Team Lotus On The Way Back?

In the last few years there have been various rumours to the effect that Lotus would be returning to Formula 1 competition but with the costs of running even a mediocre team soaring while the tobacco companies — major sponsors of most F1 teams — are coming under ever greater pressure to limit their advertising role in sports, it seems unlikely that Lotus would ever be able to secure the financing that would be required to return them to their former role as a constructor.

Toyota’s announcement in 2000 that they would take the 12^th and final vacant spot on the grid and field their own team from 2002 onwards looked like it might end the speculation for good as once the grid was full it would be virtually impossible for any other team to enter Formula 1 without either partnering with an existing team or buying them outright. 2002, however, brought its own surprises and the collapse of both the Prost and Arrows teams created two more empty spots and the poor results and shaky finances of a few other of the smaller teams means that this is still a possibility.

It is also possible that — even if they don’t form a new team themselves — Lotus could have some future involvement in F1 where they could bring their considerable engineering expertise to the assistance of one or more other teams as an engine supplier or technical partner. Malaysian car manufacturer Proton was said to have been considering joining Formula One now that it’s home country had its own Grand Prix. Proton, the owner of Lotus Cars, would doubtless call upon Lotus’ experience to help put together an F1 project.

“With Malaysia getting the GP, we are totally committed to the future of F1 and we want to make sure that Proton is a part of that,” said Tengku Datuk Mahaleel, President of Proton. “The fact that we now own Lotus is very important, and will form part of the discussion, and we cannot underestimate that. We will already be involved in F1 next year by supplying some support cars, but we will definitely be analysing if we could race.”

Team Lotus History

Here is a brief history of Team Lotus — one of the most successful Formula 1 racing teams ever with 79 Grand Prix victories, 7 Constructors’ Championships and 6 Drivers’ Championships — and a page of Team Lotus links. From their beginnings, through the good times up to their bankruptcy and sale after the 1994 season, during which they had six different drivers! This Team Lotus Page provides information up to the 1994 season.

The Lotus Rumour Archive

#1 (1997): Team Lotus have been in talks with one or two title sponsors and were hoping that they would return to F1 in 1998 although it was unclear if Team Lotus would have any backing from Lotus Cars. Mohamed Zainal was quoted as saying “You can expect a Lotus to be racing at the 1998 Malaysian GP” — which history proved wrong on two counts.

#2 (1997): According to a posting to rec.autos.sport.f1, the Formula 1 newsgroup on the Usenet – Team Lotus are hoping to return to the Formula One world championship in 1999. The team are one of the most famous names in motor racing and have won seven constructors and six drivers world championships since their founding by the late Colin Chapman. Managing Director David Hunt said he was putting together a package to bring Team Lotus back to F1 where they last raced in 1994. “We are very happy to let Team Lotus’ millions of fans around the world know that their patient loyalty will be rewarded,” said Hunt, brother of the late former world champion James Hunt.

#3 (1998): Until last year the future looked bleak but Lotus should not be counted out just yet, as Team Lotus Holdings still have plans to return to F1 and an out of court settlement with former Lotus F1 designer Chris Murphy has allowed the company to continue their evaluation of a return to the sport.

#4 (1998): Reports have suggested that the Lotus name could return to Formula 1 as soon as next year if all goes to plan. Team Lotus have the nucleus of what was the F1 racing team at their base in Wymondham and have made tentative plans to get back into Formula 1 in 1999. At present they are making links with Lotus owners and enthusiasts in a bid to maximize support as the momentum for the F1 return grows.

#5 (1998): Another post suggests that an interesting situation could be brewing as the Lotus car company also intends to return to Formula 1, funded by Proton and Proton’s parent-holding company, which could mean that there will be 2 Team Lotus’ to make up for their absence for the last few years.

#6 (1999): The rumour is that Lotus might “soon” return to Formula One. As usual there were no specific details but the phrase “in the not too distant future” was used.

Lotus, who left F1 at the end of 1994, were being linked with the possible empty 12th spot on the list of competing constructors now that Honda (since the death of Harvey Postlethwaite) will not, after all, be entering a team next year and will instead just be supplying engines to BAR and Jordan.

#7 (1999): A recent article in “The Mail On Sunday”, a British tabloid, has suggested that Lotus may merge with (or buy) the Arrows F1 team which is apparently having trouble finding sponsorship for next year. Arrows have denied the rumour.

#8 (2000):Lotus To Buy Prost? A report in today’s (August 6^th) Sunday Telegraph stated that David Hunt, brother of the late former World Champion James Hunt and current owner of the Team Lotus name, was making a bid to purchase the Prost Formula One team. If successful Hunt would almost certainly rename the team to bring the Lotus name back to F1.

On the face of it buying Prost, currently one of the least successful teams in Formula One, might not make much sense but there are several underlying reasons that might make it a good move:

 
• Buying an existing team is less expensive and quicker than building a team from scratch and also gets the new owners a share of the lucrative TV royalties sooner.
• Under the Lotus name Hunt would be able to move the team to England where there is a larger pool of F1 talent to draw from, something that Alain Prost has been unable to do with the former Ligier team.
• Next year the team will not be using Peugeot engines!

 

 This is not the first time that a Lotus revival has been rumoured — last year they were supposedly in talks to buy the Arrows team — as various stories have been circulating ever since the team closed its doors at the end of the 1994 season.