Lotus Motorsport has confirmed that the Autobytel
Lotus Championship will again provide top-line support to the
popular British Touring Car Championship (TOCA) in 2001.
The Autobytel Lotus Championship proved to be a
huge hit with the TOCA crowds in its debut season this year. All
the race cars are prepared and run by Lotus Motorsport from its
base at Hethel in Norfolk - and the combination of a grid of
identical 200bhp Sport Elises and fiercely competitive drivers
provided for some great racing.
As Chris Arnold, General Manager of Lotus
Motorsport, commented:
"When the Autobytel Lotus Championship
first hit the tracks back in April of this year, I don't think
anyone really knew what to expect. However, I was confident that
our 'arrive and drive' concept, coupled with participation in
the TOCA package and the opportunity to race at key European
Grand Prix venues would prove to be a success. These fundamental
elements of our Championship won't change for 2001. "
As an integral part of the TOCA Tour next season,
the Autobytel Lotus Championship will become one of the best
promoted race series in the country. Some powerful new race day
promotional initiatives by both Lotus and the TOCA Tour organising
body, BMP, will attract even greater race day crowds as well as
generating more media exposure.
Richard West, TOCA Tour series director, said:
"This year TOCA wanted to put on a more
entertaining show that would appeal to a broader audience, as
well as catering for the purist. The tie-up with Lotus is
central to achieving that aim. The prospect of some classic
Lotus cars being raced or demonstrated at some of the rounds is
mouth-watering."
The 2001 Autobytel Lotus Championship will be
contested over 12 championship rounds, ten of which will be with
TOCA Tour, the remaining two rounds being contested in mainland
Europe (provisionally supporting the FIA Sportscar Series). There
will also be an additional, non-championship, European round.
