Riddle me this – who is Lotus?

Group Lotus have announced today the acquisition of a major stake in the Renault F1 team. So, in 2011, the Renault F1 team will be known as the Lotus Renault F1 GP team.

This is absolutely nothing to do with the Current Lotus F1 team run by the multi-millionaire Air Asia boss.  That’s the team which made it’s debut in the 2010 season…

There was a whole bunch of talk about how the ‘current’ Lotus team had in fact acquired the Lotus Grand Prix ‘name’ – I assume that’s all dead in the water now?

2011 Lotus Renault F1 Car

The Lotus Renault car will look like the old JPS Lotus from the ‘good old days’ so from that perspective this is really exciting – I love seeing those old branded cars out there.

Lotus today – in road cars, is owned by Proton, the Malaysian car company.  They see this as a way to bring F1 technology (KERS etc) into their cars – Great – but how confusing!

And also – Are Renault the CAR company at all related to PROTON?  If not, this would be like having the BMW Mercedes F1 team!

I’m confused!

Wow, this is confusing – I shall be following James Allen’s blog to keep in touch!

Below is the FULL statement from the team:

Group Lotus plc and Genii Capital are pleased to announce a partnership which will see the Renault F1 Team renamed as ‘Lotus Renault GP’ from the start of the 2011 racing season onwards. The association heralds the return of a highly successful Formula 1™ association between Lotus and Renault from the 1980s. Lotus’ racing pedigree and heritage coupled with Renault’s technology in Formula 1™ will set the united team on a path to future success.

Group Lotus plc will acquire a major equity stake in the team from Genii Capital. The transaction represents a partnership between Group Lotus and Genii Capital and signifies the beginning of a more comprehensive strategic alliance between the two organisations.

The partnership between Lotus and Genii brings the ability to quickly incorporate new technologies from F1™ cars into Lotus road cars including hybrid technology, Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS), aero advancements and lightweight materials. Genii, an investment holding company with a portfolio of automotive technologies, bring non-F1™ technologies such as lightweight braking systems, variable compression engine technology and on board software systems to the partnership.

Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar said: “I can think of no better platform for automotive brand communications than motorsport and F1™. We’re well aware that there has been a lot of controversy around the usage of our brand in F1™ and I’m delighted to be able to formally clarify our position: We are Lotus, and we are back.”

Dato’ Sri Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh, Chairman of Proton, Lotus majority shareholder, said: “We know that Group Lotus has much to offer Formula 1™ and vice versa. After careful consideration, we believe this arrangement will be fruitful, both from a commercial and marketing point of view.”

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Proton advisor and former Prime Minister of Malaysia, said: “This is an exciting development which delivers strategic benefits to both Group Lotus and Proton. I fully support the partnership.”

Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of Renault, commented: “This multi-partner alliance will bring a new dynamic to the team and enable it to compete with the sport’s best from next season.”

In addition to this, Genii is also offering Proton the ability to leverage on its existing business relationships in Russia and other parts of the world, as a means to expand Proton’s global reach. Through Genii, Proton can also potentially access advanced automotive technologies by virtue of Genii’s association with Mangrove, a venture capital group.

Gerard Lopez, founding partner of Genii Capital, said: “For Group Lotus, access to Formula 1™ opens up new marketing opportunities and a major platform for business exchanges and development. In this regard, Genii Capital possesses shareholdings in, and direct access to, cutting edge companies in the automotive industry. Our tie-up with Group Lotus and Proton, which will enable its future road car ranges to take advantage of significant new technologies, is a natural step.”

When Formula 1 is on the TV – I’m there.  I even have a VPN which allows me to connect to the UK and watch PRACTICE Live on the BBC.  Trust me, I love this sport.

The last year and this have been brilliant, great racing, close championship – a real leap forward for the sport.

I’m unashamedly a fan of Mark Webber – it’s the Australian way.  Tonight’s German GP was always going to be a stretch for him, a poor first corner on his flying lap meant he could do no better than 4th on the Grid.

A reluctant embrace from Massa toward Alonso at race end

So, what of the race.  Well, it was destroyed by Ferrari.

