LOTUS STORY/HISTORY
Lotus Racing, also referred to by the company name 1Malaysia F1 Team by the Malaysian media[1][2][3] and parliament,[4] is a Formula One team, making its debut in the 2010 Formula One season. Despite Lotus Racing and the former Team Lotus not being connected by much more than name, Team Principal Tony Fernandes was clear that if and when the team were to win it would not be Lotus Racing's first but Lotus' 80th victory.[5] The team have said they will use the Team Lotus name in the 2011 season.[6], but are facing legal action from Group Lotus over the use of the Lotus name.
The team gained its entry after BMW announced they would withdraw from Formula One at the end of the 2009 season. They have joined Virgin Racing and Hispania Racing F1 Team as new teams for 2010.
Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport series including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar and sports car racing. More than ten years after its last race Team Lotus remains one of the most successful racing teams of all time, winning seven Formula One Constructors' titles, six Drivers' Championships, and the Indianapolis 500 in the United States, between 1962 and 1978. Under the direction of founder and Chief Designer Colin Chapman Lotus was responsible for many innovative and experimental developments in critical motorsport, in both technical and commercial arenas.
