Spirit of Chapman retained as Lotus honour 500th race

LOTUS Racing celebrate their 500th grands prix this weekend in Valencia, an achievement almost certainly no-one would have thought possible when the famous marque pulled out of Formula 1 in 1994.

After 37 seasons in the sport, in which time Lotus chalked up 107 poles, 79 race wins, seven constructors' and six drivers' titles, the team founded by the late, great Colin Chapman had run its course, falling nine races shy of the magical 500 barrier.

It was at the end of the 1994 season, after failing to score a point for the first time in their history that campaign and without a victory for seven years, the decision was taken to call it a day.

It was a bitter pill to swallow, but one that needed to be taken as the team were no longer the force they had been during their heyday of the 1960s and 1970s.

Under Chapman, a designer and engineer of sublime brilliance, a man virtually without equal during his day, Lotus Racing was a name to be feared and respected in the motor-racing world.

Many great names sat behind the wheel of their cars – Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ronnie Peterson, Mario Andretti, Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell.

But following Chapman's death of a heart attack in 1982, at the age of just 54, perhaps understandably, the team failed to scale the heights reached during their golden period.

The iconic, evocative Lotus name was seemingly destined to be one that would pass into Formula 1 history – gone but not forgotten at least.

Then last year, after prolonged discussions involving the Chapman family and a Malaysian entrepreneur in Tony Fernandes, a decision was taken to revive Lotus Racing.

Initially it appeared sacrilegious that Lotus could return in any other guise than their former incarnation, that foreign ownership of a British institution was anathema to its past.

But it has become the way of the world, certainly in Britain, that even the most respected, revered of national names are prey to an overseas takeover.

You only have to look at many of the country's football clubs to appreciate nothing is sacred any more. Mercifully, Fernandes had no intention of ripping the heart out of Lotus, of using the name to simply gain a foothold in the sport – but then the Chapman family would never have allowed as such.

So yes, Lotus Racing may be funded out of Malaysia, but Fernandes has remained loyal to much of the team's roots as he appreciates the history and tradition, and most of all, Chapman's legacy.

The team's headquarters, at least in terms of where the cars are built, has not moved from its old operational base in Hingham, Norfolk.

As for the cars themselves, they continue to sport the traditional green and gold livery that for so many years in their past ensured they vibrantly stood out in comparison to their rivals.

Fernandes, and in particular Chapman's son Clive, have also built a strong relationship that has been at the core of the Lotus revival. It is why Clive will be in Valencia this weekend for the European Grand Prix, the race that sees Lotus join the '500 club', a feat achieved by just three other teams – Ferrari, McLaren and Williams.

Whatever you may think of Lotus now, be it right or wrong they have been resurrected by foreign hands, there is no doubt it deserves its place in the spotlight.