Team Lotus

Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport categories including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar, and sports car racing. Under the direction of founder and chief designer Colin Chapman, Lotus was responsible for many innovative and experimental developments in critical motorsport, in both technical and commercial arenas. More than thirty years after its last race, Team Lotus remained one of the most successful racing teams of all time, winning seven Formula One Constructors' Championships, six Drivers' Championships, and the Indianapolis 500 in the United States between 1962 and 1978. The Lotus name returned to Formula One in 2010 as Lotus Racing, a team backed by the Malaysian government and led by Tony Fernandes. In 2011, Lotus Racing was renamed as Team Lotus following a disagreement with Group Lotus whereas a Group Lotus-backed entrant entered as Lotus Renault GP, causing a dispute over the use of the Lotus name. In 2012, Lotus Renault GP was rebranded as Lotus F1 Team whereas Fernandes' Team Lotus was renamed as Caterham F1 Team. Lotus F1 Team continued to compete for four seasons before reverting to Renault.