Lotus Legion May Not Be At Full Strength At Indy500

With plenty to risk and little to gain by spending the money to race in Brazil, Bryan Herta and team co-owner Steve Newey will leave the Lotus Barracuda-BHA and Alex Tagliani's pit stall empty in Sao Paulo. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

Lotus Legion May Not Be At Full Strength At Indy500

There is trouble in the teams that make up the DW12's outfitted with the Lotus/Judd engine and this real issue may show itself before the crown jewel race of the 2012 season.

Marshall Pruett of SPEED.com published an exclusive report highlighting the pressures of a sport that combines technology, competition, and advertising promotion as a history-making business enterprise.

Basically two of the four teams are so unhappy with the fact that Lotus, while not missing its commitment to field engines for races this season, has been really behind on the fulfillment of its commitment to meet the competitive demands of the series. Lotus Dragon Racing (LDR) did not have an engine to mount into one of their two cars (four-time ChampCar World Series Champion, Sebastien Bourdais) before the St. Petersburg race until the very evening before (Thursday) the first practice on Friday. Despite seeing some promising performance in the first two of three races from the four-time ChampCar World Series Champion, the overall performance and the timing of the delivery of engines does not allow any time for testing and this has effected all of the teams that are in the Lotus Legion - Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA), Lotus Dragon Racing (LDR), HVM Racing, and Lotus Dreyer Reinbold Racing (DRR).

This becomes a little like one of those what came first situations ... the chicken or the egg. Worse, is this situation even solvable?

No timely delivery equals no testing / no testing equals no performance results and feedback / no performance eventually leads to no advertisers to sponsor the car.

The main focus is beginning to place pressure on the decisions that need to be made by the series and the business viability of having a Lotus/Judd engine in a car when teams can not be assured of having engines to test and be competitive. Breach of contract filings from the teams in the Lotus Legion are being delivered to the manufacturer - where this goes, no one knows.

The IZOD IndyCar Series key person who will have to make a decision, and soon, on what to do next and avert a true mutiny within the Lotus Legion and a potential disaster is Will Phillips, IndyCar’s VP of Technology.

Katherine Legge of Marina Del Rey, CA based Dragon Racing. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

This excerpted and edited from SPEED.com -

INDYCAR: Tough Decisions Pending By The Series, Lotus, Its Teams
Lotus confirms in a SPEED.com exclusive that two of its teams have asked to switch manufacturers, but is it what the series needs and will it be allowed?
Marshall Pruett | Posted April 18, 2012

IndyCar fans have been treated to arguably the three best opening races in series history, but at the back of the grid, a much more serious—and far less pleasant—concern has finally reached its boiling point.

With three rounds completed, the bulk of the Lotus-powered teams have been mostly invisible in the final results, experiencing one gut-wrenching problem after another.
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The conflict between Lotus and its teams reached a fever pitch when the marque informed its entrants that engines would not be made available for the April 4th test at Indianapolis, leaving Bryan Herta Autosport, Dragon Racing, HVM Racing and Lotus DRR in a very awkward position.

With the prospect of showing up to Indy next month with zero miles of testing on the Lotus engine around the 2.5-mile oval (not to mention teams starting IndyCar’s most important event with no laps of testing at the Brickyard on their Dallara DW12s), some of its teams have now filed breach of contract paperwork with the manufacturer.

A dispute between the manufacturer and those teams regarding the exact wording and obligations in their supply contracts has ensued, but the message being sent is clear: showing up late and unprepared for IndyCar’s Super Bowl is a surefire way to perform poorly, to possibly miss making the show and, when all is said and done, to kiss their sponsors goodbye.
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Asked what the best-case scenario would be to come out of the breach of contract notices, one owner said receiving permission from the series to switch to a different engine manufacturer was the ultimate goal.

Simona de Silvestro of Britain-based HVM Racing. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

Will Phillips, INDYCAR’s VP of Technology, holds the authority to allow said changes, but declined to comment when asked if he would permit any of the Lotus teams to change manufacturers during the season.
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In a follow-up e-mail on Wednesday, Miodrag Kotur, Lotus’ Director of Motorsports Operations, confirmed that “We have also [have two teams], who would like to switch to another engine supplier, but it is still in discussion with us.”
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To give some additional context to that scenario, the two Lotus teams would rather spend an additional $1 million to get a Chevy or Honda engine--which will have an increased engine pool size after Indy--and forfeit the money they’ve already paid to Lotus than to stay with their current supplier.
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In a half-hour interview just before Sunday's Long Beach Grand Prix, Kotur fired back at a variety of comments, accusations and questions regarding his employers.

“Since the beginning of the year, there’s a lot of rumors that Lotus is not doing well, that Lotus will not be around, that Lotus will not be at Indy, that Lotus is not able to make the engines…as far as I know we are here…we did not miss any races,” he said. “Obviously, we are a little bit behind from our competitors; we are working very hard with Judd to reach the same level [as] Honda and GM. It is not easy. Those guys are in the business since years at Indy, especially Honda. We are new, and start six months later. I don’t know why and from where these rumors are coming that we are in breach of contract. I would like to know where is the breach of the contract.”

After informing Kotur that the breach of contract issue was no longer a secret, and that missing the Indy test seemed to be the catalyst—the point of no return for some of his teams--he offered a more credible response.

“The teams obviously they complain about this test we haven’t done, but there is some reason--to be able to secure future races, we prefer to keep the engines and to work on them and to continue to develop the engines than to go to this test," he admitted. "Obviously, it would have been better [to be] there, but this is a decision we have made. And if you go through the contracts, there is nothing saying we have to participate in all the tests. If we had been told to be present at this test by INDYCAR because it was mandatory, we would have been present, but it was not.

“I am in motorsports [for many] years; obviously the more you are testing, the better it is. I don’t want to say we are confident going into Indy without testing on the oval, especially Indianapolis. Maybe if we went there [to the IMS test], maybe we would today have some struggles with the engine. It will be one month for us to have enough engines to be very comfortable, it will be a little bit problematic, but we aren’t in any way in breach of contract.”

