PROTON GIVES FULL SUPPORT TO GROUP LOTUS IN F1 RACE

SUBANG JAYA (Malaysia), Dec 11 (Bernama) -- National car company Proton Holdings
Berhad will give full support to subsidiary company Group Lotus Plc in the 2011
Formula 1 (F1) race.

Chairman Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh said Group Lotus chief executive director Dany
Bahar should be given freedom in making Lotus' re-entry into F1.

"It is a branding and marketing plan to restore Lotus' image in motoring. I
believe Dany Bahar will discuss further with Renault after this announcement,"
he told a press conference here Friday.

The involvement of Lotus based in Hethel, Norfolk, United Kingdom, with Renault
next season will repeat the cooperation in the 1980s.

Lotus announced on Wednesday that it was joining F1 via cooperation with Genii
Capital, the largest shareholder in Renault F1 Team, under Lotus Renault GP
Team.

Genii Capital chairman Gerard Lopez told "The Telegraph" on Thursday that Vitaly
Petrov was still the team's choice for driver.

"The position on Petrov is still the same one. We believe that he has got the
speed. He just doesn’t have the consistency which you wouldn’t expect from a
rookie anyhow," he added.

Renault F1 Team came in fifth in the constructors' championship this season.
-- BERNAMA