Thursday 20th January 2011

Lotus Type 125 Gets First Test Run

Extreme Lotus track car hits the circuit with Alesi at the wheel

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The Lotus 125 hyper track car (which Lotus is now calling and 'F1-inspired customer race car') underwent its first official test run at Vallelunga this week.

At the hands of Jean Alesi and Lotus factory test driver James Rossiter the car completed 200 kilometres during the two-day test.

"We're very happy with the initial performance of the car, there are still some things that we want to improve on but that's natural at this stage and that's exactly why we test," said Lotus's Director of Motorsport Operations, Miodrag Kotur. "Between them Jean Alesi and James Rossiter have an incredible wealth of experience and they put this to good use in Vallelunga."

"Testing is always a big challenge, it's a different kind of pressure to racing but you still can't relax for a second, said Alesi. "I enjoyed my first outing in the car, it's great to be involved at such a crucial stage in the car's development, I really feel like I can help to make this car as fun to drive as possible."

Lotus factory driver James Rossiter said: "The Type 125 is unique, it's intense, it's extreme and it's very raw. Vallelunga was great, we learned a lot about the car there and I'm really looking forward to the next test in a few days, it will be really interesting to see how the car responds to the conditions of a very different track."

Next week the Type 125 will test at Yas Marina F1 circuit in Abu Dhabi, where Alesi and Rossiter will be joined by a 'yet-to-be-announced' celebrity test driver and 15 potential buyers, who will also get their chance behind the wheel.

[C2james]

that would be an amazing track toy, i wonder if lotus will take my 1.1 citroen as px.

[wacattack]

I feel my lucks in at the Euro millions on Friday

[ukaskew]

I imagine they will be quite careful when it comes to revealing any lap times from Yas Marina (unless it's insanely quick, of course), the inevitable comparisons to F1 cars etc will otherwise instantly follow.

[wab172uk]

ukaskew said:

I imagine they will be quite careful when it comes to revealing any lap times from Yas Marina (unless it's insanely quick, of course), the inevitable comparisons to F1 cars etc will otherwise instantly follow.

There not trying to make it F1 quick though. So why would people compare the two?

[Munter]

wab172uk said:

ukaskew said:

I imagine they will be quite careful when it comes to revealing any lap times from Yas Marina (unless it's insanely quick, of course), the inevitable comparisons to F1 cars etc will otherwise instantly follow.

There not trying to make it F1 quick though. So why would people compare the two?

Because "people" ain't as smart as you and me.

[anonymous-user]

hmmm, rich people mixed with tricky to drive full aero downforce chassis, this can only end well.......... (for the Lotus spare parts dept ;-)

[BelperJim]

<sceptic>I wonder if they are testing anything for the real F1 car</sceptic>

If I was a billionaire this would be on my shopping list.

[ccr32]

BelperJim said:

<sceptic>I wonder if they are testing anything for the real F1 car</sceptic>

Interesting point, but which one?!

[leon9191]

Does anyone know what engine/power the type 125 is running, I'm sure iv read about it before but cant remember the details?

Looks cool, I want one.

[ccr32]

leon9191 said:

Does anyone know what engine/power the type 125 is running, I'm sure iv read about it before but cant remember the details?

Looks cool, I want one.

PH News said:

For your moolah you get a 10,800rpm 645bhp 3.5-litre Cosworth V8, a carbon-fibre monocoque and a power-to-weight ratio getting close to 1000bhp per ton.

Linky to article on the type 125 here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

[BelperJim]

ccr32 said:

BelperJim said:

<sceptic>I wonder if they are testing anything for the real F1 car</sceptic>

Interesting point, but which one?!

I was under the impression this would be an official Lotus product so that would be the Lotus Renault team (not Lotus Racing).

I presume they could stick a full blown F1 nosecone on it and see how it affects the aero over the front tyres and stuff like that?

[M666 EVO]

I want one...

Cannot wait for the new season to start! C'mon Button.

[bob1179]

This is the first I've heard of the project. It looks pretty insane and obviously if I had the money I would buy one, not saying I'd be able to drive it mind!

Fair play to Lotus for doing it.

[leon9191]

ccr32 said:

leon9191 said:

Does anyone know what engine/power the type 125 is running, I'm sure iv read about it before but cant remember the details?

Looks cool, I want one.

PH News said:

For your moolah you get a 10,800rpm 645bhp 3.5-litre Cosworth V8, a carbon-fibre monocoque and a power-to-weight ratio getting close to 1000bhp per ton.

Linky to article on the type 125 here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

Cheers man, I had read that before.

looks pretty cheap for what you get I think, well less expensive than some ultimate track cars anyway.

To answer some ones earlier question I would have said the reason for comparisons between it and an F1 car were obvious?

[HowMuchLonger]

"Yet to be announced celebrity driver"

Pah I will bet everything I have it is Nigel Mansel.

[Bahnstormer]

Who cars how quick it is (well....., I do , a bit !) - How cool will you look in that !!!!

dribble ........

[chickensoup]

Quite interesting that before the fallout Group Lotus happily used Trulli as their star driver. Wonder why they cannot get Kubica or Petrov to do this as a real current F1 driver

[FatPorker]

C2james said:

that would be an amazing track toy, i wonder if lotus will take my 1.1 citroen as px.

They will, so now you have paid for wheelnut how would Sir like to pay for the rest of the car?

[CTE]

I wonder how long it will be before Ferrari and the rest make their trackday toys, which will compete on the rich boys trackdays? I`d have one if I had the dosh, but I would also have a nagging doubt about how arrogant and oppulent the whole thing was when in the streets surounding many race circuits there are thousands of people on the breadline, or below, but I guess no matter how much money you have you cannot save the world etc.

[Tom_C76]

Surely one snag of that thing is that most track days are restricted to cars with covered wheels? Normally either road registered or under current MSA scrut too.

So where would you get to drive it, unless you hire a whole circuit to yourself?