Lotus Renault GP unveil new livery
by Jack Lamure on Jan 13th, 2011The re-named Lotus Renault GP team has unveiled its livery for the 2011 season, displaying the new paintjob on the team's 2010 challenger. Their new car, the R31, will be launched in Valencia on January 31st.
And as the war of words between the newly-named squad and Tony Fernandes' Team Lotus continues Clive Chapman - son of Lotus founder Colin - weighed in to the spat today by stating that "Lotus racing cars have black and gold for far longer than they've been green and yellow."
Credit: Octane Photos
Vitaly Petrov, who recently signed a contract extension with the team, was present for the unveiling at the Autosport Show in Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre. Also present was Jean Alesi, who drove for the Enstone-based team between 1996 and 1997 when they ran as Benetton and is now a Lotus ambassador, and current team principal Eric Boullier.
As suggested by promo mock-ups released last month the car will run in the famous black and gold livery made famous by Team Lotus in the seventies and eighties. Group Lotus - the Malaysian-based company who own the rights to Lotus' road car heritage - recently invested heavily in the Renault team and became name sponsors of the 2005-2006 world champions. As such they have elected to run a livery from Colin Chapman's team's past.
However there is some controversy over the use of these colours. The livery will immediately remind anyone who remembers the classic JPS Lotus cars of the cigarette brand, which remains on sale today. Team Lotus (henceforth to be known as Green Lotus) boss Tony Fernandes suggested that he'd been warned off the black and gold idea for his team's paint scheme for this very reason, with members of the FIA suggesting that such a livery could be considered subliminal tobacco advertising similar to Ferrari's recent use of barcodes and white squares to allegedly continuing advertising Marlboro.
So what do you think of Lotus Renault GP's new livery? A good looking re-imagining of an iconic livery or a hollow gesture that might remind people of a fag brand? And what about Clive Chapman's comments? Have your say in the comments below.
Thanks to Octane Photos for all shots from the Lotus Renault GP livery launch.
Comments and Discussion
If the Lotus badge on the front of the car gets any bigger you'll not see the black and gold!
Rather than anything to do with a salute to the past of (Chapman's)Team Lotus, it's a blatant 'steal' by Bahar to pinch the goodwill built up by Fernandes and the groundwork put in by last years "Recognised" Lotus team by stealing the black and gold livery.
I understand there are 2 car companies in play, both owned by the Malaysian Government, where it's possible they will be merged and sold for a dollar with all debts as was (the now) Air Asia to Mr Fernandes. There's more behind Bahar's putsch than F1 racing here..
Love the colour scheme, but it still leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Fernandes has every right to dispute the legality of it all too, seeing as it's the only weapon he can wield against Group Lotus.
The PR campaign Group Lotus has been on to get themselves over to the fans as the "real" Lotus is sickening too. Last week in Autosport there was a 20 page pullout that was nothing but propoganda, and today's had a full size poster of this livery before the unveiling.
It's things like this that make me want to wear green and yellow this year...
Is that Crofty wearing a Lotus shirt? Ugh!
Branding and Marketing excercise by Bahar. They are in it for the marketing - just like most car manufacturers are - but it has nothing in connection or likeness with the desire to race and improve that Fernandes' team have. That's the spirit of Chapman for heaven's sake!
Renault Lotus Proton GP is all about badges and sales. Wouldn't have been an issue if they hadnt peed on Lotus Racing's bonfire and pushed them into a corner.
Teams are about the people that go to make them and their aspirations, commitment and achievements - not badges and colour schemes.
I know which one i'll be rooting for
Yeah, Autosport was incredibly biased allowing that blatant propaganda
I love the livery but don't like the fact it's on the Renault, sorry Lotus Renault. Last year Renault did a great retro livery and had good reasons to but this year I don't think so.
I reckon Lotus Renault are going retro crazy and trying to emulate the Lotus '88 by running twin chassis this year
For me the Team Lotus / Green Lotus effort has the moral rights to the name, having gone about the racing business in the right way. They'll certainly be getting my support in the future.
As regards the comments from Mr Chapman, it's been said in another forum that he was more than happy to sell the family silver to David Hunt in the early 90s and leave F1 completely. He was also more than happy to share the limelight with Fernandes last year. To now say Renault is the only true Lotus team doesn't sit well with me.
It's all well and good Group Lotus joining F1 to promote their brand but thats not what Chapmans Team Lotus was about. Colin always kept the team separate from the business of road cars. Group Lotus aren't honoring this with their blatant marketing tactic that would make Colin turn in his grave! 'Group Lotus Renault Proton GP' is just another manufacturer that'll stay around for a few years then leave as soon as they get bored or run out of money.
I'm not a Ferrari fan but I admire that they are the only team to still be racing in F1 since the first GP back in 1950! (even if they do moan and whinge almost all of the time!) No other road car/F1 car manufacturer have had that sort of commitment apart from Chapman's team. I believe that if it wasn't fort he financial problems that killed of the team, Team Lotus would still be competing now. I hope Team Lotus manage to get one(or two) over on Group Lotus Renault Proton GP.
The whole things a scam. There are only two organisations who own Lotus, the "Group" and the "Chapman Family". Lotus have announced all this publicity and all the new road cars, for me its simple, its basically "S**T or bust for Group they either make it or they will be gone in five years! (as someone else said on here for a $1!
Wait for the outcome in the courts, all will become clear.
FT
At least its the right badge!
Here is the winner of Team lotus Livery contest
http://www.electroduo.com/LotusT128EF/index.html
just chose your best livery and cry
The Chapman family sold their interest in the F1 team so I can't see how they can still own it.
I would like to add that as Group Lotus are sponsoring Renault, some people are thinking that the team should still be referred to as Renault, because we don't call McLaren or Ferrari by their full, sponsored names (Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro).
Just to drive off on a slight tangent...
Does anyone remember the Renault engined Lotus road going cars from the 70's?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davel59/3284987744/
Everyone remembers the black and gold Lotuses from years ago and it’s good to know they have been brought back..Back but with a gold trim and red wing end fences.It seems Lotus Renault GP going to impress all at their debut year as a partnership..