Adam Cooper F1

A statement from Team Lotus tonight said that the organisation was happy with the outcome of today’s very short court proceedings in London.

The judge denied an application by Group Lotus for a summary judgement – a quick solution to the dispute over the termination of last year’s licensing agreement – and also brought forward the date for the main trial regarding the Lotus name from the end of the year to March 21. The one certainty now is that Team Lotus will start the season under its intended name, with no chance of any legal interference before then.

The latest statement reads as follows:

“Team Lotus is delighted that we were successful at the Summary Judgment Application hearing today and that the Judge threw out Group Lotus’ application even before hearing the arguments of the barristers on either side.

“Although this decision was never in doubt, it means that we start the 2011 season under the Team Lotus name. Whilst we expected that the Judge would refuse this application, it is good to have the decision in black and white.

“The Judge also felt that it was in everyone’s best interests to bring the hearing date for the full trial forward and that is now fixed for 21st March rather than us having to wait until Autumn 2011 or even later. We remain confident that we will succeed at the full trial and we can now focus on the challenges ahead in the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship.”

Meanhile on his Twitter feed Tony Fernandes said: “The good do always eventually win…”

The battle for over the use of the Lotus name in F1 is now set to go to trial in London on March 21.

That is eight days after the Bahrain GP, which means that Team Lotus will definitely start the season with its intended name – but one presumes may subsequently lose the right to use it.

Today was supposed to be Round One in the contest, with a summary judgement concerning last year’s termination by Group Lotus of the agreement that had allowed Lotus Racing to use the name.

A more complex action over the right to use the Team Lotus name – sold to Tony Fernandes and co by David Hunt – was due to start later in the year.

However it appears that today Mr Justice Peter Smith decided to lump the actions together.

The March 21 date is also likely to cause logistical problems for some of the key players who are due to travel to the Australian GP that week.

Smith incidentally was himself born in Malaysia, when his father was posted there. He is best known in legal circles for his involvement in a copyright case involving the origins of the novel The Da Vinci Code. He caused some controversy by hiding a coded message of his own in his judgement.

The battle over the use of the Lotus name in F1 reaches the High Court of Justice in London today – although Tony Fernandes says it won’t have an immediate impact on his use of the Team Lotus name.

The dispute is between Group Lotus plc and 1Malaysia Racing Team, the company behind what was formerly known as Lotus Racing, and is now Team Lotus.

Today’s case is about the licensing deal they had last year, and it involves a Summary Judgment, a ‘fast track’ route to a decision without a lengthy trial – something that would not have started until well into the 2011 season.

Fernandes said on his Twitter feed today: “Many confused about case today. It’s not about Team Lotus name who owns it which is in November. We brought that case to prove once and for all.

“Today’s case is Group desperate attempt to use their one way unlawful termination of license agreement of Lotus Racing. Saying One Malaysia can’t use Lotus. Part of post termination clauses. So nothing changes on Team Lotus.”

The case will be heard by Mr Justice Peter Smith from 2pm.

Former World Sportscar Championship entrant and driver Charles Zwolsman Sr, whose son was a Champcar racer and a sometime F3 team mate of Lewis Hamilton, has been found dead in his prison cell in his native Holland. He was 55.

Zwolsman Sr had been in trouble with the Dutch authorities on drug dealing related charges for over two decades. He had been involved in a series of arrests and convictions starting in 1988, the most recent also involving possession of weapons. Somehow he always managed to bounce back after a spell inside, and even successfully wrestled with the courts as he tried to cut down the massive multi-million euro fines he was given for making profits from illegal activities.

Sometimes using the surname ‘Hausmann,’ he raced for his own Euro Racing team in the World Sportscar Championship in 1991 and ’92. He used Spice and Lola chassis and ambitiously competed in the same class as Jaguar, Mercedes and Peugeot.

He hired the likes of Stefan Johansson and Tim Harvey, and revived the career of Heinz-Harald Frentzen. The unemployed German was on the verge of retiring when Zwolsman gave him a drive at Le Mans in 1992, and his performances led directly to a drive in Japanese F3000, and in turn to his F1 chance with Sauber a year later.

