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

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

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

The F1 season begins soon – and the unveiling of the cars begins in earnest this week.

Great to see the Silver Arrow back in F1 as a single entity

Mercedes GP Car 2010

Continue Reading

I love cars, and I own a 3 series BMW.  But for years – how BAD has the 5 series looked?

7 is great, and aspirational, but the 5 is just shocking.

Well, over at WORLD CAR FANS they’ve got some ‘leaked’ photos of the new 5 Series.

I say ‘leaked’ because clearly, this is a staged leak, ahead of a more formal announcement.

All I can say is – GREAT, FINALLY, a good looking 5 series.  Looks a lot like a scaled down 7 rather than a scaled up 3.  Most of all, those damned ugly headlights from the more recent models is gone.

Bring on the final pics soon.

TL

I read with interest/concern in the Tele the story about the crash in America of the one of the $1.6million Bugatti Veyron’s.

The driver claims he dropped his mobile phone and then looked up and was alerted/distracted by a bird and swerved off crashing into a lake.

Whatever the story, its a LOT of money sunk…

Here’s a video, taken by a couple of blokes simply driving along a parallel highway admiring the car..

Wow.. that’s one epic fail.

I didn’t notice a bird flying anywhere near the car though…. hmmmm..