Lotus denies breaching name sale agreement

Team Lotus has denied breaching an agreement with the former owner of the disputed name.

As the legal fight with Group Lotus resumed in London this week, it emerged that David Hunt had not been paid by Malaysian millionaire Tony Fernandes for the Team Lotus name.

"He’s apparently changed his mind at the eleventh hour ... and he’s trying to renegotiate by offering new terms which are, frankly, ludicrous," said Hunt, who also said he is unsure why he is being sued by Fernandes for defamation.

But a Team Lotus spokesperson hit back by suggesting it is in fact Hunt, the brother of late F1 driver James Hunt, who is stalling on the agreement.

"Team Lotus has an agreement with David Hunt which was signed by both parties," the Team Lotus official is quoted by the Telegraph.

"David Hunt has tried to renegotiate that agreement, which Team Lotus is not prepared to do."

Fernandes wrote on Twitter that "greed corrupts and turns people into monsters".

The High Court action is expected to last ten days.