Plans for Lotus to return with BAR falter
Ambitious plans for the legendary Lotus name to return to Formula 1 have foundered after lengthy negotiations with British American Racing came to nothing, according to this week's AUTOSPORT magazine
BAR's hierarchy have been in extensive talks with businessman David Hunt, who owns the Team Lotus name. But according to AUTOSPORT's sources, the chances of the deal going ahead appear to have ended.
One source said: "You can never say anything for sure in this crazy world of motor racing, but I am 99 percent certain that this deal will not now happen."
The Lotus deal was aimed at giving BAR a more well known brand image, to boost its chances of attracting new sponsorship, although its current backers British American Tobacco have just announced huge profits for this year.
The link-up would have seen the Lotus name return to F1 for the first time since 1995, when it made a brief appearance on the nose of the Pacific team's cars. Lotus last raced in Grands Prix as a manufacturer in 1994 after 37 years in the sport had yielded five drivers' titles and 79 wins.
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