Lotus Racing team owner Tony Fernandes, has today confirmed that his race team will be renamed Team Lotus from 2011 onwards.
The name change comes as Fernandes aims to align his team with the historic Team Lotus which debuted in 1958 and went on to secure 73 race victories, six drivers’ championships and seven constructors’ with the likes of Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Sir Stirling Moss, Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna.
“The whole aim was to own our future rather than operate under a licence,” he told reporters in Singapore. “For next year we will not operate under the Lotus Racing [name] but Team Lotus banner. It will bring history full circle and operate as Team Lotus as Colin Chapman did.”
The Malaysian millionaire also confirmed a new engine deal, but refused to name the supplier to avoid overshadowing the name announcement. Although it is almost certain the supplier is Renault.
“We obviously have something,” he said in response to whether the team had secured a new engine deal after freeing themselves of their Cosworth contract.
“Today we wanted to focus on the name. We obviously have a deal on the table for the engine, and when we are ready to announce it we will.”
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