More recently, Zwolsman looked after the career of his son. Charles Jr raced for both Colin Kolles and Manor Motorsport in F3, and was team mate to Hamilton at the latter in 2004. He won the 2005 Toyota Atlantic series and later drove for Team Australia and Conquest in Champcar, finishing 13^th in the 2006 standings. Charles Jr’s last significant outing was with Kolles at Le Mans in 2009.

Zwolsman Sr’s most recent arrest came in June that year, and he was apparently serving a three-year sentence. It’s reported that 36 of his associates are also involved in the ongoing legal cases related to his activities.

Colin Kolles has engaged vehicle concept artist and Hollywood designer Daniel Simon to create a new corporate identity for the Hispania team.

A former VW designer, Simon has worked for the likes Bugatti and Lamborghini. He has been involved with several major movies, including Disney’s Tron:Legacy, potential summer 2011 hit Captain America:The First Avenger, and Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, which began life as the Alien prequel.

It remains to be seen what he comes up with for HRT’s chassis, but at least it shows that Kolles is prepared to try something new.

The German said: “Being offered a blank canvas by the Hispania Racing and with it the opportunity to bring to life elements of ‘Cosmic Motors’, was something I just couldn’t pass up. It’s going to be an exciting journey as Hispania Racing evolves and grows and I’m looking forward to the challenge of creating a strong visual statement for the team.”

Kolles added: “Recruiting Daniel Simon to be in charge of designing the new corporate image of the team is great news for everyone. Trying to find words to describe him would be simply to understate his achievements on Hollywood blockbusters. Hispania Racing is growing step by step, and this improvement is becoming a reality with the signing of exceptional professionals in different areas, as is the case with Daniel. Formula One has always been on the cutting-edge and leading technology and the latest trends, and Daniel´s futuristic ideas will provide the touch of nerve and innovation we all want to see in this sport.”

Intriguingly Simon’s blog gives a list of his favourite competition cars that includes John Barnard’s Ferrari 640/1, the Porsche 917K, Lotus 49, the 2003 Bentley Speed 8, Lancia Stratos, and the Thrust SSC.

Here’s Simon’s promo video. Is it just me, or is that a 1975 Brabham BT44B airbox about 60 seconds in?

Rome has now officially abandoned any plans for hosting a Grand Prix, and instead the city will chase the 2020 Olympic Games.

Bernie Ecclestone recently wrote to mayor Gianni Alemanno saying that henceforth he wanted countries to host only one race. Promoter Maurizio Flammini had some hopes that the race could alternate with Monza, but that never seemed likely, especially with Ferrari expressing its opposition to the idea.

“Today we definitively and formally abandon the F1 project for Rome,” Alemanno said in a press conference today.

Rome is now focussing on the 2020 Olympic Games, which will mark the 60th anniversary of the 1960 event in the Italian city.

There have long been links between F1 venues and the Olympic Games. The Barcelona track was developed in parallel with preparations for the 1992 Games, while Montreal hosted its first F1 race adjacent to the rowing lake two years after the 1976 Olympics.

Melbourne’s bid for an F1 race was encouraged by rival Sydney winning the 2000 Olympics, while the same process happened with Shanghai and Beijing. The 2014 Russian GP will be held in the wake of the winter event in Sochi, while any talk of a street race in London was soon abandoned after the capital won the 2012 Games.

Williams is considering floating on the stock exchange – a move that would allow F1 fans to become shareholders of the team.

Although plans have not been finalised, the team says that it is seeking outside investment, while insisting that it has a full budget for 2011, despite losing several major backers since last season.

In statement this morning, Frank Williams said: “For some years I have been considering how to secure the long-term ownership of Williams such that it will remain true to the aims with which Patrick and I established the team back in 1977.

“My goal then was to race in Formula One as an independent Constructor. This was and is my great passion and I will race for as long as I continue to be blessed with good health. It is also my desire that the team is in good shape to go on racing long after I am gone. To that end, it is prudent and necessary to plan for an ownership structure that will enable Williams to be an independent Constructor, owned and staffed by people committed to Formula One and to the sound business practices which have supported us over three decades.

“I have concluded that the option which will best achieve this is to broaden our shareholder base with public shareholders, while having a stable core of long-term investors closely involved in the running of the team. This will ensure stability, good governance and will, I believe, enable us to attract and retain the best people and partners.

