworth - nice!!

Nicholas · 15 Sep 2009, 08:46 (Ref:2540982)

A few years ago, I would've thought this a great idea. However, it's not a return of the team, just a return of the brand name and and I'd prefer it if they just left the name alone and race under a more appropriate team name.

It's like going to a Guns N' Roses or Thin Lizzy concert and finding out that the band is almost completely different to the original line-up that disbanded years ago. The new bunch might play the old songs, but it's a different band, so they shouldn't pretend to be something they're not.

Kebab · 15 Sep 2009, 08:49 (Ref:2540983)

So is this the Litespeed guys + Malaysians or?

Racer 35 · 15 Sep 2009, 08:53 (Ref:2540985)

Wow! And after a while based in Norfolk they're going to be based at Sepang in Malaysia. Brave move, methinks, to be so far from the European heartland of F1 development and expertise.
Still... it's fantastic to see one of the great names back.

marcel82 · 15 Sep 2009, 08:58 (Ref:2540988)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicholas

A few years ago, I would've thought this a great idea. However, it's not a return of the team, just a return of the brand name and and I'd prefer it if they just left the name alone and race under a more appropriate team name.

It's like going to a Guns N' Roses or Thin Lizzy concert and finding out that the band is almost completely different to the original line-up that disbanded years ago. The new bunch might play the old songs, but it's a different band, so they shouldn't pretend to be something they're not.

this is exactly the way I feel. it's a shame they dropped the Sauber/BMW entry for this one. that team is practically already �*n F1, as it would just be the current BMW team

ECW Dan Selby · 15 Sep 2009, 09:05 (Ref:2540991)

Wooo this is cool

Selby

Kebab · 15 Sep 2009, 09:08 (Ref:2540992)

I hope they find a decent British driver to properly represent the Lotus name ...

ECW Dan Selby · 15 Sep 2009, 09:12 (Ref:2540998)

... Mr Davidson!!

Selby

jakabodix · 15 Sep 2009, 09:27 (Ref:2541007)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicholas

A few years ago, I would've thought this a great idea. However, it's not a return of the team, just a return of the brand name and and I'd prefer it if they just left the name alone and race under a more appropriate team name.

It's like going to a Guns N' Roses or Thin Lizzy concert and finding out that the band is almost completely different to the original line-up that disbanded years ago. The new bunch might play the old songs, but it's a different band, so they shouldn't pretend to be something they're not.

Couldn't agree more. It's a marketing ploy. This is a return in name only and there is nothing that suggests it is anything more.

Lotusonpole · 15 Sep 2009, 09:38 (Ref:2541013)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicholas

A few years ago, I would've thought this a great idea. However, it's not a return of the team, just a return of the brand name and and I'd prefer it if they just left the name alone and race under a more appropriate team name.

It's like going to a Guns N' Roses or Thin Lizzy concert and finding out that the band is almost completely different to the original line-up that disbanded years ago. The new bunch might play the old songs, but it's a different band, so they shouldn't pretend to be something they're not.

With a heavy dose of nostalgia I'm sort of happy to see the name again, but have to agree with Nicholas, it's just a brand name this time at least at the moment.

But one never knows...it might turn out okay, I truly hope so.
More nostalgic finger crossing?

P

Kebab · 15 Sep 2009, 09:46 (Ref:2541017)

It all depends whether the two ex-Lotus guys at Litespeed are involved and whether Lotus is going to contribute/support the team technically.

Certainly they won't want to do anything that negatively impacts the Lotus brand?

rallycrosscraig · 15 Sep 2009, 09:48 (Ref:2541020)

so bmw lose their slot to a start up, as yet, non existant team.

ECW Dan Selby · 15 Sep 2009, 09:58 (Ref:2541026)

FIA pushing for 28 driver grids...

Great news!

I was watching some older races, even mid 90's, and seeing those streams of F1 cars turn into the first corner is something else. Modern day F1 and Moto GP now seem extremely skinny on the starts..

