Jarno Trulli Tests Lotus Evora Cup
F1 star takes the wheel for new racer's first shakedown
Trulli in the latest Evora Cup racer
Since former Ferrari cheese Dany Bahar (and the rest of his Italian mafi... er, 'coterie') took the reins at Hethel, we've seen a greater intensity of interesting PR activity around the firm than we can remember. Could we really be witnessing the dawn of a new golden age for Lotus? (And if so, can we call it the Italian renaissance..?)
Postulating aside, the Evora Cup is the latest addition to the Lotus Motorsport racing stable, and the company says its first two day shake-down test at a wintry Snetterton circuit in Norfolk ended yesterday.
Clark and his Lotus Cortina tricycle
Said Trulli after the event: "I believe that the Evora Cup will be a very competitive race car package. It was very rewarding to be the first to drive the Evora Cup race car even though the snowy conditions at Snetterton were fairly challenging at times!
"The car will continue to be developed with new updates coming soon, but even after the initial drive it is obvious that the car has huge potential. I look forward to working with Lotus Motorsport in developing the car further and I know that my years of motorsport experience will help make the Evora Cup race car even better."
Clark again... no wheels this time
In the past a number of Lotus F1 drivers have successfully raced or assisted in the development of Lotus Cars including F1 World Champions Jim Clark and Nigel Mansell. Jim Clark was a great exponent of the three wheel drift in his Lotus Cortina, campaigning the Lotus to win the British Touring Car Championship in 1964. Whilst Nigel Mansell raced for Lotus he was involved in the development of the prototype Active Suspension Lotus Esprit.
And 'our Nige' in action in 1984. Yay!!!
The final design, aero' package and technical specifications will be presented at the Geneva Motorshow in March 2010, says Lotus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua2J7pKQwhI
wonder if Lotus were out on track at the same time as Ginetta who were testing their new G40 at Snetterton too.
Mansell, of course, is now driving the LMP1 Ginetta at Le Mans this year.
Who's gonna have the better season this year, Lotus or it's old adversary Ginetta?
Ginetta definitely has the better birds - see last pic!
I guess quite how the collaboration will work will become more apparent with time, but the signs so far are very encouraging. A nice combination of Malaysian money and enthusiasm, with British engineering and history. My only worry is that as time goes on it becomes more Malaysian and less British, whereas i think an equal combination of British/Malaysian input and close work with group lotus could mean an exciting future.
Time will tell!
Wonderful car and I hope they do well this year in their return to F1. If nothing else, I want to see Branson being a trolley dolly for the day if they end up with more points than Virgin!
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