Kotur also offered a blunt assessment of the teams Lotus is partnered with, and although it appears he forgot that Bryan Herta Autosport won its first race of 2011 (the Indy 500 with Dan Wheldon) and was running fourth (with Alex Tagliani at Las Vegas) when the second race was cancelled, the Yugoslavian’s sentiment was no less impactful.

Oriol Servia with Dreyer & Deinbold Racing has been one of the most competitive and consistant drivers over the last couple of years. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

“Herta, Dreyer, HVM…they cannot also expect to be at the front of the grid,” he said. “Even last year, they were not at the front of the grid. You find the same people at front, Penske and Ganassi. So we not only have to work on the engine, we have to work on the car. And also to work with [Lotus’ teams] on the car. We ask them, ‘Where can we help you?’ I don’t want to say that in one month things will change completely, but slowly, we have improved. By the end of the year, the gap will be completely closed.”

Being on the receiving end of complaints from his teams and criticism from the media was an obvious source of frustration for Kotur and his colleagues.
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With a limited number of engines to offer its teams (eight total powerplants for five cars through Long Beach), engines have been sent back to EDL’s base in England between races for inspection, making it hard for teams to conduct private tests on their own.
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Provided it comes to fruition, Kotur expects Lotus’ engine pool to nearly double next month.

“We will for sure have more engines for Indy,” he said. “We will need them. It’s a long race, and we will have [practice] before the race. We will have fresh engines for the race. Our plan is to have more or less five additional engines for the race.”
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“I think it will be resolved in a few weeks, but we are committed to motorsport,” Kotur said of the nearly completed sale of Lotus. “We in fact want to invest more in the engine program and that is under discussion in the factory. You have to invest if you want to reach a certain level in motorsport. You have to spend it properly. If you see in Formula One, Toyota was spending the most and they didn’t reach the target. Obviously you need money, but you also need time. You need time, you need people and you need money.”

To Lotus’ credit, it appears to be interested in appeasing the two disgruntled teams, but it may be a case of too little, too late.
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With the financial health of the two teams serving as the greatest concern, reducing Lotus’ engine supply burden could actually help the manufacturer to solve its problems and to become more competitive at a faster rate.

Stretched painfully thin at the moment, Lotus comes out ahead with a reduced car count, and if Chevy or Honda is capable of adding an extra lease apiece, the two teams can reassure their sponsors that sticking with them—and the series—is a worthwhile venture.

On the other hand, Lotus, (at least judging by some of Kotur’s statements and his general demeanor in our interview), seems interested in ramping up its efforts, so maybe it would be better for all involved to stick together.
[Reference Here]

Lotus may have bit off more than it can chew in delivering on a plan for competitive success. As little as this Lotus’ Director of Motorsports Operations, Miodrag Kotur thinks of the driving capabilities of Sebastien Bourdais and Oriol Servia ... the best solution may be a quick decesion by Will Phillips, INDYCAR’s VP of Technology to have Dragon Racing and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing jump to the other engine manufacturers and let the dust settle before the teams meet to engage the process of being in the field of 33 cars to start the “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.

As it stands, (Lotus) Team Barracuda-BHA and Alex Tagliani have decided to skip competing in Round 4/Brazil citing its recent results, and the desire to prepare to defend its win at the Indy 500.
 

IndyCar's Lotus Legion becomes less by two out of five - gone are Bryan Herta Autosports and Dreyer Reinbold Racing. Side-by-side racing here at Long Beach looking for new engines are Alex Tagliani (L) and Oriol Servia. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

UPDATE:
Lotus Raises IndyCar Commitment
Lotus Press Release – 24 April 2012

When Lotus entered the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series, the regulatory requirement to supply multiple teams and the late timing of Lotus’ entry placed a significant restriction on the development programme. It was clear from the start that the 2012 season was going to be a huge challenge as Lotus debuted its IndyCar engine, but it was a challenge that Lotus was determined to meet.

Lotus was further hindered by unanticipated difficulties caused by the widely reported change of ownership and the subsequent restrictions on resources. To have achieved a top ten position under these circumstances is pretty impressive.

That said, Lotus has acknowledged that whilst the engine has demonstrated a lot of promise, minimal testing has resulted in reliability issues.

Having now had the experience and feedback from the first three races of the season, Lotus undertook a strategic review of its position to decide what course of action would be in the best interests of IndyCar and the teams it supports.

Following this review, Lotus is pleased to announce in cooperation with IndyCar that, whilst it remains fully committed to IndyCar in the long term, Lotus has taken the decision to reduce the number of cars it runs from five to three for the remainder of the season. As a consequence of this decision, Lotus has made offers to Bryan Herta Autosport LLC and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing LLC to end the agreements with them. Bryan Herta Autosport LLC will not participate in any further races as a Lotus team and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing LLC will race one more time in Brazil next weekend.

Going forward, Lotus is excited to be working closely with Lotus HVM Racing, the original partner team and Lotus Dragon Racing, who delivered Lotus’ best result so far this season. Lotus wishes Bryan Herta Autosport LLC and Dreyer & Reinbold LLC the very best of luck for the future.

Lotus also intends to continue to assist its engine supplier Engine Developments Limited (EDL) by providing additional resources and financial support to expedite the development program. The details of the arrangement are currently being finalised and the additional support should result in an increased engine performance for the rest of the season.

Claudio Berro, Director of Motorsport Group Lotus, said: “Lotus in IndyCar is like David versus Goliath. We are and always will be a niche British sports car company built for the few not the many. That said I’m delighted with our solution and I can assure everybody that the actions were taken after careful consideration and will assist in ensuring the brand’s high racing ambitions and the high expectations of the IndyCar community are realised.”

Randy Bernard, CEO IndyCar, commented: “IndyCar is committed to ensuring that our teams and manufacturers have a platform to remain competitive. We support Lotus’ decision and will assist Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Bryan Herta Autosport in securing engine support for the remainder of the season.”

ENDS

Truthfully … how in the HE-double toothpicks can Lotus say, as they did in the title of their presser, “Lotus Raises IndyCar Commitment” when they greatly reduce the talent (DRR’s Oriol Servia & BHA’s Alex Tagliani) and car count. This action suggests that they are backing away and limiting the chances of sharing testing information with the one very-proven driver they have left – four-time ChampCar World Series Champion (turbo-charged powered engines) Sebastien Bourdais (apologies to Katherine Legge and Simona De Silvestro).

