The car that might just make the face of rallying properly exciting again - the V6 Lotus Exige R-GT rally contender - has completed its first full shakedown test in Turin, Italy.
The car, which is now in its final rally spec, will take on selected Tarmac events in 2012 (understandably the rear-wheel-drive coupe is not going to be taking on the likes of Loeb and co. on gravel stages around the world).
First up will be the Monte Carlo rally in January, followed by the Tour de Corse and the Sanremo Rally.
"And as for the Rally car, when you consider that we've only began working on this car in July, I think what we've achieved in that time has been incredible. For me the Exige S makes the perfect GT rally car, it has an awesome 3.5-litre, supercharged engine, and we've managed to balance the weight perfectly to meet the minimum weight regulations," says Group Lotus Director of Motorsport, Claudio Berro. "The shakedown has only made us even more excited to show off the car in true race form early next year - I think we're doing the Lotus motorsport pedigree proud."