LONDON (AP) — The owner of the Lotus brand has teamed up with Renault for next year’s Formula One championship, creating further uncertainty over the use of the famous name.
Lotus Renault GP will race in the traditional black-and-gold livery in an agreement until the end of the 2017 season.
Group Lotus chief executive Dany Bahar says “there has been a lot of controversy around the usage of our brand” but that the contract will “formally clarify our position once and for all.”
Lotus returned to F1 in 2010 after a 16-year absence with Group Lotus leasing the name to Tony Fernandes’ Lotus Racing.
Fernandes plans to rebrand as Team Lotus for next season and is pursuing a case through London’s High Court to keep the right to use the name.
