The Lotus F1 team is facing legal action over its attempt to use the Team Lotus name from next year.
Proton, which owns Lotus road cars, has challenged Lotus Racing team boss Tony Fernandes’s right to use the name.
Read about Lotus Racing buying the rights to the ‘Team Lotus’ name
Nadzmi Salleh, Proton chairman, said: “Tony Fernandes has no rights to use the Lotus brand in the 2011 season.
“We will strongly resist any attempts by him to use our brand without our permission and will withdraw our sponsorship of the Lotus Racing team.”
Read about Lotus Motorsport’s plans next year
He added: “We are the owners of this brand, and will take all necessary steps to protect it.”
A press release from Proton stated: “Proton will support Group Lotus in taking all necessary steps to protect its rights in the ‘Lotus’ name, including resisting any attempts by Mr. Fernandes or his companies, or any other unauthorised person, to use the ‘Lotus’ name in the 2011 Formula 1 season.”
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Lotus Racing announced at the Singapore Grand Prix that it had purchased the Team Lotus name from businessman David Hunt – the brother of Formula 1 champion James Hunt.
Hunt had acquired the rights after the original Lotus F1 team – named Team Lotus – collapsed in 1994.
Lotus re-entered F1 this year under Malaysian ownership and used the Lotus name under license from Lotus Group.