“Patrick, Toto [Wolff] and I are therefore examining this option closely and, if the environment is propitious, we may act in the near future. Regardless of whatever steps we take, I shall remain the majority and controlling shareholder and the Team Principal of AT&T Williams.”

Meanwhile the team issued a Q&A with chairman Adam Parr which gave a little more detail.

Q. It sounds like Williams is considering a flotation on the stock exchange. Would that be correct?

“Yes, it would be correct to say that Williams F1 is considering a flotation on the stock exchange. At this stage, all we have concluded is that it is the best way to secure the future of the team and its 450 employees.”

Q. What is the timetable?

“As the plan develops we will provide further information.”

Q. Is retirement a current consideration for Frank?

“No. Retirement is categorically not on Frank’s agenda. Anyone who knows Frank knows this.

Q. Are there any concerns surrounding Frank’s health?

“No. Frank’s health is absolutely fine.”

Q. What other options have the Board investigated?

“We have had many approaches in the past, but none have offered the same benefits as this route.”

Q. Toto Wolff invested in the team in November 2009. What is his future role?

“Toto is a non-executive director and a significant shareholder in the company. He has already established himself as an important part of the team and he will play a central role in its future.”

Q. If Williams were to go public, what are the implications for the team’s partners and relations with the FIA and FOM?

“The team has always enjoyed honest and open relationships with its partners, the governing body of the sport and the commercial rights-holder. Whether we are a public or private company, this will not change.”

Q. Would any flotation involve raising funds for the company?

“No.”

Q. Does Williams F1 have the financial track record to support a flotation?

“Yes, we believe we do. The company has always been run on sound financial principles. In spite of the economic environment in recent years, we have turned a profit and generated positive cash-flow from operating activities in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and we have a fully contracted budget for 2011.”

The news that Lotus Renault GP’s use of a black and gold livery has caught the attention of anti-tobacco groups has not come as a big surprise.

There is no evidence that the team is doing anything underhand, or is benefiting commercially by subliminally promoting cigarettes. However, the decision to go black and gold could well prove to be a little misguided.

I am indebted to my fellow blogger Joe Saward, who today posted photographic evidence from Austria that JPS is now using point of sale advertising material with a motor racing theme. It features a cigarette packet with wheels, on a grid, and the phrase ‘The Legend.’ A happy co-incidence? Blatant opportunism by Imperial Tobacco? Or something else?

When Tony Fernandes first announced that Lotus Racing was returning to F1 I am sure that most non-smokers – like myself – naively assumed that the JPS brand was either dead and buried, or only available in a few far flung markets.

After Lotus Renault GP revealed that it was going to run in black and gold Fernandes was surprisingly quick to capitulate and announce that his team would stay in green and yellow. He claimed that he hadn’t realised that JPS was still on sale, and anticipated trouble.

“With many people complaining that I may be promoting a cigarette brand that’s still in existence, I think we may be wise to go back to green,” he told me in December. “We’re not silly and emotional and childish about it. We always wanted to be the green team. We thought for a change we’d give black and gold a run, whether it’s co-incidence or they copied, they came out with the same concept.”

Meanwhile Lotus Renault GP pushed ahead with its plans.

A little research reveals that the JPS brand is far from moribund or a relic of the 70s and 80s. In fact it is hugely important to Imperial Tobacco, whose portfolio of brands includes recent former F1 sponsors West and Gauloises Blondes.

Indeed corporate presentations from late last year detail that since 2006 sales of JPS have risen by 58%, or 116% in Germany alone. JPS has become Imperial’s biggest brand in Germany, with a 9.3% market share.

As a demonstration of how important the JPS brand is to Imperial in Europe and Australasia, here are some examples of marketing developments in Germany that the company quotes:

Players Edition: September 2009

Soft Pack: November 2009

Ice: July 2010

Design Yellow and Black: July 2010

The timing of that latter development is intriguing, to say the least. In addition, Imperial trumpets the following JPS data:

Global volumes continue to grow more than 10% p.a.

