The Malaysian site CBT.my has posted up news of the opening of the first Lotus showroom in China.
The new showroom in Beijing and opened by Lotus China is the first of 30 showrooms which the company is planning to open over the next year, with CEO Li-Chen Zhang boasting that sales have already exceeded 300 before the first showroom had even opened – including over 100 orders for the Evora GTE.
You can find out more on the launch in the article over on CBT.my, or have your say in our forums…
Autosport brings news that the F1 Commission has today approved name changes for the Lotus, Renault and Virgin Formula 1 teams.
The move sees Team Lotus renaming to Caterham, while the Lotus sponsored Renault team becomes Lotus, and pending approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council brings an end to the dispute over the Lotus name in Formula 1.
The decision to approve the name changes means that confusion over the Lotus name in F1 will be brought to an end, following a long-running dispute between Team Lotus and the road car company Group Lotus.
In a bid to clean up the matter after lengthy court proceedings, an agreement was reached which means that the Enstone-based Renault team will now be the only outfit running the Lotus name.
Source: Autosport – Formula 1 chiefs approve name changes for Lotus, Renault and Virgin
Discussion: SELOC Chat – F1 Name Changes Approved
The Essex region took a trip across the channel to France for a long weekend of socialising and track days last weekend, taking in the delights of the the Clastres and Ecuyers circuits with Lotus-on-Track.
Essex Regional Liasson MARK-L has written a report of the weekend, which you can find here, along with more photos and videos on the Event thread in the forums. If you’re interested in future SELOC Events be sure to take a look at the Events Calendar.
The LoTRDC have posted the latest TV show in the LoTRDC series up online, featuring racing from the Lotus Cup Europe, Lotus Cup UK and Elise Trophy at Spa Francorchamps, along with a look at the design and development of the Exige R-GT Rally Car.
The show is posted up in 4 parts and can be found on the LoTRDC website.
Oxford Motor Club held the second of their popular Autosolo events on the 23rd of October and were kind enough to extend an invitation to SELOC members to compete.
A number of SELOC members answered the call, with Merlin coming within just 0.3s of taking the overall victory.
Brooke bond, who wrote a report on the Bocardo Autosolo back in May, was there was again and improved on his previous result to take third in class again, but moved up to 5th overall, and once again has kindly produced a report on the day, which you can find here…
Discussion: Motorsport – Autosolo – Silverstone – Oxford Motor Club – 23rd.Oct.11 (Sun)
LoTRDC have sent through their official press release for the upcoming Brands Hatch 1000km race, you can find it below.
BTCC racer Paul O’Neill returns to defend his 2010 victory
The second running of the Lotus 1000km takes place this Saturday (5 November) at Brands Hatch and the event is sure to provide plenty of fireworks on Guy Fawkes’ night! Continue reading
The main Goodwood Festival of Speed 2012 theme has been announced as ‘Young Guns – Born to Win’, focusing on drivers, riders, designers and engineers who made a significant impact on the world of motorsport.
Along with this they’ll also be celebrating 60 years of Lotus Engineering, with a large collection of Lotus race and road cars set to make 2012 an unmissable year for Lotus Enthusiasts.
60th Anniversary of Lotus Engineering
Alongside this central theme, the 2012 Festival will mark the 60th anniversary of Lotus Engineering. Inspired by the incomparable Colin Chapman, this small British company utilised unparalleled technical ingenuity to dominate all levels of motor sport, from club racing to Formula 1, creating a glorious and enduring legacy. A spectacular collection of winning Lotus cars, from F1, Indycars, saloons and sports cars, will be a key attraction at this year’s Festival.
Source: Goodwood – 2012 Festival of Speed Theme
Discussion: SELOC Chat – Goodwood FoS theme has Lotus content
Good news for Lotus, who’ve announced they’ve secured funding from the second round of the Regional Growth Fund. The total figure is believed to be around the £10 million mark.
Group Lotus awarded multi million Regional Growth Fund
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has formally confirmed that Group Lotus’ bid for funds from the second round of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) has been successful.
One of the main purposes of the Regional Growth Fund is to support growth within the UK manufacturing sector. Lotus recognised that the Government was seeking applications which would enable private sector organisations to invest in projects that would create jobs and secure long-term growth. Lotus’ growth plans are completely aligned with the Fund’s objectives and will go someway towards rebalancing employment between the public and private sector in the South Norfolk region. Continue reading
The Lotus Cup UK and Elise Trophy seasons may be over, but the LoTRDC still have one more event up their sleeve—the gruelling Brands Hatch 1000km Endurance Race on November 5th.
Now in it‘s second year, the Brand Hatch Lotus 1000km sees 28 cars and over 70 drivers from the Elise Trophy and Lotus Cup competing not just against each other, but against fatigue, the elements and light in an epic battle which last year was completed in a little under the 9 hour mark.
There’s a wide range of cars competing as well, from production class Elises to a 211, a pair of highly modified Europas and the awesome Evora GT4—so differing levels of pace, fuel consumption and strategy will come in to play.
Tickets are available on the gate at £13, but if you order online before the 1st of November they‘re just £10. There is also free entry in the LoTRDC Hospitality Area for SELOC Club Supporters upon production of your membership card.
Discussion: Events – Lotus 1000 KM @ Brands Hatch 5th Nov
Another disappointing day for Lotus Renault GP after the early promise in Practice, with both Bruno Senna and Vitaly Petrov finishing outside the points. Senna was particularly unlucky, losing both time and places, after his KERS system failed midway through the race – leaving him a sitting duck in the DRS zones.
LRGP – Indian GP – Race – Lotus Renault GP Race Report
Bruno Senna, R31-04
P12
Vitaly Petrov, R31-06
P11Lotus Renault GP just missed out on a return to the points today at the inaugural Indian Grand Prix, as Vitaly came home 11th and Bruno just behind in 12th.
LRGP – Bruno – “It was a mixed race for me today”
Your verdict on the first ever Indian Grand Prix?
BS: It was a very mixed race for me today. I got a very strong start where I jumped four places so I was delighted with that. But, unfortunately I suffered a KERS problem, so I had to fight the race without it which made things very difficult.
Discussion: SELOC Chat – F1 Thread
News Feed