Lotus team, out of Formula One since 1994, granted entry into F1 starting in 2010 season

Lotus team awarded spot on 2010 Formula One grid

PARIS — Lotus is returning to Formula One racing.

FIA, the sport’s governing body, on Tuesday awarded Lotus the 13th spot on the grid for the 2010 season.

Lotus has been out of F1 since 1994. The team is based in Norfolk, England, but is funded by a partnership between the Malaysian government and a consortium of Malaysian businessmen.

The team headquarters is expected to relocate to Malaysia in the future.

FIA turned down an application from BMW Sauber, but said the team would be granted a spot in 2010 if a vacancy arises. FIA said it is consulting urgently with teams about a possible expansion to 14 teams and 28 cars for 2010.

Lotus’ team principle is Tony Fernandes, owner of the Air Asia airline. The team technical director is Mike Gascoyne, who held the same role with Force India, Toyota, Renault and Jordan.

Lotus has reached an engine supply deal with Cosworth.

Fernandes was to attend a news conference in Malaysia on Tuesday with government representatives.

“The FIA has accepted Malaysia’s bid to enter the 2010 and future Formula One championships that will see the country’s participation via its own racing team,” a Malaysian government statement said ahead of the news conference. “The 1Malaysia F1 team is a government and private sector initiative combining the collaborative experience of Proton and Lotus, coupled with world class expertise.”

The team will compete in F1 for 10 years, the statement said.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted as saying the team would be based at Sepang International circuit, home of the Malaysian GP, and would integrate Malaysian technical and pit crew. The driving lineup is set to be announced by Oct. 31 from a short list of six candidates.

Lotus competed in F1 from 1958-94, winning 79 Grand Prix races and seven constructors’ titles. Lotus had world champion drivers in Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt and Emerson Fittipaldi.

FIA noted that BMW has announced it is pulling out of the sport in 2010, leaving uncertainties over the future ownership of the team.

“Nevertheless, the FIA considers that BMW Sauber’s application is of high quality and would constitute a competitive participant in the championship,” FIA said. “As such, it has awarded BMW Sauber the ‘14th place’ in the championship meaning that it will be entitled to fill any vacancy that arises on the 2010 grid.”