... notes from The EDJE

Public OpinionPoll Results

** Article first published as Lotus Legion May Not Be at Full Strength at Indy500 on Technorati **

The Lotus Legion Grows Its Reach Into The ALMS

The 2012 Lotus Evora GTE will make its public on track debut on April 14 at the Toyota Long Beach Grand Prix. Image Credit: Group Lotus via AutoWeek

The Lotus Legion Grows Its Reach Into The ALMS

Alex Job Racing and Group Lotus will be joining forces in a partnership to compete the Lotus Evora GTE in the 2012 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) GT Class. Due the the lateness of the announcement, the agreement will have the effort miss the first race of the season at the 12 Hours of Sebring (March 17), but the good news for "Angelinos" is that they will debut at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach!

Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar said, “We are focused on winning. Alex Job has one of the best records in sports-car racing. We look forward to working together and developing a top-tier team over the coming years. Racing is a core component of the Lotus brand, and we are thrilled to have this new partnership to further enhance our winning racing heritage.”

The team will be officially addressed as Lotus Alex Job Racing (or Lotus AJR) and this partnership marks the first time Lotus has participated in factory form in the ALMS. Team captain Alex Job confirmed that part-time Izod IndyCar Series racer Townsend Bell will drive the team's one-car effort, teaming up with AJR driver Bill Sweedler.

“I am excited to announce the racing partnership between Lotus and Alex Job Racing in North America,” team leader and namesake, Alex Job said. “Our efforts and ability to attract Lotus is a testament to the hard work that AJR has put in over the past several years. This partnership, along with our key sponsors William Rast, Battery Tender, and Yokohama represent a new chapter for our seasoned organization and for the ALMS."

“Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell, and William Rast CEO - Colin Dyne played the key role in forging this long-term relationship with Lotus," Job continued. "We collectively look forward to representing this iconic sports-car brand for years to come in GT racing.”

The Evora GTE will be powered by a 4.0-liter V6 Toyota engine featuring Cosworth electronic controls, with redline set at 7,000 rpm. The engine produces 470 hp and 328-lb.-ft. of torque. The racing version of the car weighs 2,740 lbs, and it features a six-speed sequential Xtrac gearbox with a paddle-shift option.

Townsend Bell added, “Having the chance to represent such a great brand like Lotus is simply awesome. The fact that I get to work with one of the best teams in sports-car racing is icing on the cake. I'm really fired-up to work with Lotus AJR and Bill in what will undoubtedly be a great adventure. Time to buckle up!”
(ht: AutoWeek)

This spring, Long Beach will feature the largest gathering of factory teams sponsored by Group Lotus anywhere in the world ... ever - certainly in the modern era. We will see the first year IZOD IndyCar Series teams announced to date of Lotus HVM, Lotus Bryan Herta Autosport, Lotus Dragon Racing (IZOD IndyCar's only West coast located team), and Lotus Dreyer and Reinbold Racing (running the turbo-charged Lotus/Judd Indy Car engine) join ALMS's Lotus Alex Job Racing competing on the streets and Shoreline Drive straightaway at Long Beach, California, April 13-15, 2012. Welcome the era of the Lotus Legion in American motorsports racing.

... notes from The EDJE


** Article first published as The Lotus Legion Grows Its Reach Into The ALMS on Technorati **

Oriol Servia Captures DRR Seat, Becomes One Of The Lotus Legion

Oriol Servia driving the #2 Telemundo Newman/Haas Dallara through the end of the left-sweeping turn #10 at the 2011 37th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Servia went on to finish in the top 10 at P6 while avoiding late race mishaps. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)


Oriol Servia Captures DRR Seat, Becomes One Of The Lotus Legion

ChampCar standout and leader in performance consistency, Oriol Servia secures the lead seat on the planned two-car effort at Lotus works powered (Judd) Dreyer and Reinbold Racing (DRR).

Last year driving the old Dallara in its final season for the now disbanded Newman/Haas Telemundo sponsored effort, Oriol finished every race registering three podiums. This performance netted the Spainard a fourth in points lead by season's end, ahead of Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe and Helio Castroneves, and all four rides in the Andretti Autosport stable. Not bad for a one-year campaign on an understandably proud but fading team.

At the announcement, Oriol said this about the courtship with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing; “I couldn’t be more excited, for many reasons. DRR is a team that I raced against since 2008 and they’ve always shown to be very professional at the racetrack.”

“Although I knew the owners, I didn’t know them very well, to be honest. Before signing with the team, like everybody else, I did my research and I couldn’t find one individual that didn’t speak highly of Dennis or Robbie, which gave me a lot of confidence.”

“I went to the team’s sponsor summit last week and met all of their partners that they have been involved with for many, many years, which was another clear sign that they are good people.”

On Dreyer and Reinbold running the Lotus twin-turbo power-plant prepared by John Judd in the back of the new DW12 chassis ... Servia is really anxious to give it a spin.

“I started on the front row for the Indianapolis 500 and I want to improve on that. I’m at the best point in my career and it was very important to partner with the right team. When I visited the DRR facility in Indianapolis, I couldn’t have been more impressed.”

“We are starting with a new engine and chassis, and I have confidence in Lotus and our ability to develop a quality product in 2012. When you have everyone [four teams, and factory support from Lotus works] pulling in the same direction like we are now is when we can accomplish our goals.”
(ht: The Checkered Flag)

At this time it is not known who will be Oriol's DDR team-mate but the rest of the Lotus Legion is filling in quickly and holds some pretty substantial and recognizable names from the former ChampCar World Series (CCWS) and CCWS open wheel ladder step, Formula Atlantic Series.

