Tandridge Buzz

Caterham will be a familiar name on the F1 grid next season after owners Team Lotus rebranded as Caterham F1.

Team Lotus, owned by Air Asia and Queens Park Rangers chairman Tony Fernandes, Kamarudin Meranun and SM Nasarudin, acquired Caterham Cars – famous for its Caterham Seven – at the end of April.

Drivers Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovaleinen will now begin the 2012 F1 season under the Caterham banner.

The overall company will now be known as the Caterham Group. Fernandes had been in dispute with Lotus over the use of the name Team Lotus – which has now ended amicably.

“We have been talking for some time now about our plans for Caterham in all its guises, from the road car company to Formula 1 and GP2, and in the technology, design and innovation fields,” said Fernandes.

He added: “Caterham F1 Team is the new and permanent incarnation of our Formula One investment.

“On and off track we continue to invest in people, infrastructure and technology and 2012 is a critical year in our development.

“Underneath the F1 team sits Caterham Racing, the new name for our GP2 team, and then we have our driver development programme that encompasses various motor racing formulae from karting, GP3, World Series by Renault and right up to F1 – a staircase of talent that gives opportunities for drivers, engineers, mechanics and all the associated skill-sets across the motorsport industry the chance to learn, develop and reach the top.

“This is also complimented by the various Caterham Cars racing series, currently with approximately 700 cars competing in series around the world and now given a new impetus by the direct links to the F1 team and all our associated motor racing interests.”

Tandridge Buzz exclusively revealed that the group would keep its showroom open in Caterham following the takeover.

Caterham Cars has confirmed that its HQ and showroom in Station Avenue, Caterham is to remain open following its sale to Team Lotus, announced yesterday.

Caterham Cars — famous for its Caterham Seven — is the leaseholder at the Station Avenue premises and it is believed that the freeholder has been keen to redevelop the site for a number of years.

But, a spokesman for Caterham Cars said: “I can confirm that there are no plans for the Caterham HQ in Station Avenue to sold, or changed. The site is the spiritual home of Caterham and will remain so.”

However, Caterham Cars may move its factory from Dartford as it begins to expand under the ownership of Formula One’s Team Lotus, run by Air Asia boss Tony Fernandes.

“Once Caterham Cars’ business plan for the forthcoming months and years is set in place, the Dartford factory may have to move to another location, as the company’s product portfolio is naturally expected to expand under Tony Fernandes’s ownership,” he said.

“There are no planned changes either in the Caterham workforce. However, as the factory is planned to expand, it is natural to assume the workforce would need to expand as well but this is to be confirmed.”

Following the takeover, the future of Caterham Cars will be set out ahead of the British Grand Prix in July.

Formula One’s Team Lotus has purchased iconic sportscar maker Caterham Cars — famous for its Caterham Seven.

Team Lotus, owned by Air Asia boss Tony Fernandes, Kamarudin Meranun and SM Nasarudin, will retain Caterham’s existing management team, headed up by managing director Ansar Ali.

It is believed that Caterham Cars will retain its showroom in Station Avenue, Caterham.

The deal could see the Caterham name appear on the Team Lotus F1 cars, driven by Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovaleinen, as part of attempts to raise its profile.

Team Lotus is currently involved in a High Court spat with Group Lotus over the use of the Lotus name — with a judgement expected in a few weeks time.

Caterham Cars has been the custodian of Colin Chapman’s two seater Seven since 1973 — a car he first launched in 1957.

“Caterham has a unique place at the heart of the motoring world,” said Fernandes. “As well as being proudly and staunchly British, it has an enviable and uniquely unblemished reputation within the industry for performance, handling and engineering excellence.

“Caterham Cars has remained wholly faithful to Colin Chapman’s philosophy of ‘less is more’, and the DNA of the original Seven can still be traced to the newest additions to Caterham’s product offering.

“It is already a successful business with sales across Europe, Japan, Australia and the Middle East, and under the guidance of the existing management team, we now have all the ingredients and the launch pad to further evolve that spirit and take Caterham to new exciting horizons with innovative products and greater global brand exposure.”

Caterham Cars, managing director, Ansar Ali, added: “This is yet another exciting chapter in the Caterham story.

“Until now, the resources Caterham has had at its disposal have, naturally, limited the exposure of the Caterham experience and the legendary Seven has had to rely almost entirely on its remarkable reputation and legacy.

“We will remain entirely true to the philosophy that we, as custodians of one man’s motoring concept, have protected for nearly 40 years.

“However, the acquisition of the company by Team Lotus Enterprise will allow our existing management team to take Caterham’s core spirit of pure driving enjoyment to a hitherto un-served audience.

“While the Seven will now have the global springboard it deserves.”