Lotus team boss Tony Fernandes has clarified the relationship between his new outfit and the English car company.
Team boss says they intend to "honour" the Lotus name
Lotus team boss Tony Fernandes has clarified the relationship between his new outfit and the English car company.
Following the announcement the famous marque will be seen once more on the Formula One grid in 2010, there has been speculation as to the precise relationship Lotus F1 will have with the Hethel-based sportscar manufacturer.
The new team enjoys the backing of both the Malaysian government and a consortium of entrepreneurs from that country.
They include carmaker Proton, who bought Lotus Cars from their former owner Bugatti when the company entered into administration in 1994.
Fernandes admits the current relationship is little more than a licensing agreement but says the link between his team and Lotus Cars will grow over time.
"Lotus is a complicated brand," the Malaysian acknowledged.
"Obviously Proton in Malaysia owns Lotus, and we have a licensing agreement with them. I think over time that relationship will solidify more and more, and Group Lotus will probably buy into the team at some stage.
"More and more technology from our side will go into Lotus cars, we will promote Lotus Cars closely, and I see it in time being no different from how Ferrari works," he added.
Heritage
Led by company founder Colin Chapman, the original team were one of the heavyweights of the sport and captured six drivers' and seven constructors' world titles in the 1960s and 70s.
However, Fernandes insists the new team is not laying claim to any of their predecessors' heritage.
"I don't think we can claim any of the heritage but we obviously have a great relationship with Clive and Hazel Chapman," he said.
"We're in Norfolk and a few miles from Hethel. We are very clear about making sure we don't destroy any of the prestige, we have an advisory council to make sure that we protect what has been built by Colin Chapman and the people at Lotus.
"So I don't think we can claim [Lotus heritage] but we'll certainly celebrate it and work with it. We have lots of ideas. We've talked about doing something like the Goodwood Festival at this year's Malaysian Grand Prix and have lots of Lotus enthusiasts bring their cars down to Malaysia.
"There are lots of ways to celebrate the heritage. It's a phenomenal history, a phenomenal brand. We can't claim it, but we will work with it, we'll celebrate it and we'll honour it," he added.
