Caterham (formerly Lotus)

Team Lotus

FIA Entry: Team Lotus
Car 20: Heikki Kovaleinen
Car 21: Jarno Trulli
Engine: Renault V8
Team Principal: Tony Fernandes
Technical Director: Mike Gascoyne
Race Engineer Car 20: Juan Pablo Ramirez
Race Engineer Car 21: Gianluca Pisanello

Stats as of end 2010

First Entered 2010
Races Entered 20
Race Wins 0
Pole Positions 0
Fastest Laps 0
Driver World Championships 0
Constructor World Championships 0

Team Lotus

Tony Fernandes' 1Malaysia F1 team lay claim to one of the most iconic names in F1, Team Lotus. Team Lotus, under the guidance of one of the greatest innovators in F1 Colin Chapman, was in F1 from 1958 to 1994. They took part in 491 Grands Prix, winning 73 races, 7 Constructors Titles, 6 Drivers Championships, 102 poles and 65 fastest laps. During this time some of the greatest F1 drivers drove for Team Lotus including Jim Clark, Stirling Moss, Ayrton Senna, Graham Hill, Emerson Fittipaldi, Jochen Rindt and Nigel Mansell.

2010 Team Lotus

With the support of the Malaysian government via Proton cars and two Malaysian Companies, Tune and Naza Groups, Tony Fernandes entered F1 under the Team Lotus name. Using Cosworth engines and Xtrac gearboxes Lotus signed up experienced drivers for their first season in F1 with Heikki Kovaleinen and Jarno Trulli.

The cars proved reasonably reliable although not quick enough to threaten the mid-field teams. Kovaleinen managed Lotus’ best finish with a 12th place in Japan and the team, based on count back of non-points scoring finishes, were placed 10th in the Constructors Championship – the best of the new teams for 2010.

2011

Lotus announced during 2010 that they would switch to Renault engines for 2011 along with Red Bull gearbox and hydraulic technology. The same driver line up is retained and they will use the T128 chassis.

Whether the team continue to use the Lotus name will be decided in the British High Court. Proton, owners of the Group Lotus name, have moved their allegiance to the former Renault team although ownership of the Team Lotus name is in dispute as this was owned by David Hunt, brother of 1976 World Champion James and sold to Fernandes.

 

[F1Yorkshire]

So crowdcube are going to make roughly £180,000 off the back of Caterhams bid to get back into F1. Not bad for a company that is basically just 0's + 1's.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Funding now at 50% of target.

 

[Bill Boddy]

Should Caterham now be Caterham (formerly F1)?

 

[KekeTheKing]

So crowdcube are going to make roughly £180,000 off the back of Caterhams bid to get back into F1. Not bad for a company that is basically just 0's + 1's.

Apparently Crowdcube has a partnership with Smith & Williamson, the very same accounting firm employed by Caterham's Administrators. I'm sure it's just coincidental

 

[F1Yorkshire]

From being at around 54% this morning funding is now up to 79% with just under 10 hours to go.

They might just do this and the team is packing for Abu Dhabi.

https://www.crowdcube.com/caterham/

 

[Greenlantern101]

£300,000 'jump' is a strange one. Thats more investor type money than fan money.

 

[The Pits]

Depends on the fan. Maybe the Sultan of Brunei has a soft spot for the underdog, and had a rummage down the back of his sofa

 

[Greenlantern101]

 

[F1Yorkshire]

Caterham F1 Team ‏@CaterhamF1 2 minutes ago
We are delighted to announce that we will be racing in Abu Dhabi next week thanks to the support of the fans. THANK YOU #RefuelCaterhamF1

 

[Greenlantern101]

Really pleased for them but the jump in funding is very odd, in light of the finance crisis and big question marks over ownership etc etc. This looks like the tip of the iceberg for something else going on behind the scenes.

 

[Titch]

It would seem that Alice's Dad has put in a great deal of money. I wonder if he will withdraw it again if she doesn't race, because she can't get a super licence.

 

[gethinceri]

Thereby ripping the rug from under them.

 

[cider_and_toast]

It's the wrong bloody team I want Marussia back not fair, not bleeding fair.

 

[FB]

What money on Max Chilton turning up in green overalls in Abu Dhabi?

 

[Mephistopheles]

Okay I'm feeling generous I'll send them 1p with a note saying from all the guys and gals at Clip the Apex

 

[KekeTheKing]

This whole saga is just absurd. Any car/driver combo they manage to put on the grid in Abu Dhabi is sure to be an embarrassment anyway. And now that they've Crowdcubed their entry fee for next year we get to do it all over again in 2015. I sincerely hope that somebody buys this outfit ASAP, because a Malaysian Zombie F1 Team isn't good for anybody.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

Note from an employee.
http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2014/11/15/a-voice-from-the-real-world/

 

[Greenlantern101]

Fernandes seems to be a total shit doesn't he. F1 seems to attract them.

 

[Greenlantern101]

More on the staff not paid story. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mo...ministrators-accused-of-burying-bad-news.html

Personally if I hadn't been paid for 7 weeks, was then made redundant and then asked to go to Abu Dhabi on a 'consultancy' fee. I would tell them to fuck off.

Interesting to see how many people are in the Caterham garage next weekend.

 

[KekeTheKing]

With more and more dirty laundry trickling out, it's becoming clearer every day that this Caterham fiasco is much less a Formula One problem than a Tony Fernandes/Malaysian business failure. Quite frankly this team never deserved to compete with the tried and true teams. It was a "pie in the sky" organization from day one. Tony's fanciful notion that he would be tossing Chapman's hat in the air in 2010 will remain as a laughable testimonial to the unrealistic ambitions this team entered the sport with.

Far from engendering good will with this latest charade, I think many people will be saying "good riddance".