The race started with Sebastian Vettel getting bogged down off the line (ie: not getting a great start).  He immediately turned right, pushed Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari toward the wall, and in his haste he let Felipe Massa run fast around the outside and take the lead – he led for some 60 odd laps.  Behind him was his team-mate Alonso. Continue Reading

When this was sent to me, I honestly thought it was a new games controller – I’ve not seen an F1 steering wheel ‘out of context’ before – that is – not IN the car, or being held by a driver/team member.

It’s pretty amazing really. Just have a look at that – so so very complicated.

And add to that some crazy new ‘move your hand to block this hold’ F-Duct situation, and If you don’t have respect for F1 drivers doing all this at 300kph – you’re mad.

Love it… Picture follows (continue reading to see it) Continue Reading

Ok, so I work at SBS, but leaving that aside I think this is great fun, and well worth sharing with your friends!

Enjoy!

I watched with complete frustration last night, the 2010 Turkish F1 GP.  Like 90% of people, I left frustrated by Sebastian Vettel and his pig headed antics which forced himself out of the race, and Mark back to 3rd.  (the other 10% perhaps think Mark was at fault).

This morning, reading James Allen’s analysis of events (http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2010/05/so-is-vettel-the-favoured-son-at-red-bull/) I realise there is much more at play here.

Why was Mark not allowed the same fuel mix at that time, the mix which gave Seb such pace?  Why didn’t Mark’s engineer tell him about this (did the engineer even know!)

Why does Red Bull favour Seb?  Long term planning?, he’s young after all.

Whatever you think, that race was taken from Mark last night, and Mark is an easily frustrated guy.  With his contract for next year unsure, expect this to be the reason it won’t be settled any time soon.

Neither Mark nor Red Bull will want to negotiate with this hanging over their heads.  But rest assured, Mark will now be looking at other drives for 2011 with wide open eyes…

Have a look at this image/music slideshow from the genius’ at Red Bull Racing…. Captures all the atmosphere from Monoco

I do love a good online ad #Fail, this one isn’t a shocker, but its rather amusing.

I read this story http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/nasa-space-balloon-crashes-into-car-in-alice-springs-on-take-off/story-e6frfku0-1225859896618 with interest on the News.com.au website about the NASA Balloon crash in Alice Springs.

The interesting thing for me was the advertisement to the right of the story – for me, multiple times it was a Tourism Australia ad – using a very Northern Territory advertising look and feel to it, and the opening graphic was a Hot Air Balloon.  Yep, far from being a NASA space Balloon, but still funny placement.

Gotta love keyword advertising.

NASA Balloon Advertising

NASA Balloon Advertising (Second Frame)

Fans of Motorsport in Australia, and particularly in Sydney will have fond memories of Oran Park Raceway out there on the Northern Road at Narellan, I know I certainly do.

Well, as we know by now, its time as a racing venue is over, and it now heads the way of Amaroo up at Annangrove with housing set to take over.

For me, i look at Amaroo and think – Really – Was this necessary?  It’s out in the North West and frankly it seems like all that was lost for around a dozen homes.  If Oran Park is to feel like a better ‘loss’ i’d like to see a complete community built on the site!

Anyway – I was sent some photos this week which will make those memories fade even quicker – Sadly, the one missing is one of the Yokohama Bridge, an Iconic part of Australian Motorsport – I wonder what has happened to it?

Oran Park 'Raceway' - The Main Straight - Almost Ripped up

Continue Reading

Wow, visit YouTube home page and McDonalds really have gone all out here… Probably the most useful online ads i’ve seen in a while.. Simple brand marketing…

YouTube and McDonalds Advertising (Click for Full Version)

I read today with great interest a blog by James Cridland who I met earlier this week at SBS… His Blog article about DAB in Hong Hong was interesting – great reading, and great to think that a huge roll out of sets, no matter what the quality, could possibly lead to a reduction in the chip price globally for DAB/DAB+ radios.

The other key note was the Photo of iPod Nano’s used to power the broadcast output.

So, to provide an industry flashback, I dug up my own such photos … Continue Reading