Joining Oriol Servia - Spain - (8 years CCWS finishing season P2 in 2005) in fielding a Lotus-powered DW12 in its inaugural season are the recently announced Dragon Racing stable of Sebastien Bourdais - France - (4-time CCWS Season Champion for Newman/Haas) and Katherine Legge - England - (Toyota Atlantic won three races in 2005, becoming the first woman to win a major open-wheel race in North America - First woman to drive and lead a lap in CCWS 2006), Bryan Herta Autosport's Alex Tagliani - Canada - (CCWS standard-bearer in Atlantic and ChampCar for 12 years - 107 consecutive CCWS starts - finishing with CCWS co-owner Paul Gentilozzi's Rocketsports Racing team) ... still waiting for a team-mate, and HVM Racing's Simona de Silvestro - Switzerland - (CCWS Formula Atlantic race winner - Long Beach 2008, 2009 season P3) who is also waiting for a team-mate ... currently, the Lotus Legion for 2012!

... notes from The EDJE


- Article first seen as Oriol Servia Captures DRR Seat, Becomes One Of The Lotus Legion at Technorati -

Lotus Indy Taps A Penske To Make 2012 A 4 Team Challenge

Sebastien Bourdais going through turn 9 at the end of the back straight driving the Boy Scouts of America sponsored Dale Coyne Racing Dallara during the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. "Sea Bass" will join Katherine Legge to create a two car IZOD IndyCar team for Lotus Dragon Racing in 2012. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)


Lotus Indy Taps A Penske To Make 2012 A 4 Team Challenge

No ... it is not the first Penske that comes to mind but Dragon Racing IndyCar team owned by Jay Penske – Chairman and CEO of the Penske Media Corporation, and son of US racing legend Roger Penske joins the Lotus-powered IZOD IndyCar Series challenge for 2012. "Lotus Dragon Racing" (LDR) will be an official Lotus team, racing in the black and gold colors that are shared by the marque’s Formula One program.

Dragon Racing debuted in 2007 and promptly picked up a fifth-place at the Indy 500, straight out of the box, with Ryan Briscoe at the wheel. In 2009, its first full season, Dragon driver and ChampCar alum, Raphael Matos took the Rookie of the Year honors.

In 2012, the Lotus Dragon Racing line up is a particularly strong one featuring a couple of ChampCar World Series (CCWS) alums with winning traditions: Brit, Katherine Legge, the first female driver to win a major open-wheel race in North America, and four-time CCWS champion and former F1 racer Sebastien Bourdais (SeaBass).

Lotus Dragon Racing joins Bryan Herta Autosport, Dreyer & Reibold Racing, and HVM Racing to make it a four team Lotus-powered front in an effort to capture the first IZOD IndyCar Series championship of the fully unified modern era of American open wheel racing.

Group Lotus Director of Motorsport - Claudio Berro: "We are very pleased to be able to announce this new and exciting partnership with Dragon Racing today, a team which has demonstrated its potential and which we believe will achieve great success thanks to the Lotus IndyCar engine and the security of a major backer. Last year was Lotus' first foray into this prestigious open-wheel series since Jim Clark won the Indy 500 back in 1965. We have a tremendous legacy in this sport, and are determined to become winners again. The American market is one of the most important to Lotus in terms of road car sales, hence our aggressive marketing strategies through US auto racing. We believe Lotus Dragon Racing and our other partner teams will give us the best opportunity to achieve our ambitious goals."


Image Credit: Group Lotus

This excerpted and edited from Group Lotus -

INDIANA CLONES AND THE FAST CRUSADE
Press Release from Group Lotus

In 2012 no less than four teams with an anticipated minimum eight cars will be packing Lotus power in the IZOD IndyCar Series. The company’s all-new twin-turbo V6 has its first shakedown today at the Moroso circuit in Jupiter, Florida , with Lotus HVM driver Simona de Silvestro working the loud pedal. The engine program, which was announced in November 2010, has come together quickly without teething problems, and fire-ups away from the track have ticked all the boxes. Lotus Dragon Racing, Lotus HVM Racing, Lotus Bryan Herta Autosport, and Lotus Dreyer & Reinbold Racing are all confirmed as engine partners.

Claudio Berro, Group Lotus Director of Motorsport: “The engine has performed extremely well so far, and we and our partners are very pleased with the results. We had our first fire-up in a Dallara chassis in Palma, Italy on 21-23 December, then the engine was sent to America, and today we’re having our first on-track shakedown, at Moroso, which is very exciting. On January 1st we opened a Lotus facility in Indianapolis which will be our US engineering and logistics hub, so it’s all go. We’ve still got a lot of work to do before the start of the season, but I couldn’t be happier with the progress we’re making.”
[Reference Here]

2012 will prove to be a truly breakout year ... being the first year in a dynamic formula (multiple engine manufacturers and a potential of variance in aero-parts to be employed on a new Dallara DW12 chassis), and a fresh look at competition rules with the appointment of a new race director (also a CCWS alum) in Beaux Barfield.

... notes from The EDJE




Article first seen as Lotus Indy Taps A Penske To Make 2012 A 4 Team Challenge at Technorati

From England to Iowa: It's Been a Great Week for Lotus

Nigel Mansell, Group Lotus ambassador and 1992 Formula One World Champion said: “What a joy it was to be reunited with my old 81B after 30 years. This is a very special place, Hethel, and it was wonderful to open the circuit today by driving alongside my sons Leo and Greg.” [ctrl-click photo to launch YouTube video taken at the event] Image Credit: Lotus Group (2011)

From England to Iowa: It's Been a Great Week for Lotus

Group Lotus has had a pretty great week for its brand and its addition to motor culture history.

Earlier this week, across the pond in England, Nigel Mansell officially opened Group Lotus’s revised and restored Hethel test track with a roar from the 1981 Essex-Lotus 81B in which he started his glorious Formula One career more than 30-years-ago.

Mansell led a convoy of seven stunning racing cars from the Lotus stable, including the innovative 1980 Type 88 twin-chassis car – which the rule makers never allowed to race; the Lotus Type 125 Exos Experience car driven by fellow F1 legend Jean Alesi; and a brace of Lotus Renault GP cars piloted by current F1 stars Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna.

This was the first time that modern-era F1 cars had blasted around the historic Hethel tarmac since the early 1990s. The layout of the 2.2 mile circuit had changed very little, with one extra corner added, but the new asphalt and larger run off areas are better suited to modern racing and performance car testing. Its mixture of corners, straight and braking zones makes it ideal for testing and optimizing every performance aspect of the new era of Lotus products, and evaluating car control at the Lotus Driving Academy.

