Force India: Lotus legal action 'serious'

The Silverstone-based team has begun court proceedings in both the United Kingdom and Italy because it believes Lotus used and benefited from the use of its own intellectual property in its wind tunnel model design for the current Lotus T127.

A statement issued by Force India on Wednesday said: "The Force India F1 team confirms it has instigated UK civil proceedings against 1Malaysia Racing Team SDN BHD [a Malaysian company], 1Malaysia Racing Team [UK] Limited [Lotus Racing's parent companies], Michael Gascoyne and Aerolab SRL.

"Force India also confirms that a complaint for disclosure of confidential information was filed in December 2009 with the competent authorities in Italy and that investigations are being conducted.

"Force India believes that Lotus Racing, via its use of Aerolab and Fondtech facilities and data, has utilised and benefited from the use of Force India F1 team's intellectual property, including components and tyres exclusively licensed by Bridgestone to the Force India F1 team, on its wind tunnel model design for the current Lotus T127 chassis without permission from the Force India F1 team.

"Force India states these are very serious claims and therefore it would not be taking such action if it could not provide supportive evidence."

Both Force India and Lotus have used the aerodynamic engineering firm Aerolab for the design and development of their cars.

Force India has also clarified that separate legal action, between Aerolab and Force India over undue termination of contract, is ongoing.

The teams' statement added: "Additionally, Force India would like to clarify that any action between Aerolab and Force India for undue termination of contract is now being addressed by the courts.

"Force India confirms it paid approximately one million euros in autumn 2009 to secure the payment claimed by Aerolab and it is now for the competent courts to decide whether, indeed, this outstanding amount should be paid to Aerolab given the seriousness of these current allegations."