Germany: 9.9% spot share in August

UK: 5.9% spot share in July

– JPS Silver at 5.2%

– biggest King Size smooth brand in the economy sector

Australia: share up to 2.6% in August; growing rapidly

New Zealand: rapid progress

Summing up, chief executive Alison Cooper (no relation!) said: “JPS has delivered another outstanding performance this year with the UK, Germany, Australia, Portugal and New Zealand all contributing. Since 2006, the brand’s cigarette volumes have grown at a compound rate of 12 per cent whilst in Germany, where 44 per cent of the brand’s volumes are sold, compound annual growth of 21 per cent has been achieved since 2006, it’s a great success story of a quality brand at an affordable price.”

And Mike Ashton, head of performance planning, said: “There’s more to come from JPS and we’re very confident that the brand can maintain its growth rate. JPS has heritage and yet it maintains a clear, uncluttered style which is very much appreciated by value consumers.”

The bottom line is that Imperial is giving JPS a massive push, and thus Lotus Renault GP’s decision to revive perhaps the most iconic livery in motor sport history must have come as a welcome bonus.

It would be naive to suggest that public won’t in some way connect the current car with F1 glories of the past, even without JPS logos appearing. After all Philip Morris continues to pump millions into Ferrari on the basis that it is still perceived as a Marlboro car.

As I said there is no evidence that the Lotus Renault GP livery has any sinister connotations – although another co-incidence is that Imperial has a major presence in Poland and Russia, home countries of the drivers.

But given that Imperial is now using motor racing in its promotion materials, the team may be well advised to review the situation.

The irony is that Dany Bahar has criticised Tony Fernandes for promoting Lotus, a brand with which he has no formal connection – and Lotus Renault GP is in danger of doing something similar…

Tony Fernandes has reiterated that he’s not giving up in the fight to retain the use of the Lotus name in 2011.

The argument between Team Lotus and Group Lotus will reach the UK courts next week.

Speaking on Twitter today, Fernandes likened the situation to Ron Dennis taking over McLaren.

In a series of Tweets Fernandes wrote: “Let’s get a few things straight. U set up a separate company from car company to protect car company from racing up and downs. Company goes into liquidation. Bought by david hunt. 16 years no racing. Team bought from david hunt by nasa din and tony. We are no different from ron dennis at mcclaren. End of story.

“Ron dennis didn’t start mccalren bruce mcclaren did. Proton and dany bahr didn’t start group lotus. Colin Chapman did. What’s the difference. Proton own group lotus and din me and nasa own team lotus.

“And lotus renault is a renault end of story. Mcclaren is maclaren is not vodafone and mercedes is mercedes not petronas mercedes or a petronas car. End of story.

“And can someone tell me who owns renault and genii. So many different names.

“Not much said about david hunt. All I can say he is the most honorable man in all of this. Moody at times but his love for lotus brand is immense.

“More to come on my feeling and the truth on this lotus saga. The good always win…”

If you haven’t already found it Tony’s entertaining Twitter account is @tonyfernandes…

Pirelli has completed a successful wet weather test in Abu Dhabi, with Pedro de la Rosa driving the Toyota TF109 under floodlights and becoming the first man to drive an F1 car in the wet at night.

The Spaniard used the 3.1kms ‘North Loop’ configuration of the track, which was soaked with 140,000 litres of water. He ran on two evenings from 6pm to midnight, the lack of sun ensuring that the track stayed wet for longer. The first day was focussed on full wets, and the second on intermediates.

On the previous two days he ran some 1400kms on all four types of dry tyres.

De la Rosa said: “In my opinion, Pirelli is ready now for Formula One. The dry tyre test went very well, and confirmed everything we had learned in Bahrain the week before. But the most original part of the test was when we were running at night on the wet tyres, which was as new an experience for me as it was for everyone else.

“The most important thing was that the water levels were consistent, which allowed us to have some accurate results from the test. At the end of it, we’ve come up with two tyres – wet and intermediate – which I believe are both competitive and stable.”

Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said: “It’s been an extremely positive test session here in Abu Dhabi, thanks to the fantastic facilities we’ve had available to us and the usual hard work from Pedro and the rest of our team. We’re very proud to have been part of creating a little bit of history by running a Formula One car at night for the first time on wet tyres –  we very much believe that Pirelli will be able to contribute to the spectacle of Formula One in the future, and seeing the car kicking up huge plumes of spray under the floodlights has certainly been an amazing sight that we will all remember for a long time.

“While we are well aware that we are new to Formula One and still have plenty to learn, I’m confident that we can approach the start of this year’s official testing next month with a strong package.”