"A year ago we set out our plans to introduce a new model line up, ambitious motorsport plans and a revitalization of the iconic Lotus brand," said Dany Bahar, Group Lotus CEO. "A year in, we are meeting all the targets and milestones we set ourselves. One of the milestones was the opening of our test track. You might say this is just a refurbishment of a track and not a major achievement in itself, and I agree. However, mentally and psychologically seeing this project accomplished demonstrates that step-by-step our vision is becoming a reality. It shows our entire workforce and our partners that we are delivering on our promises."

In addition to a spacious new workshop, the Hethel test track will soon be accompanied by a new pit building and hospitality suite.

On this side of the pond here in little ol' Iowa, the crucible of motor culture, where the IndyCar Series (ICS) will be holding its ninth race in a 18 race season, former F1 Japanese driver, Takuma Sato notched his first pole position in the ICS and in his career.

In qualifying for the Iowa Corn 250 held at the .875-mile oval at Iowa Speedway, the KV Racing Technology-Lotus team No. 5 Dallara beat out Danica Patrick, driving the No. 7 Team GoDaddy car for Andretti Autosport. In keeping P2, Danica earned her first front-row start since Nashville Superspeedway in 2008.

"I want to say a big thank you to the whole team, the fans, the sponsors and everyone who has supported me," said Sato, who is coming off an eighth-place finish in the Milwaukee 225 (starting fifth). "It is a fantastic achievement. I knew we were going to be competitive because of last year (started seventh), and this morning I was truly comfortable in the car. I could feel where we needed to be with the setup for qualifying. Working so closely today with the three KVRT-Lotus drivers, working so closely with my engineers, we had a great answer."

The joy was short lived, however, when three hours later in the final practice session, the first Japanese driver to earn a pole position in IndyCar made contact with the No. 77 car driven by Alex Tagliani and the two cars slid into the Turn 2 SAFER Barrier. No one was injured but this may alter the starting order when the checkered flag drops at 8:00pm ET Saturday, June 25, 2011.

Regardless, Dany Bahar has to be happy with the successes this week - the unexpected delivery of promises here and those expected over there.

... notes from The EDJE

UPDATE from the Iowa Corn 250:

Takuma Sato raced upfront very well against Dario Franchitti but crashed out during the last round of pitstops. Teammate, Tony Kanaan was able to race hard to the end with Marco Andretti, swapping places P1 and P2 until Marco got the better of him.

KVRT-Lotus brought home a P2 podium finish and Tony Kanaan moves up to 4th place in the IndyCar Series season points championship.

(Article first published as From England to Iowa: It's Been a Great Week for Lotus on Technorati)

Lotus Elise Club Racer: Purity, Performance, Pleasure - A TRUE Lotus

Lotus Cup comes to North America - Over the years, the Lotus Cup Race Series has developed into one of the most successful enthusiasts race series brands in the world. Races feature capacity grids of Elise, Exige, 2-Eleven and Europa race cars racing and jostling for position. Previously operated exclusively from several countries in Europe and Japan, the Lotus Cup has now expanded considerably to include the USA, UK and Eastern Europe. Image Credit: lotuscars

Lotus Elise Club Racer: Purity, Performance, Pleasure - A TRUE Lotus

Anyone living under the misunderstanding that Lotus might be moving away from performance through lightweight due to all of the noise the release of the Lotus Evora has caused, one only needs to take a quick ride in the new 1.6 Lotus Elise Club Racer to know that this is definitely not the case. The hard working engineers at Lotus put even the lightest of Lotus’ modern cars on a diet and managed to shed a further 24kg - 52.9109429 pounds.

So how did Lotus manage to make one of the lightest models on the market even lighter?

The engineers behind the Elise Club Racer took a stripped-to-the-bare-bone approach visualized by the body-colored seats but materialized in many ways such as the motorsport derived lightweight battery and the stripping out of noise insulation. Attention to even the smallest of details has ensured that Lotus’ passion for performance through lightweight has been translated throughout the car.

For the first time ever ... an Elise variant comes complete with a Sport setting for the DPM (Dynamic Performance Management) allowing even the less experienced sports car drivers to feel at the top of their game, while the ability to switch it off completely will please the more established track orientated drivers. DPM combined with improved agility courtesy of Lotus finely tuned sport suspension and an adjustable anti-roll bar will make the Elise Club Racer equally versatile for both road and race track fun.

Wolf Zimmermann Chief Technical Officer Lotus Cars said: “The traditional Lotus approach of reduction and purity has lead to one of the most zeitgeist and contemporary sports cars around. For over 15 years the Lotus Elise has become an icon in the sports car market, carving out a niche market with a dedicated following of lightweight fans. The new Club Racer will definitely give these people something extra to get their teeth stuck into. This car epitomises everything that’s cool about the Elise – it’s fast, raw, responsive and a huge amount of fun to drive.”

Quality throughout the vehicle has been a top priority, highly regarded component suppliers such as Eibach for springs and Bilstein for dampers ensure that the Elise Club Racer is a car of quality substance as well as sporting style.

The Elise Club Racer seeks to please the eye as well as the soul with a choice of six rich and unique colors (Sky Blue - pictured above, Saffron Yellow, Ardent Red, Aspen White, Matt Black and Carbon Grey) that highlight Lotus design elements and emphasize the character of the car.

It’s pocket pleasing too, at 27,500 British Pounds - $44 676.50 / 34,450 Euros - $47 141.38 / 48,900 Swiss Franc - $51,365.10, the Elise Club Racer marks the new entry level sports car from Lotus. Also, with the Elise standard of just 149g CO2/km emissions contribution plus the weight reduction, the new Club Racer provides maximum fun without so much of the potential "green-guilt" some associate with the gentlemanly (ladies welcomed) pursuit of high performance driving.
(ht: lotuscars)

Lotus Evora - Queen of Curves

Evora at Zuma Beach. Image Credit: James Groth (2011)

Lotus Evora - Queen of Curves

Curves have a decided double meaning when speaking of Evora. In one manner Evora’s curves are about pure beauty and in another it’s how rapidly and safe Evora powers through corners. Considering the magnificent shapes Evora embodies, I am suggesting that the Lotus design studio had Victoria Secret catalogues around for inspiration. The design gods got their creation right. You will see different sensual lines every time you take her out; dating should be so rewarding.