Selby

Kebab · 15 Sep 2009, 10:04 (Ref:2541032)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rallycrosscraig

so bmw lose their slot to a start up, as yet, non existant team.

It is a surprise. The FIA said something about uncertainty over future funding ...

steve_r · 15 Sep 2009, 10:13 (Ref:2541040)

We all want to see their car in JPS colours!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2094/...bc23a008f6.jpg

ECW Dan Selby · 15 Sep 2009, 10:32 (Ref:2541054)

That would be really nice - But I more see the greens, whites and yellows.

Selby

Sodemo · 15 Sep 2009, 10:39 (Ref:2541058)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECW Dan Selby

FIA pushing for 28 driver grids...

Great news!

I was watching some older races, even mid 90's, and seeing those streams of F1 cars turn into the first corner is something else. Modern day F1 and Moto GP now seem extremely skinny on the starts..

Selby

Yep, and when / if you lose 2-8 cars in a first corner shunt a field of as low as 12 cars (Australia 2002?) looks a very poor show indeed.

The more cars the better. I would of course prefer to see spare cars brought back in some form so in the case of a red flag / restart, we are not down to half of the field. Imagine if we had another Spa 1998 type shunt now, there would be no cars left to take a restart...

Racer 35 · 15 Sep 2009, 10:41 (Ref:2541062)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECW Dan Selby

FIA pushing for 28 driver grids... Selby

Sadly, but maybe there's no need for 28 cars next year I'm afraid.... after Renault get a hefty fine from the FIA next week ($100m anyone?), and subsequently pull the plug on the F1 team.

jab · 15 Sep 2009, 10:54 (Ref:2541070)

I don't see anywhere where they say they're pushing for 28 car grids. All I see is Sauber being made the reserve team in case another team drops out

This is good news. It seems the Litespeed project has been taken and expanded greatly. The Malaysian government will give it a healthy budget. Air Asia are involved which will provide the sponsorship. And the involvement of Gascoyne and the base at RTN implies Litespeed and David Hunt may be involved as well. It seems to be a credible effort, moreso than US F1 anyway

Given that Sauber's future is still very much up in the air, and there are a few teams about who may not make it next year (the 4 new teams, Toyota, Renault), it makes sense to include them as a reserve

Fox89 · 15 Sep 2009, 10:59 (Ref:2541076)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jab

I don't see anywhere where they say they're pushing for 28 car grids. All I see is Sauber being made the reserve team in case another team drops out

This is good news. It seems the Litespeed project has been taken and expanded greatly. The Malaysian government will give it a healthy budget. Air Asia are involved which will provide the sponsorship. And the involvement of Gascoyne and the base at RTN implies Litespeed and David Hunt may be involved as well. It seems to be a credible effort, moreso than US F1 anyway

Given that Sauber's future is still very much up in the air, and there are a few teams about who may not make it next year (the 4 new teams, Toyota, Renault), it makes sense to include them as a reserve

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/9/9934.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/default.stm

Can't find the actual statement itself, but BBC and F1.com are quoting from it, so I presume it exists!

EDIT: Found it.

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/...teams-in-2010/

**ghinzani** · 15 Sep 2009, 11:07 (Ref:2541084)

Wow could this mean we see the return of Yoong? I am so happy!

**GTRMagic** · 15 Sep 2009, 11:08 (Ref:2541085)

Why wouldnt this group just buy the BMW Sauber operation and put a new sticker on it? Petronas has pretty much paid for the place over the years under its previous ownership...

It always amazes me that some people think they can go to complete ground zero and reinvent the wheel (at someone else's expense) to prove it can be done, or perhaps more accurately, that they are smarter than everyone else!

Air Asia is a Williams sponsor isnt it?

**GTRMagic** · 15 Sep 2009, 11:10 (Ref:2541086)

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve_r

We all want to see their car in JPS colours!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2094/...bc23a008f6.jpg

Only if you can bring the bloke with the yellow skid lid in the pic too

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