Something I've been meaning to ask, why did Lotus change to Martini and Essex for 80/81 then revert to JPS? Some sort of a fallout or something? Seems strange to me they dump a sponsor then takes them back a couple of years later.
JPS, Martini, Essex and Team Lotus
Started by
Zawed
, Apr 02 2001 22:42
5 replies to this topic
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#2
MattFoster
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Posted 03 April 2001 - 00:04
IIRC Essex went bust. Martini probably left Lotus because of lack of results from the Lotus 80.
#3
Zawed
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Posted 03 April 2001 - 00:40
But why ditch JPS in the first place?
#4
dolomite
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Posted 03 April 2001 - 00:56
JPS pulled out of F1 sponsorship at the end of '78.
#5
Ray Bell
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Posted 03 April 2001 - 01:58
Probably a bit of cigarrette-company style leverage... pull out, force Lotus to operate on a smaller budget, come back and reclaim all the glory with a smaller outlay...
Or maybe they just realised they'd lost a lot of public image after taking a commercial decision?
Or maybe they just realised they'd lost a lot of public image after taking a commercial decision?
#6
Gil Bouffard
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Posted 03 April 2001 - 03:26
In the first place, teams do not drop sponsors! Sponsors drop teams.
Any number of reasons from performance to a perceived Return On Investment (ROI).
Sponsors sign contracts with racing teams and with racing drivers.
These contracts are usually for a period of time anywhere from one to three years with renewal options.
Some sponsors are unscrupulous.
Some directors of companies sign on to sponsor race teams for the glamour.
David Thieme of Essex Oil was both. I remember that before the GP of Austria, Chapman refused to put the Essex signage on his cars until Thieme delivered the money.
But he was not alone.
Gil
Any number of reasons from performance to a perceived Return On Investment (ROI).
Sponsors sign contracts with racing teams and with racing drivers.
These contracts are usually for a period of time anywhere from one to three years with renewal options.
Some sponsors are unscrupulous.
Some directors of companies sign on to sponsor race teams for the glamour.
David Thieme of Essex Oil was both. I remember that before the GP of Austria, Chapman refused to put the Essex signage on his cars until Thieme delivered the money.
But he was not alone.
Gil