Appreciate a tailored look? Direct your attention to the narrow waistline of Evora. Imagine the figure of Scarlet Johansson on the Red Carpet. With this figure were Evora dressed in red or yellow, she could easily be mistaken for one of the Italian competitors. Only Evora’s modest price-per-performance dollar would give it away as not one of the $150,000 Italians.

Evora at Zuma Beach, up close. Image Credit: James Groth (2011)

Evora’s lines are purposeful rather than for mere beauty. The rear integrates a floating rear wing providing downforce while contributing to the low 0.33 drag coefficient. The design is so efficient that it eliminates the need for a weight-adding electro-mechanical wing that rises at speed, like in some Porsches. This is in keeping with the practical philosophy of Lotus Cars founder Colin Chapman of “Performance through Lightweight”.

Evora from the tail at Latigo beach on a Pacific coast day. Image Credit: James Groth (2011)

Atop her sensuous curves there is Evora’s unusual roofline. The bodywork joining the rear quarter and glass to the roofline appears as two points of connecting rectangles. Think of it as the Geometric Abstraction style of Piet Mondrian’s paintings or a Giulio Lazzotti table. Perhaps these too were part of the Evora inspiration.

Evora design curves in Laser Blue. Image Credit: James Groth (2011)

This is the world’s only mid-engine 2+2 on the market. For the purest, the standard 2+0 is equipped with a shelf area rather than the small rear seats. Once inside, Evora’s cockpit is unusually open, unlike the cramped even claustrophobic feel common in many sports cars. The A-pillars on modern cars are thick and often block side vision while cornering. Lotus, renowned for its superior handling, would have none of these restrictions.

In contrast to the norm, Lotus designed the Evora’s windshield so that the “A” is pulled rearward and to the side. Envision a jet fighter canopy, this may have been the designer’s muse. This functional design contributes to the driving pleasure by providing a spaceship panoramic view. Evora is designed to be much wider inside than her perceived dimensions, giving driver and passenger additional personal space.

Evora interior sweep in black. Image Credit: James Groth (2011)

The layout of the interior and controls is elegant and simple with one exception. The ignition switch is hard to see and reach on the steering column. Complicating things is the engine immobilizer on the key that gives you 40 seconds to start the car once you enter. This is not very practical for a Le Mans start, or everyday use. Drawing from Lotus’ racing, a simple and appropriate fix would be a red starter button.

Evora’s interior is a cross between stylish modern Italian and functional Swedish. Features include a dash and center-shift console of aluminum, leather Recaro high back seats and a flat-bottomed magnesium steering wheel. An interesting option is the reversing camera accessible via the touch screen. Those not used to the tiny rear window or relying on the excellent side mirrors will appreciate this option.

This test car was a striking Laser Blue with black interior, and was a hit by all that saw her. Would you rather be seen around town in Chrome Orange, Storm Titanium or Phantom Black? Done, the color pallet for Lotus looks like a Dunn Edwards store and features twenty choices. Considering how exclusive these cars are you may be the only one in your market driving a Graphite Grey Evora with a Paprika interior.

Evora with a Paprika leather interior. Image Credit: James Groth (2011)

A trip from Malibu to the central coast wine country allowed for participation in a rally during this five hundred mile drive. My lady passenger commented on how the comfortable seats held her in place on the twisty roads and the secure feeling at speed Evora gave her. Part of this secure feeling comes from what Lotus refers to as Versatile Vehicle Architecture. This design won the Dewar Trophy for Technical Excellence with a chassis weighing only 440 lbs. yet provides outstanding rigidity.

1925 Rolls Royce. Image Credit: James Groth (2011)


A rest stop during the day's drive. Image Credit: James Groth (2011)


Arriving at the vinyeard. Image Credit: James Groth (2011)

Similar to Lotus racecars the Evora’s nose channels massive airflow through the radiators creating downforce at speed and lowering the drag coefficient. The result of all this downforce and its light weight can best be felt in the curves. Lean and roll are absent and the suspension does not beat up the occupants at speed, even on slippery country roads. Contributing factors to superior handling comes from a weight distribution of 39% front and 61% rear and her lean weight of 3,047 lbs. As a result Evora was never challenged beyond her outstanding abilities.

Evora's cooling system. Image Credit: James Groth (2011)

The brakes are immense and provide confident stopping power. Adhesion comes from (225/40ZR18) tires up front and (255/35 ZR19) on the rear. The only annoyance was noise on deeply grooved freeways coming from the low profile tires. This is nothing unusual from other similar wheel and tire setups, once on smooth pavement everything is again quiet.

Evora has a range of wheels to choose from. Image Credit: James Groth (2011)

The steering is noteworthy in its precise feel and lack of effort. There is no play in its geometry; when you turn the wheel the car responds immediately. Lotus’ World Champion drivers Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Emerson Fittipaldi and Mario Andretti would have demanded nothing less.

Overall, Evora’s inherent qualities sharpen ones skill level. You develop into a more competent and safe driver effortlessly. Got any cars like that in your garage?

Beautiful? Yes, Handling? Incredible. So how does she perform power wise? The power is seamless with Evora’s dual overhead cams and 4 valves per cylinder. The engine gets its linear feel from the Lotus (VVT-i) intelligent variable value timing. This allows the 3.5-liter to rev rapidly and not be short of breath at higher rpm. All of this accented with a wonderful growl from the exhaust that is absolutely addictive.

Overnight cases welcome! Image Credit: James Groth (2011)

In its current state of tune Evora turns a 0-60 mph in a scant 4.9 seconds. Evora’s power comes from its mid-engine Toyota sourced 3.5 liter V-6, producing 276 hp @ 6,400 rpm to the rear wheels. Due to its superb power-to-weight and final drive of 3.23 she reaches162 mph.

Lotus engineers developed the electronic engine controls along with the clutch and six-speed gearbox to suit their requirements. The clutch is light and the shifting is easy and precise with the floor mounted six-speed manual. A sports ratio 6-speed is optional. Gearing is nicely matched with reverse up to the far left.

