The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Team Lotus eye step up as Caterham F1 Posted: 27 Nov 2011 07:50 AM PST SAO PAULO, Nov 27 — Re-named Team Lotus can look forward to real progress as Caterham in Formula One next season now that a row over the use of the Lotus brand has been resolved, team boss Tony Fernandes said today. This year has had the confusion of Renault-powered Team Lotus and Group Lotus-backed Renault competing as rivals, with an agreement finally reached that will see both change their names in 2012. Team Lotus will become Caterham F1, a British-based niche sportscar marque now owned by Fernandes which has plans to market three new lightweight models from 2014, while Renault will be renamed as Lotus.  Fernandes told reporters today that 2012 could be a defining year for Caterham F1. — Reuters file pic "I am quite amazed how we have been able to make progress and get sponsors with all that's been happening behind us," added the Malaysian entrepreneur. "That's cleared now, so many sponsors who held back are now coming in. They like the story, they like the strategy, they like the fact that we have a presence in Asia so hopefully we'll have the right financial resources to be able to move up the grid." Team Lotus started out last year as Lotus Racing, changing their original name after a falling out with Malaysian-owned Group Lotus, who had become Renault's title sponsor. The two sides went to court, with a decision allowing Team Lotus to keep using that name in F1, but Fernandes has since sold the rights to Group Lotus. "I've always thought a Formula One team should be associated with a car company," he said. "Of course my plan was Lotus. That went spectacularly wrong in many ways. "At least I know the English legal system," he joked. "I don't need to go and do a law degree any more thanks to Group Lotus. But I always say there is a silver lining everywhere." Team Lotus, like Lotus Racing, have yet to win a point in Formula One and Fernandes said that was the main aim for 2012. Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen will definitely be one of the drivers, with Fernandes saying, "I'll hold on to him whatever." Italian Jarno Trulli also has a contract but his position appears less certain with some sources suggesting that Red Bull could be seeking to place highly-rated Australian Daniel Ricciardo with the team. "Right now we have a contract and he (Trulli) will race," was all Fernandes would say. The team are also planning a move from Hingham in the east of England to the former Arrows and Super Aguri factory at Leafield, not far from Silverstone, although they are waiting for planning permission first. Fernandes said he would remain as team principal and the cars would continue to be painted yellow and green. "We'll stick with it. Caterham have a history of green and yellow as well," he said. "Look around the paddock, it's hard to be red, it's hard to be blue. "Part of the agreement with Group (Lotus) was that we would remain green and yellow and they would be black and gold." — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Barca take long view on title race after first defeat Posted: 27 Nov 2011 07:08 AM PST  Barcelona's Messi reacts during their match at Getafe last night. — Reuters pic The European and Spanish champions, who have won three consecutive league crowns, are in the unfamiliar position of trailing their archrivals with two weeks to go until the first league 'clasico' of the campaign at the Bernabeu. The Madrid-based sports press made much of Real's advantage with Marca and AS both trumpeting the new six-point gap on their Sunday front pages. "Many people would hand out the league trophy now and are setting off rockets," Barca's Brazilian defender Dani Alves told a news conference today. "They don't hand out the cup now. Luckily for us there is still a long way to go and one of the keys to this team is that they never give up." Real swept aside city rivals Atletico Madrid 4-1 yesterday for their 13th consecutive victory in all competitions, and Jose Mourinho's team opened up a gap which could prove difficult to bridge, especially if they were to be victorious on December 10. Real and Barca, the world's two richest clubs by income, have dominated La Liga the last couple of seasons with both sides racking up over 90 points, leaving third-placed Valencia more than 20 points behind in third. With draws being called 'the new defeats' by local media, Real, who have only lost once at surprise early pacesetters Levante earlier in the campaign, would appear to hold a psychological edge in the run up to the first 'clasico'. "There is still a long way to go," Guardiola said yesterday. "We all know we are competing against a great rival and have less room for more slip ups, but we will lift ourselves and move forward again." Barca's 27-game unbeaten run in competitive matches stretched over six months, and they last suffered a defeat in April last season, when they fell 2-1 at Real Sociedad in La Liga. They have a midweek league clash at home to promoted Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday, a game rearranged because of their participation in next month's Club World Cup, and then host Levante next weekend, before returning to face their title rivals. — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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