Lotus Hits Frankfurt With Big Motorsport Plans
New F1 team is just part of the Lotus assault on sport
Motorsport was the big news on the Lotus stand at Frankfurt, with the formal announcement of the company's return to F1 in 2010 and the motor show debut of the Lotus Evora Type 124 endurance racer.
Lotus wasn't exactly saying much about its F1 plans, though. All a Lotus spokesman would tell us was this: "Lotus will be in F1 in 2010, and the project is being Malaysian-led, but the details are still being finalised."
The Lotus chaps were much more keen to talk about their new Type 124 endurance racer, however. PH even managed to collar Lotus development engineer extraordinaire and Type 124 project boss Gavan Kershaw to show us around the car.
The first thing you notice in the metal about the Type 24 is how well finished it is. "We didn't want to be half-hearted with this project" he told me. "We were going to do it properly or not at all." As a result the carbon fibre door cards are properly finished, the rear diffuser follows the styling line of the rear bumper, and the whole car has the well-finished aura of a road car rather than the hurriedly bolted-on feel of some racers.
The plan eventually is that the Evora Type 124 will be homologated for either FIA or GT3-spec racing, but until the technical regulations for those series are finalised - and until Lotus knows exactly how quick the Evora Type 124 is - the two factory-supported cars will run broadly to VLN Nurburgring endurance championship regs.
"We haven't even finalisd on the engine yet," says Gavan. "We could run it with a supercharger, but that would put us into a higher class, so we're also looking at a bored-out 3.7 or 3.8-litre naturally aspirated version.
So could any of the features of the racer - particularly the supercharger - make it to roadgoing Evoras? "Some of the aero bits and carbon fibre trim could theoretically make it onto roadgoing Evoras, but we want to to maintain the Evora's road-car focus, so it's pretty unlikely. As for a supercharged road car? A faster Evora is obviously a given if you look at Lotus's past, but it won't necessarily be supercharged. It depends on the race programme really. If we don't end up using the supercharger on the race car, it might not find its way to a road car, either."
There was plenty of road-car product on display, too. As well as the Evora and the supercharged Elise, Lotus displayed two new models for the first time - the Exige Cup 260 and the Elise Club Racer.
The Exige Cup 260 is Lotus's most focused Exige yet, and features a host of handling upgrades and weight-saving tricks, while its 257bhp supercharged Toyota motor will catapult it to 60mph in 4.0secs and to 100mph in 9.9 secs. The Cup 260 also features a restyled front end with larger air intakes and a new rear wing from the 2007 Geneva show Exige GT road car concept.
The Elise Club Racer is less of a track-focused weapon and is really more a cosmetic makeover of the 134bhp Elise S, with body colour interior trim panels, lightweight seats with exposed shell elements and a choice of four colours used by Lotus in the 1960s.
Along with the presence of Lotus Engineering's clever new off-the-shelf hybrid Range Extender engine, it was an impressive and varied display of technology and new metal. This was Lotus's first Frankfurt show for over a decade and to see the boys and girls from Hethel with so much to show on their comeback is clearly a sign that Lotus is in pretty rude health.
The 124 looks so good and another wish for something like that to be road-legal. That exige is also damn nice. Oh if only i could afford an Exige at the moment...
I'ts clear know, Lotus is back, stronger than ever and I have a feeling, this is only the beginning .....
The procress Lotus has made over the last view years is astonishing! I guess, this was initialized by Mike Kimberly, he somehow broad the spirit back, but was experienced enough, to know, what it needs to survive in todays markets. Obviously, Lotus still has the manpower, to perform, like they do.
I pray, that the Evora will bring enough money, so Lotus can show us and the world, that tey are able to make a great sportcar, with the new Esprit!
From a Lotus Dealer in the US I know, that the Evora already has gained in their order books.
Many thanks to all the hard working people at Lotus, you all make me once more happy and proud of the brand Lotus !!
The 2-Eleven GT4 was supposed to be entering GT4 at the start of the 09 season. It didn't appear. (Ain't got a chance against the Ginetta G50 is why!) although a privateer entry 2-Eleven is coming in at Brands this month (for the last race!! title already won by a Ginetta G50 - again!).
Is Lotus old adversary taking too much of it's limelight? What with Nigel Mansell driving the Ginetta Zytec at Silverstone last weekend!
As for the Evora in GT3 -
reading that blurb above it says nothing except a lot of 'ifs' and 'buts'.
As for F1. This is what I've heard.
The team will carry a different name: 1Malaysia F1 Team, as the team will be backed by the Malaysian Government and a group of Malaysian investors. Lotus is of course 'owned' by Malaysian maker, Proton. Rumour only indicate that the team will be called Lotus F1 Team.
It will be based in Norfolk (located about 10 miles away Lotus’ headquarters), headed by Tony Fernandes, the Malaysian businessman behind Air Asia and the Malaysian Tune Group. The latter will also be funding the team. Formerly with Jordan, Renault, Toyota and Force India, Mike Gascoyne will be the new team’s Technical Director. The new team, along with Manor, USGPE and Campos, will be powered by Cosworth. According to the FIA, the team’s future design, R&D, manufacturing and technical centre will be built at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit.
The team will also feature Xtrac transmissions and will have the aerodynamics developed by a company called FondTech.
So the question is, what actually will be Lotus’ responsibilities within the new team?
So the question is, what actually will be Lotus' responsibility within the new team?
A statement from the Malaysian Government read: "The team will announce its two drivers by October 31 2009. Currently six local and international drivers have been selected," said
And Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak added: "This is not only a dream, it is a reality. Malaysia is part of Formula 1 and we are determined to do our best to make our mark in this arena.
"I believe this is a meaningful development that will boost Malaysia's image."
The Lotus team will be initially based in Norfolk, though its future design, research and development, manufacturing and technical centre will be purpose built at Malaysia's Sepang International circuit.
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