If you require more power, it’s coming. By mid-year Lotus will be delivering a Supercharged “S” model. The “S” delivers 345 hp and reaches 172 mph for those track day aficionados. The 0-60 mph drops to 4.6 seconds with the “S”. While Evora is not short on power some drivers just enjoy the feel and instant respond superchargers deliver.

Taking the upmost interest in Evora during the rally was the driver of a Porsche Cayman S. He appreciated the Lotus pedigree and recognized value. Evora is serious competition for Porsche 911 and Cayman S models.

Some considering the outstanding Audi R8 4.2 for $114,200 or 5.2 at $149,000 may ask themselves the following question. Other than the 4.2 being a half second faster than the standard Evora, just what do you get for those extra dollars, that I am not getting with the Evora?

There is a mileage bonus over competitors too. The EPA ratings are 18-city and 27-mpg highway; 30 mpg plus on the highway is being reported. With its 15.6-gallon tankthis makes for an extended driving range.

Evora is not about ultimate quarter mile times or reaching speeds three times the limit. In a word, Evora is about “balance”. Evora performs exceptionally in all meaningful categories while turning heads with her beauty. Bottom line; don’t wait for weekends to enjoy Evora, this car is designed to make every day more exciting.

Evora with the Malibu pier in the background. Image Credit: James Groth (2011)

Gentlemen prefer not to be surprised publicly or discuss price. However, the best surprise is a happy one. The base price of the Lotus Evora 2+0 (rear jump seat delete) is $64,000 plus delivery and options. Brilliant!

Evora! Sound like a lady you would like to get to know? ... Search/LotusCars.com

Lotus History and DNA

Image Credit: James Groth (2011)

Lotus Founder Colin Chapman was green before the term acquired its new meaning. He pioneered efficient performance from the use of lightweight materials and demonstrated it by winning on the track. This is the DNA of Lotus. Anyone interested in the extensive 60-year Lotus history should spend time at LotusCars.com.

Evora’s tagline is “True Character” and hers is derived from 79 Grand Prix victories, 7 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championships and 6 Drivers’ Championships in the most challenging and contested forms of automotive racing.

Certainly Mr. Chapman’s philosophy of “Performance through Lightweight ” was ahead of the industry. It’s even more pertinent in these times of preserving natural resources. Parent company Proton is investing a billion-dollars in the immediate and long-term future of Lotus while their new management team is rapidly advancing the Lotus DNA for a new century.

Anyone attending this years LA or Paris Auto Shows saw Lotus shock the automotive world by introducing five completely new models. Effectively Lotus covered the competition from Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin and upped the ante.

The new CEO Dany Bahar instigated this bold move. He was the successful Senior Vice President at Ferrari heading up global car sales, F1 Marketing, and the Brand to mention just a few of his responsibilities. His goal: “return Lotus to premium brand status and profitability”.

Actress Sharon Stone and Paul Stanley of the group Kiss unveiled two of the five new models at the LA Auto Show evidenced Lotus is not going to be a one hit wonder with the Evora. Anyone attending the press preview saw how Mr. Bahar’s philosophy translated into five new models, demonstrating his ability to return Lotus to profitability. After seeing the new models his goal of restoring Lotus to its premium brand status appears very achievable.

January 2010, Mr. Bahar tasked designer Donato Coco to design five new models using none of the existing cars or chassis. Mr. Bahar wanted them done in nine months time, ready for the Pairs Auto Show. Oh, but Coco you only have five months time before having to show them to management for approval. This simply has not been done before. Yet, Donato Coco and his team did it and got it right, to the mass approval of the public and press at these important shows.

This management team is looking unparalleled. The key managers recently came from the top European bands and know how to succeed. The only somewhat comparable in terms of PR helping return a car company to profitability would be Chrysler. In the early 80’s Chrysler showed the press and Wall Street its advanced styling with concept cars, when it had nothing but the mundane “K” car to sell. Chrysler sold the future and in that era it worked. This type of PR would not work in today’s market without the spectacular, mostly finished five new models Lotus put on display.

In conclusion, while Lotus is showing five years of the future they are also ready to challenge the sports car market today with Evora, a serious and superior car for the dollar.

Contribution By:
James Groth
Miles Ahead Communications
Malibu, CA

... notes from The EDJE

Lotus Cup Comes To North America

Lotus Motorsport’s IndyCar driver Takuma Sato and 1996 Champ Car winner, Jimmy Vasser have also given extensive feedback having driven the Evora Cup/GT4 at the legendary Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca race circuit (pictured here in the middle of the famed "Corkscrew" turn) in early August 2010, giving Lotus’ newest race car a most diverse and comprehensive pedigree. Image Credit: Lotus Motorsport

Lotus Cup Comes To North America
Popular Lotus Cup Race Series gets a global makeover

Over the years, the Lotus Cup Race Series has developed into one of the most successful enthusiasts race series brands in the world. Races feature capacity grids of Elise, Exige, 2-Eleven and Europa race cars racing and jostling for position. Previously operated exclusively from several countries in Europe and Japan, the Lotus Cup has now expanded considerably to include the USA, UK and Eastern Europe.

For 2011, not only has the Lotus Cup grown in size, the organization of the series has been consolidated. For the first time this year, drivers will now race to one set of rules, regulations and formats in championships around the world including:

• Lotus Cup UK
• Lotus Cup Europe
• Lotus Cup Italy
• Lotus Cup USA (West Coast) • Lotus Cup USA (East Coast)
• Lotus Cup Eastern Europe
• Lotus Cup Japan
(new for 2011 in BOLD)

Director of Lotus Motorsport Claudio Berro said: “Lotus sports car racing is one of the most popular forms of accessible motorsport in the world, both at a spectator and participant level. Now is the time to bring these championships under the Lotus umbrella, to ensure consistent look and feel to the competition. This will have obvious benefits to the current drivers and encourage new racers, ensuring that the cars and components remain good value and the competition retains its accessibility.”

Lotus will provide increased support and investment for these race series and will also ensure that the new Cup Championships retain the community feel and friendliness that an enthusiast based race series needs.

