Team Lotus to Make F1 Return

Several teams that have already lodged 2010 entries with the FIA seem to follow a “historical name” strategy in order to improve their chances of making the field next year. After Brabham Grand Prix and March – although the teams have no link to the original outfits whatsoever – Team Lotus is the third big name that could make the F1 roster next year.

According to Litespeed's chiefs Nino Judge and Steve Kenchington, it seems the F3 team has received permission from rights holder David Hunt to use the Team Lotus name in Formula One, on the condition they’ll be granted access by the FIA on June 12th.

“Litespeed was born from a similar British background – a factor that was at the core of Colin Chapman's beliefs and subsequent success,” announced Judge, as reported by the GMM news agency. If confirmed in next year’s roster, the team would be based in Norfolk, the same as the historical team founded by British engineer Colin Chapman.

However, unlike the Brabham Grand Prix outfit – whose members have literally nothing in common with former 3-time world champion Jack Brabham – the potential Team Lotus’s bosses have both worked for the British marque inside the sport in the past.

As revealed by the same report, Judge worked in “aerodynamics and structure testing between 1989 and 1991, while Kenchington on suspension and control systems for 21 years”.

During its 36 years of existence (1958 to 1994), Team Lotus has won no less the 73 grands prix (out of 489 races), clinching 6 drivers’ titles and 7 constructors’ crowns. Their last official Formula One race was the 1994 Australian Grand Prix.