The battle over the Lotus name has taken a new twist after it was announced that Group Lotus has joined forces with Renault.
Name issue intensifies after car maker buys stake in F1 team
The battle over the Lotus name in Formula One has taken a new twist after it was announced that Group Lotus has joined forces with Renault.
The Renault F1 team will now be known as Lotus Renault GP from next season under an agreement that will run until the end of the 2017 campaign.
It has also been revealed that the team will use cars painted in the famous black and gold Lotus livery for the 2011 season.
The news throws uncertainty on the plans of the existing Lotus Racing outfit, which owner Tony Fernandes hoped to rename as Team Lotus for next year.
Fernandes also wanted to use the black and gold livery but is involved in an ongoing wrangle after the car maker Group Lotus claimed he had no right to use the name.
Fernandes sought a High Court action in an attempt to win the rights to use the Lotus name, but with that case still to be heard his plans seem to have been left in disarray.
Controversy
Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar said: "We're well aware there has been a lot of controversy around the usage of our brand in F1.
"But I'm delighted to be able to formally clarify our position: We are Lotus, and we are back."
Group Lotus has acquired a major equity stake in the team from Genii Capital, the private investment firm that bought an 80 per cent share in Renault last December.
Under the new partnership, Renault has sold the rest of its shares in the team to Genii Capital.
"We are delighted we can now go public with the news we will be racing as Lotus Renault GP in 2011," Genii Capital co-owner and Renault F1 Team chairman Gerard Lopez said.
"It is extremely exciting to begin a new era for the team in partnership with Group Lotus, and we will continue to enjoy a strong relationship with Renault over the coming seasons."
Renault will stay on to supply engines and provide technological and engineering support and will also keep the chassis name and prominent exposure on the livery.
