tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440559616047004940.post4525425862319877395..comments2013-03-18T05:45:33.592-07:00Comments on Flat Around Tarzan: Lots Of Trouble Usually SeriousDeclanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299838503535475703noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440559616047004940.post-58573760427206500612011-02-02T18:28:26.554-08:002011-02-02T18:28:26.554-08:00Wouldn't it be bizarre if Fernandes ends up bu...Wouldn't it be bizarre if Fernandes ends up buying Lotus Cars (Group Lotus) out of bankruptcy court??? Then I would take back the mean things I've said about him! :) :)ACK'Znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440559616047004940.post-21488273968614951162011-02-02T14:19:19.703-08:002011-02-02T14:19:19.703-08:00I have a dreadful feeling this is going to bring d...I have a dreadful feeling this is going to bring down not just Lotus (cars) but also the F1 team, ART, JetAlliance and KV. I really wish a couple or three of those hadn't got involved at all.<br /><br />Scary stuff if that contact is right.Pat Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16969286427943489462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440559616047004940.post-74964917320267605742011-02-02T11:37:39.242-08:002011-02-02T11:37:39.242-08:00Leigh,
I didn't include all of the financial ...Leigh,<br /><br />I didn't include all of the financial figures in an attempt not to bore people. They are looking for $40M more from the UK Government and that's not going to happen.<br /><br />I honestly doubt there will be any Lotus involvement in IndyCar in 2012 or in any other form of motorsport.<br /><br />Rumours from the Autosport International Trade Show in January suggest that the global Motorsport budget has not even been signed off by Proton.Declanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02299838503535475703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440559616047004940.post-1521642400273357192011-02-02T11:09:53.782-08:002011-02-02T11:09:53.782-08:00Sadly Declan, it gets worse.
Numbers produced b...Sadly Declan, it gets worse. <br /><br />Numbers produced by Proton will require vast public loans and a need for the company to start producing 3-times-as-many cars per year just to break even.<br />Bahar played this game at both Red Bull and Ferrari and was found out before it was too late. Ferrari still lost $6 million thanks to Bahar's push in the A1GP Series.<br /><br />This is going to get worse. Much worse.Leigh O'Gormanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17322241922773707622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440559616047004940.post-48885956056948392502011-02-02T10:20:30.432-08:002011-02-02T10:20:30.432-08:00As a big Lotus fan those numbers from the Lotus in...As a big Lotus fan those numbers from the Lotus insider are very worrying.<br /><br />I don't think it is normal sponsorship practice to pay 'up front' - I hope the $14.5 million is not the first of staged payment!<br /><br />Just how long will the current owners pour money it to Lotus?<br /><br />If you want a real laugh have a look at the new Lotus online store £88/$141 for this:<br /><br />http://www.lotusoriginals.com/en/product/show/lotus-leather-key-ring<br /><br />Yes, you did read that right, £88/$141 for a key ring!Steve Anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440559616047004940.post-23826213709620257792011-02-02T09:57:05.888-08:002011-02-02T09:57:05.888-08:00I've been calling Tony Fernandes F1 team "...I've been calling Tony Fernandes F1 team "Fake Lotus" or "Air Asia F1" as he just bought a name & unlike Chapman his engineering team will never build/market road cars.<br /><br />Proton bought what wasleft of Lotus Cars after numerous owners in the 90's & IMO deserve the right to market themselves in motorsport. I know Chapman separated Lotus Cars & Team Lotus, but it was done for legal technicalities. Lotus Cars benefitted from Team Lotus in F1.<br /><br />Having said all that I think Dany Bahar is spending Proton's $$$ like a drunken sailor... although I like your 22 year old CEO of a dot com reference much better! Its extremely difficult to support his supporting every racing series on planet Earth! However the Lotus fan-boys picking Tony's "Lotus" is equally as comical.<br /><br />Thank you for providing more financial detail on the production car & non F1 motorsport deals. Very interesting & confirms much of what I suspected. The other sad detail for me is "marketing genius" Bahar got himself schooled by Tony Fernandes. <br /><br />All of Proton's motorsport efforts are sporting the metallic British Racing Green & the Lotus Yellow colors. This color scheme screams LOTUS, yet Dany-boy paints his F1 team Black & Gold. The JPS Lotus schemes are iconic to F1 fanatics. Racing gear heads in the same class as the diehard Brits that you mentioned that followed the USAC Indycar drivers in the 70's. He couldn't even sell sponsor TOTAL on the "JPS"concept.<br /><br />Epic FAIL on numerous fronts! I look forward to keeping up with your blog.ACK'Znoreply@blogger.com