Good to see, they are NOT Lotus!!! Max thinks its ok for teams to rip-off others to gain entry and mis use someone elses name and trademark Lotus considers action over Litespeed entry Thu 11 Jun, 01:00 AM - PlanetF1.com Group Lotus plc has hinted that it could take action to protect the Lotus brand name after the Litespeed team revealed it has lodged its entry for the 2010 Formula One season under the Team Lotus banner. The British F3 runners are one of a number of new teams to be chasing a slot on the F1 grid for next season, and revealed over the course of the weekend that it had secured rights to use the Lotus name from rights-holder David Hunt. However, in much the same way that the Brabham family has announced that it will challenge plans by the Formtech company to enter under the Brabham Grand Prix moniker, Group Lotus has moved to distance itself from the Litespeed plans and said it will take steps to protect its name if needed. Group Lotus plc and its subsidiary Lotus Cars Limited, the manufacturer of the iconic Lotus Elise and global high technology engineering consultancy, are not connected or affiliated to, nor in any other way associated with the newly announced Team Lotus that has submitted an entry for the 2010 Formula 1 championship, a statement issued by the company read. Group Lotus plc will take all necessary steps to protect its name, reputation and brand image
People who say a FOTA split will kill the sport....well this kind of crap is what will be left of the BeMax Follies when the manufacturers give those two gits an erect middle finger.
This will be only the prelude to legal challenges to those who dream of using someone else's property/name etc to get entry and respect in F1. This tells me its a ruse and its probably Max's influence causing this. It also confirms the manufacturers are THE SPORT. If teams need to use older, established and winning F1 MANUFACTURER'S names to gain credibility for their lame and underfunded entries, then FOTA has it pegged! A split would be a winner. I hope they leave F1, spurn Bernie and re-establish the F1 philosophy of we build it, we race it and we decide what to spend. Not a governing pathetic beaureaucratic body of motor clubs deciding what a sport should be.
But then there is someone here on FChat that supposedly works for Litespeed that says they are Lotus. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=246459
From Autosport: Team Lotus's entry for Formula 1 next year has been submitted in full consultation with the Group Lotus company, as team sources dismissed any talk that the outfit could face legal action from the iconic sportscar brand over the use of the name. A press release issued on Wednesday night suggested that Group Lotus and its subsidiary Lotus Cars Limited had no links with the F1 efforts and would do all it could to "protect its name, reputation and brand image." This was interpreted as a veiled threat about legal action. However, AUTOSPORT understands that there is no suggestion of Group Lotus having any issue over the F1 team's plans - and the company has in fact been fully informed by Team Lotus about the efforts to get onto the grand prix racing grid. One team source at the new Team Lotus outfit said: "We've kept Lotus fully informed of our intentions and are well aware of the need to protect its brand image. We look forward to having closer ties with it in the future."
Litesout....I guess. Brabham as well. I guess legal challenges are not popular or they didnt have the backing required.
Group Lotus plc and its subsidiary Lotus Cars Limited, the manufacturer of the iconic Lotus Elise and global high technology engineering consultancy, are not connected or affiliated to, nor in any other way associated with the newly announced 'Team Lotus' that has submitted an entry for the 2010 Formula 1 championship, a statement issued by the company read. Group Lotus plc will take all necessary steps to protect its name, reputation and brand image.
I agree with some of this, but after time, a name is usually forgotten. Name five teams from the 60's BESIDES Ferrari - most cannot. Name five teams from the 70's BESIDES Ferrari - most cannot. Name five teams from the 80's that no longer compete today, most cannot. (keep in mind I said 'most' cannot - unless you are an F1 nut or you research it) I agree that an entity should not just pick up the name of a defunct company and use it without permission, but I also think some of the names don't mean as much to the history of the sport as some folks think they do, irregardless of that, name stealing or 'twisting' should not be allowed - anywhere.
The USF1 team should either call their team All American Racers or Penske. Both made F-1 chassis. They should just pay a license fee to get permission. Personally, I think it would be pretty cool.
