Lotus to return to Le Mans racing?

Mal · 20 Oct 2009, 11:39 (Ref:2565344)

Lotus to return to Le Mans?

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...llCars/244217/

GT6 · 20 Oct 2009, 11:53 (Ref:2565360)

If it does happen I will be very happy, but with money as tight as it is I can not see them being able to do everything, and to be competative at Le Mans will require a substantial commitment.

The Real DMN · 20 Oct 2009, 12:02 (Ref:2565372)

If you read it carefully, the only thing Lotus owns in the F1 team, is the name:

Quote:

Bahar also confirmed there was no direct link between his firm, Group Lotus, and the new team entering F1 next year, Team Lotus. Parent firm Proton owns the Team Lotus name and has given permission for a Malaysian-backed consortium to use it on its F1 cars next year.

So there're getting free(ish) advertising as such.

GT6 · 20 Oct 2009, 12:05 (Ref:2565373)

But at present it is based at the lotus factory in Norfolk, I can not see any competative F1 team moving too far from the suppliers and specialists that keep the cars running, so unlikely if it survives that it will ever move to Malaysia.

Mal · 20 Oct 2009, 12:06 (Ref:2565374)

Any Le mans racing, I presume would be a GT based on one of the road cars.

m1fcf · 20 Oct 2009, 12:08 (Ref:2565376)

if I were a gambling man, I would be putting my money on the Lotus Exige for a GT4 type entry.

That allows for both Factory and Customer cars.

Mal · 20 Oct 2009, 12:14 (Ref:2565382)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT6

But at present it is based at the lotus factory in Norfolk, I can not see any competative F1 team moving too far from the suppliers and specialists that keep the cars running, so unlikely if it survives that it will ever move to Malaysia.

I believe 'Team Lotus' stated they intended to build a new base at Sepang.

This press release has nothing to do with that as the real DMN says

Mal · 20 Oct 2009, 12:16 (Ref:2565383)

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1fcf

if I were a gambling man, I would be putting my money on the Lotus Exige for a GT4 type entry.

That allows for both Factory and Customer cars.

That covers GT racing but not Le Mans series racing. I believe they are due to launch a new Esprit so I would presume that could be used for GT1 or GT2.

Steven Humphrey · 20 Oct 2009, 12:22 (Ref:2565391)

They're racing the new Evora at the Nurburgring 24hrs next year-maybe that's the start of a Le Mans program?

trahsub · 20 Oct 2009, 14:32 (Ref:2565484)

I too thought about the Evora. In seeing some recent pics of race prepped ones, I thought some news like this may show up sooner than later. . .

trahsub · 21 Oct 2009, 00:35 (Ref:2565864)

Let's get this thing approved to race ALMS GT2!

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/20/t...mans-gt-and-i/

Breitling24 · 21 Oct 2009, 01:12 (Ref:2565878)

Quote:

Originally Posted by trahsub

Let's get this thing approved to race ALMS GT2!

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/20/t...mans-gt-and-i/

Too early to tell, but if something does happen, it could come from the Lotus dealer on LI.

trahsub · 21 Oct 2009, 01:56 (Ref:2565895)

No ish! Just did some googling about it:

Tom Papadopoulos, sole proprietor of Autosport Designs, Inc. and Lotus Motorcars of Long Island, commented, “I strongly believe my team and I here have been successful because we have a genuine passion for what we do. Lotus has an outstanding history for producing some of the finest and most successful sports and racing cars in the world and it’s a marque we’re all extremely excited about being a part of. I am very pleased and proud that we’ve been selected by Lotus Cars USA to represent their great brand. Having just seen the recently announced Evora Type 124 Race Car, I’d love to find a way to campaign one of those here in North America!”

mildura1963 · 21 Oct 2009, 01:58 (Ref:2565896)

isn't there already an Exige GT3?

Canada ALMS fan · 21 Oct 2009, 02:03 (Ref:2565899)

Quote:

Originally Posted by trahsub

Let's get this thing approved to race ALMS GT2!

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/20/t...mans-gt-and-i/

That car is gorgeous and would be a welcome addition to any GT grid, especially the ALMS. I would really like to see the Vantage again too but realistically that ain't gonna happen.

Breitling24 · 21 Oct 2009, 02:17 (Ref:2565910)

Quote:

Originally Posted by trahsub

No ish! Just did some googling about it:

Tom Papadopoulos, sole proprietor of Autosport Designs, Inc. and Lotus Motorcars of Long Island, commented, “I strongly believe my team and I here have been successful because we have a genuine passion for what we do. Lotus has an outstanding history for producing some of the finest and most successful sports and racing cars in the world and it’s a marque we’re all extremely excited about being a part of. I am very pleased and proud that we’ve been selected by Lotus Cars USA to represent their great brand. Having just seen the recently announced Evora Type 124 Race Car, I’d love to find a way to campaign one of those here in North America!”

And did you google TP, or look around his site? There's a pretty good history...
If it happens, this could be a good place for it to start.

pablocomics · 21 Oct 2009, 09:36 (Ref:2566080)

The most reliable option would be the Future Esprit with that Toyota V10 engine (the Toyota engine wasn´t 100% confrirmed)

911 GT1 · 21 Oct 2009, 09:52 (Ref:2566098)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mildura1963

isn't there already an Exige GT3?

There is already existing a GT3 and GT4 Exige and a GT4 Supersport 2-Eleven.

d.rocky · 21 Oct 2009, 16:18 (Ref:2566437)

a privately built/run europa ran in the elise trophy and recently in the gt cup series.
it'd be great it it could find its way to gt3 or gt2 to kick ferraris arse!

**Adam43** · 21 Oct 2009, 19:46 (Ref:2566564)

And I thought Chapman had fell out with the ACO...

TheNewBob · 21 Oct 2009, 20:00 (Ref:2566576)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mildura1963

isn't there already an Exige GT3?

Yes, but it has an inability to last for more than 5 laps in practice before it self-destructs.

911 GT1 · 22 Oct 2009, 09:14 (Ref:2566933)

The Exige was much to slow for GT3. The Evora would be a better car for that.

pez · 26 Oct 2009, 12:16 (Ref:2570032)

I just sold my Lotus GT3 & thenewbob you could not be further from the truth...
The GT3 is absolutely reliable at 315-320hp which it was running in 2006 it was only in 2007 when they tried to take it to 350 + that they were losing engines.

It runs with the 360's & 996's but the 997's & 430's are just too much.

Mal · 28 Oct 2009, 16:59 (Ref:2571561)

With two senior ex Ferrari F1 people now in place at Lotus to run the 'le mans and indycar project' there must be something pretty serious in the pipeline.http://joesaward.wordpress.com/

TWRv12 · 28 Oct 2009, 17:43 (Ref:2571583)

Isn't there one of those Lotus puff pieces that mentions going rallying too. Amazing how they are suddenly going to do almost everything.

The big bang approach, always goes bang bigtime.

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