Lotus Returns to Formula 1 … in Name Only

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...i think autosport was inferring drama where none was intended - this morning they published the following...

Team Lotus: No Legal Threat to F1 Entry

Team Lotus's entry for Formula 1 next year has been submitted in full consultation with the Group Lotus company, as team sources dismissed any talk that the outfit could face legal action from the iconic sportscar brand over the use of the name.

A press release issued on Wednesday night suggested that Group Lotus and its subsidiary Lotus Cars Limited had no links with the F1 efforts and would do all it could to "protect its name, reputation and brand image." This was interpreted as a veiled threat about legal action.

However, AUTOSPORT understands that there is no suggestion of Group Lotus having any issue over the F1 team's plans - and the company has in fact been fully informed by Team Lotus about the efforts to get onto the grand prix racing grid.

One team source at the new Team Lotus outfit said: "We've kept Lotus fully informed of our intentions and are well aware of the need to protect its brand image. We look forward to having closer ties with it in the future."

...mjf's already posted this over on the main discussion thread, in fact - is it too late for a moderator to merge both threads together?..

[Drmike]

Originally Posted by andykeck

Well, no. Litespeed 'owns' that name now. Lotus can't use it.

litespeed bought the rights to -team lotusー, not to ーlotusー.

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Litespeed licensed the name from David Hunt - he still owns the name "Team Lotus".
What we don't know is if that was a formal arrangement subject to a contract or if it was a gentlemans agreement by Hunt just allowing to be used (which makes alot of sense as F1 exposure would increase the alue of the name)

[wallabyguy]

In an announcement today, Team Lotus did not make the 13 team cut and was named an Alternate along with Lola, Prodrive and a few others......

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...i'd love to see prodrive field a team...