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New Lotus called T128, not TL11

This year’s Team Lotus car is called T128, not TL11 as was previously announced.

“Why the change of name?” wrote team boss Tony Fernandes on Twitter.  “Because we are continuing with history.  We are a new dynasty but tradition contiunes.”

Last year, the team – then called Lotus Racing under official license from the Proton-owned carmaker Group Lotus – raced its 2010 car with the T127 designation.

T127 was the continuation of the original Lotus team’s traditional vehicle designation system, and it was thought that the reversion to TL11 for this year was to avoid yet another clash with Group Lotus amid the naming dispute.

Indicating that the designation of the 2011 car was an issue right until the T128’s reveal very early on Monday morning, the launch magazine made no mention of the two variations.

© RIF | GMM