Gascoyne questions Group Lotus strategy
What form Lotus will take in 2011 remains a mystery © Sutton Images
Mike Gascoyne has questioned Group Lotus' apparent intention to enter Formula One next year in collaboration with the Renault team. Gascoyne is the technical boss at the team currently known as Lotus Racing, but the official naming license has been revoked by Group Lotus for 2011 and beyond.
This year's Lotus Racing cars have also run with branding of the Group Lotus owner Proton, and Gascoyne's boss Tony Fernandes is reportedly dismayed the sports car maker did not embrace the opportunity to tie up with his team.
Gascoyne is now confused about the reports linking Group Lotus with a three-year €60 million title sponsorship of Renault F1. "If they want to advertise their road cars, why spend so much money on it?" he told Auto Motor und Sport. "With us, they could do it free of charge."
The German report said Group Lotus is currently running at a loss, meaning it is essentially subsidised by Malaysian tax-payers due to its Proton ownership. "A cynic might say they are going to blow away taxpayer money in Formula One," the newspaper added.
Credit: ESPN F1
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