Garage lockdown for Lotus in Brazil

© DR

Local security blocked access to the Lotus garage at Interlagos on Wednesday, which prevented team personnel from unpacking the team's freight and equipment.

A team spokesman said that an unspecified 'commercial arrangement' had sparked the action by an opposing party which remains unknown. The team's participation in this weekend's Brazilian GP is not in doubt at this stage however.

There have been several instances this season when Lotus, which has been under constant financial stress this year, have been the subject of a claim of some sort.

At Spa, team trucks and equipment were impounded by Belgian bailiffs following a contractual dispute with former Lotus reserve driver Charles Pic, while the Enstone squad was also denied a supply of tyres by Pirelli in Hungary for delayed payments.

In spite of its financial distress, Lotus is still expected to be bought by Renault which is currently finalising a takeover deal with a formal announcement expected in Abu Dhabi in a fornight.

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