JUNE 6, 2011

Lotus Renault in the black

Lotus Renault GP will be able to race at the Canadian GP with unchanged livery after concerns that a colour scheme arguably based on the JPS Lotus cars of the seventies and eighties would contravene Canadian anti-tobacco legislation.

Lotus Renault GP will be able to race at the Canadian GP with unchanged livery after concerns that a colour scheme arguably based on the JPS Lotus cars of the seventies and eighties would contravene Canadian anti-tobacco legislation.

After noting that the team has no link to the tobacco industry, and the black and gold colours are a reference to the cars of the eighties rather than a particular sponsor, the ministry of health has given the green light (or should that be black and gold?) for the team to compete unchanged.

Team principal Eric Boullier said: "We're delighted to be able to race in Montreal in our usual colour scheme. The Quebec authorities noted that the current livery makes a reference to images from the 1980s when the car was sponsored by the tobacco industry, but it has also accepted the fact that Lotus Renault GP receives no direct or indirect financing from the industry in question.

"We would like to thank them for acknowledging our good faith. We are fully aware of the stringent restrictions imposed by the law in Quebec on promotional associations with tobacco. As a result, we will use all means available to dispel any misconceptions that our identity and that of our partners is somehow associated with this industry."