Report: Lotus Racing could be known as 'Proton 1Malaysia' in 2011

[keshy]

After some great PR side-stepping and question dodging by Tony Fernandes and his team on what the team could be known as in 2011, a report has emerged suggesting that 'Proton 1Malaysia' has been touted as possible new name for Tony Fernandes' Formula One team in 2011.

Currently, the team currently known as Lotus Racing is locked in a dispute with Group Lotus, who intend to separately enter F1 next year in collaboration with Enstone based Renault.

That raises the messy possibility of two teams being called 'Lotus'; a situation that now involves the courts and also the Malaysian government, part-owner of the Group Lotus parent and carmaker Proton.

The proposed new name for Lotus Racing was published by The Advertiser, a regional UK newspaper close to the Norwich headquarters of both Fernandes' team as well as Group Lotus.

It would be a tidy solution to the current dilemma, probably involving sponsorship for Fernandes' small team to compensate for the lost FOM revenue due to a name change, and clearing the way for Renault F1 to be renamed Lotus-Renault in 2011.

And Fernandes' team "will become a flagship Malaysian constructor hoping to build on tenth place in its first season", said the report.

Source: GMM

 

[MaRvyn]

Proton 1Malaysia? Proton 1Malaysia?? PROTON 1MALAYSIA????.... !@#$%%^&*^^$#$()_+%#

 

[azry blizoru]

no point to change the team name to proton 1 malaysia.....proton is such a 'gila nama' only....they should focus on how to build their own car..not involved in f1...such a waste.....

 

[loose_end]

Lotus Racing = Proton 1Malaysia .. How to make it sounds the same when the brand itself is perceived from different level .. Its downgrading , BAD BRANDING !

 

[hafidz_moro]

Proton not gila nama laa..Proton already part of Lotus Racing, but since Team Lotus wants to claim back that name,whats left on the bag?? Proton right?? Takkan Saga 1Malaysia kot!

Plus, the team, the equipment, the money, the pride, the mileage of best new teams & the knowledge alreday been poured in..so 'Life must Go On' man!! Name doesnt make sense at all..the essence of the team counts ok!

 

[kumar22mostwanted]

so much proton bashing in this thread
i guess there are still some pissed of parties about the lancer rebadging
but hell its just good business
i would do the same anytime anyplace anyday if i were proton

 

[keshy]

Proton not gila nama laa..Proton already part of Lotus Racing, but since Team Lotus wants to claim back that name,whats left on the bag?? Proton right?? Takkan Saga 1Malaysia kot!

Plus, the team, the equipment, the money, the pride, the mileage of best new teams & the knowledge alreday been poured in..so 'Life must Go On' man!! Name doesnt make sense at all..the essence of the team counts ok!

"Team Lotus wants to claim back that name" - Really ????

 

[Paul Tan]

Keshy, where on earth did GMM (the origin of this report) get the source for this? Sounds like a slow news day and they came up with random cock to write.

 

[ProTiara]

Lotus is a part of PROTON!!!! Whatever is congrats Proton!Im Proud of u!

 

[honda]

y would proton participate in f1 in the first place? even Renault, Toyota n Honda also withdraw from f1 dy.. speachless..

we have Tony's team representing Bolehland dy n proton create another team n fight with Tony's team.. wtf??

money too much izzit??

 

[kumar22mostwanted]

y would proton participate in f1 in the first place? even Renault, Toyota n Honda also withdraw from f1 dy.. speachless..

we have Tony's team representing Bolehland dy n proton create another team n fight with Tony's team.. wtf??

money too much izzit??

haha maybe PROTON and TONY tak ngam

 

[faisal]

I don't see this happening at all. After all 1Malaysia F1 Team and Proton/Group Lotus relationship is already on shaky ground. In fact it's already established that Proton have no interest whatsover to have any ties with Tony and his team.

GMM really pulled this news from some ditch somewhere

 

[Hsin Yeow]

potong 1malaysia ???

 

[azry blizoru]

like i said...proton should focus on how to make their car better..no need to argue about the name...pity malaysian

 

[triple_c]

bodohnya......

 

[alibaba]

from my own view, malaysia or lotus is shame to let this thing happened. Always tell the whole world 1 malaysia, now indirectly tell the world malaysia is not 1 malaysia, 1 is it mean that 1 cxxk malaysian? if like that, better pull out the F1 event, then nothing to fight. At least no need to create opportunity to let outsiders to laughing us at our back. Suddenly said Proton want to buy the Renault F1 team, why? Is Proton necessary to do that? Renault is rich enough or ability to run by them. Dont tell us this is the way to get back the name lotus and no chance for Tony to use name Lotus next year? Proton how many profit they can make every year? Only the Proton 'Lancer', we can see how strong is the Proton, Proton in the car market almost 20 years more, why still can not 'stand alone'? Our Petronas already good enough to promote Malaysia, at least they can stable and support in the motorsport industry, like F1, Motogp, supergt........ Even our budget airline Air Asia can sponsor F1 William team, Motogp, football team....... Proton no way to follow and compare... We wish to support Proton, but what Proton did to everyone? There is no excuse to let us to support Proton. Other question..... who let or ask Tony be the Lotus Racing F1 boss at the begining? And now who want to let him down? 'Fact'??????????????? Pls Proton do something meaningful la.........