The Lotus Cup Championships will receive a new identity, logos, branding, website and Corporate Identity which are aligned closely to Lotus’ new motorsport strategy and initiatives announced over the last few months and consolidated at the Autosport show last weekend.

The excitement and race heritage design of Lotus will be zipping by at a North American track in 2011 at the following venues!

Lotus Cup USA 2011 - West Coast Schedule
(subject to change)

5th -6th March
Willow Springs Raceway, Rosamond , CA

9th – 10th April
Firebird International Raceway, Pheonix, AZ

28th – 29th May
Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, CA

25th – 29th June
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA

27th – 28th August
Miller Motorsports Park , Salt Lake City, UT

24th – 25th September
Buttonwillow Raceway, Buttonwillow, CA

15th – 16th October
Spring Mountain Raceway, Pahrump, NV

5th – 6th November
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas , NV

----

Lotus Cup USA 2011 - East Coast Schedule

9th – 10th May
Watkins Glen International Raceway, Watkins Glen, NY

11th – 12th July
Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA

24th – 25th September
Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham . AL

The only schedule conflict for the inaugural 2011 North American campaign participant would happen on September 24th - 25th. If one wanted to race "bi-coastal", the campaigner would have to choose between Buttonwillow Raceway, Buttonwillow, California about a two hour drive North on the 5 artery into the central valley from Los Angeles, or the latest rising star dedicated road racing track on the North American racing scene (which hosts the IZOD IndyCar Series - April 10, 2011), Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama.

The series rules may exclude a "bi-coastal" desire to race in all scheduled inaugural Lotus Cup Series races in North America ... but this does present an interesting proposition for the first time Lotus Cup Race Series participant.

For further information regarding the Lotus Cup, please contact Lotus Motorsport: motorsport@lotuscars.com

... notes from The EDJE

LA Auto Show 2010 - Lotus Enters Into A New Era Agreement With The IRL

The competition language just increased with the signing of an agreement to have Group Lotus/Lotus Motorsport supply engines and body aerodynamic parts to teams competing in the IndyCar Series starting in 2012. Pictured from left to right: Famed Indianapolis driver, Parnelli Jones, Randy Bernard, CEO of the Indy Racing League, Dany Bahar, CEO of Lotus Motorsport and Group Lotus. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

LA Auto Show 2010 - Lotus Enters Into A New Era Agreement With The IRL

On Thursday, November 18, 2010, the second day of the LA Auto Show Press Days held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Group Lotus announced an agreement with Randy Bernard, CEO of the Indy Racing League, to supply engines and aero body kits for the IZOD IndyCar Series beginning with the 2012 season.

The deal that was put together by Dany Bahar, CEO of Lotus Motorsport, is for a duration of five years and has Lotus also creating a motorsport facility in Indianapolis that will give the company a base in the thick of the action for this unified, exciting, and adrenalin filled race series and make them easy to find by potential IndyCar engine and aero body kit customers.

This announcement closes out a great week for Randy Bernard, Brian Barnhart - President, Operations & Competition, and the future fortunes of the Indy Racing League for the level of competition on many levels starting in 2012. Lotus joins Chevrolet (USA), which also announced an agreement this week, and Honda (Japan) the current and exclusive engine supplier, making available a choice of three manufacturers engines to run in this new and unified era. The IndyCar Series is no longer a "Spec-Series" anymore!

Randy Bernard said: “Lotus is a renowned name in racing, with a long association with some of the greatest names of motorsports. We’re honored Lotus has chosen to serve as an engine manufacturer for the first time.” Randy shared that the number one concern of the fans after unification was that American open wheel racing did not take the easy route and become a pure specification series where every car was basically the same and all had parts and engines supplied from the same factory.

The speculation is that since Kevin Kalkhoven is the team owner of the car driven by Takuma Sato, and sponsored by Lotus, also owns Cosworth - this Lotus engine just might be produced by the Cosworth organization and have a Lotus name be placed on it which will give Lotus the instant "gravitas" and history of Cosworth ... and why not?!

The Lotus IndyCar engine will follow the agreed rules, namely 2.4 litre, up to 6 cylinders and turbo charged and producing between 550 and 700 horsepower to suit the diverse set of tracks on which the IZOD IndyCar Series competes. All engines will run on E85 with additional details on the fuel platform to be announced at a later date.

Dany Bahar, CEO of Group Lotus said: “Lotus is unique in the automotive world, no other car company has been more successful in such a wide variety of motorsports discipline, whether it is Le Mans, World Rally, Sportscars, F1 - of course, and IndyCar. This year we teamed up with KV Racing for IndyCar and we will significantly increase our participation next year. However in 2012 IndyCar competitors will have the exciting opportunity to choose an IndyCar with a Lotus engine and aero body kit, immediately become part of a legacy that is Lotus: one of the most innovative and successful sports and racing car brands in the world.” Dany also let loose during the announcement that Lotus would like to make its own chassis and offer this up to other teams as well - ummmmm, interesting.

Lotus announces an agreement to supply engines and aero body parts to the IndyCar Series beginning 2012. Pictured from left to right: Famed Indianapolis driver, Parnelli Jones, Randy Bernard, CEO of the Indy Racing League, Dany Bahar, CEO of Lotus Motorsport and Group Lotus, Claudio Berro, Director of Lotus Motorsport, and Brian Barnhart, President, Operations & Competition of the Indy Racing League. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

The announcement in the booth and on the show floor of this 2010 LA Auto Show helped to lend an excitement to their proceedings. Rand Bernard, Brian Barnhart, and Dany Bahar were joined at the podium set up next to Takuma Sato's IndyCar by none other than the person who first drove and won in a Lotus at Indianapolis ... Parnelli Jones. New traditions do not get any better than when one reaches back and brings some of the original traditions forward to form the traditions of this new era.

Claudio Berro, Director of Lotus Motorsport said: “The history and DNA of Lotus is all about extracting the most performance out of a car in return for maximum efficiency and we are delighted to offer our engine and aero body kit to the 2012 IndyCar series.

Long live the IndyCar Series and its agreement with Group Lotus and Lotus Motorsport - may it spur others to step up and compete in this series at every level.

... notes from The EDJE