16 January 2011

Lotus celebrates Dubai debut & more....

Lotus Evora GT4 Endurance on the podium in Dubai whilst the Lotus stand at Autosport International wins ‘Best Stand’ award.

After a busy week which saw no fewer than three driver announcements, one international motorsport show, one 24 hour race, one F1 car unveiling and several partnership announcements, the team at Lotus Motorsport are celebrating the fruits of their hard work: a podium finish in the GT4 category at the Dubai 24 hour race and the ‘Best Stand’ award at Autosport International.

Lotus Evora GT4 Endurance, piloted by Mansell brothers, Leo and Greg, Lotus GT factory driver Johnny Mowlem, WTCC driver Stefano D’Aste and Gianni Giudici, finished 22nd overall and 3rd in the GT4 class.

The result was a minor miracle given that the car began at the back of the grid after logistical delays resulted in the team missing both testing and qualifying. The result could have been better still had the car not been delayed by the substitution of two driveshafts, replaced in record time by the Lotus Motorsport mechanics. This was the only technical issue during automotive marathon that was the Dubai 24 hour race.

Lotus Director of Motorsport Claudio Berro commented: “I am happy with the debut of the new endurance version of the Evora. Due to the high variation of temperatures between night and day, the Dubai 24 hour race is one of the most severe endurance races in the desert, and I think that the car has shown fantastic handling and reliability, important characteristics already demonstrated on the road version of the Evora.”

The result of the Dubai 24 hour race isn’t the only thing Lotus is celebrating though. Thursday 13th January saw Lotus Motorsport and Lotus Renault GP formally unveil the 2011 F1 livery at Autosport International. The F1 car livery was unveiled alongside a host of further announcements about the Lotus Motorsport programme for 2011. The Lotus stand set-up didn’t just please those who patiently gathered around to check out all the race cars on offer, it also impressed the event’s judges who awarded the Lotus stand with the ‘Best Stand at Autosport International 2011’ award.

Undoubtedly most visitors to the Lotus stand came to see the newly unveiled black and gold F1 car but the Type 125, Lotus’ exclusive F1 inspired customer race car turned out to be another show stealer. The Type 125 gets its track debut this week with a test at Vallelunga before heading over to Abu Dhabi next week where the first lucky customers will get the chance to put the car through its paces on the F1 track at Yas Marina Circuit.