---------- Post added at 07:50 PM ---------- 6 hour anti-bump limit - Previous post was at 07:39 PM ----------

ha........ we should create a topic or blog, "How to make Proton successful in the future". We dont want the see some topic in the future "How to rescue Proton ", " Why Proton will sell off their company "..........

 

[^pomen_GTR^]

oit proton.....takat sponsor habuk...then when lotus name getting all the hype in the first season..u want to steal the limelight ah????


and TF shud have 100% right to run under the "Team Lotus" name for sure..he was the owner of "Team Lotus"..proton can't do anything harm to him....

 

[keevan]

from my own view, malaysia or lotus is shame to let this thing happened. Always tell the whole world 1 malaysia, now indirectly tell the world malaysia is not 1 malaysia, 1 is it mean that 1 cxxk malaysian? if like that, better pull out the F1 event, then nothing to fight. At least no need to create opportunity to let outsiders to laughing us at our back. Suddenly said Proton want to buy the Renault F1 team, why? Is Proton necessary to do that? Renault is rich enough or ability to run by them. Dont tell us this is the way to get back the name lotus and no chance for Tony to use name Lotus next year? Proton how many profit they can make every year? Only the Proton 'Lancer', we can see how strong is the Proton, Proton in the car market almost 20 years more, why still can not 'stand alone'? Our Petronas already good enough to promote Malaysia, at least they can stable and support in the motorsport industry, like F1, Motogp, supergt........ Even our budget airline Air Asia can sponsor F1 William team, Motogp, football team....... Proton no way to follow and compare... We wish to support Proton, but what Proton did to everyone? There is no excuse to let us to support Proton. Other question..... who let or ask Tony be the Lotus Racing F1 boss at the begining? And now who want to let him down? 'Fact'??????????????? Pls Proton do something meaningful la.........

---------- Post added at 07:50 PM ---------- 6 hour anti-bump limit - Previous post was at 07:39 PM ----------

ha........ we should create a topic or blog, "How to make Proton successful in the future". We dont want the see some topic in the future "How to rescue Proton ", " Why Proton will sell off their company "..........

Hahahahaha........ if u wan think about this issue must take off ur brain then only think..

 

[honda]

http://en.espnf1.com/lotus/motorsport/story/35020.html

Lotus Racing's Mike Gascoyne is at a loss to explain Group Lotus' plans to expand its involvement in motorsport but cut off its naming rights deal with his team.

Group Lotus, owned by Malaysian car manufacturer Proton, allowed Lotus Racing to compete under the historic name this season, but has terminated the deal for 2011 and is challenging the team's plans to use the Team Lotus name it has bought in a separate deal. Meanwhile, Group Lotus is rumoured to be in talks with the Renault F1 team about a sponsorship deal for 2011, will partner the GP2 team ART next season and announced last week that it is set to supply engines to the IndyCar series in 2012.

Gascoyne said he could not understand the decision to expand in one area of motorsport but cut off the Lotus Racing team in Formula One, which was generating exposure at no extra cost to Group Lotus.

"They seem to have announced they'll do every racing series that there is but the question is who is going to pay for it," Gascoyne told BBC Radio Norfolk. "For a loss-making car company that seems a bit perplexing. But if that's what they want to do then good luck to them."

He said Lotus Racing had done a good job this year and that the team would continue to race next year, regardless of the naming dispute.

"We've brought the Lotus name back to F1 and have done a great job," he said. "We don't understand why Group Lotus don't want to support us in doing that job for them. We think we brought great value to the brand.

"The shareholders have invested something like £80 million into the brand and development of the team and we're failing to understand why Group Lotus seems to want to try and kick us out or have us compete. But that's not in my hands, my job doesn't change with the name and it's the same with all the engineering staff."

He added that the team's plans were on track for next year's car, which will make its first on-track appearance at the Valencia test in the first week of February.

"We'll be firing the car up on January 25 in readiness for the first test in February," Gascoyne said. "We've had lots of exciting announcements with Renault supplying us with engines, Red Bull supplying us with gearboxes and our own windtunnel developing. It wasn't just about finishing 10th in the championship this year, it was about building the team up so that we move solidly into the midfield next year. Those announcements are all very much part of that and we're bang on schedule."

foreigner also don understant y proton, a loss-making car company making dis move to fight agains Tony's Lotus Racing Team..

aaarrrggghhh.. speachless..

On Twitter, team boss Fernandes commented: "Funny how after we deliver a Formula One team that's professional and has promise, everyone wants a piece. But this is great because all the facts will come out and the shareholders and government will see the real story."

 

[MiTec-i]

i hope TF dun get pressured by 'political influence' in Malaysia(ground his planes or watever they can think of,god knows) and backed down in fighting for his F1 team.he has done a good job in bringing the Lotus name back.in fact,even if TF bought the Team Lotus name from David Hunt, what is there for Proton/Group Lotus to lose? it's free marketing for them. I just hope Proton will back down and support TF instead.and Group Lotus focus on the 5 concepts they launched la. fingers crossed!