Lotus celebrates Formula 1 provenance with limited edition ‘Exige LF1’

Posted on 9th June 2014

Exige LF1Lotus unveiled a new special edition this week at the Canary Wharf Motorexpo – the Lotus F1 Team inspired Exige LF1.

The LF1 features a number of unique additions over the standard Exige S model and is limited to just 81 cars – the same as the number of victories by Lotus teams in their various guises.

Discussion: SELOC Chat – Canary Wharf Expo

Fuelled by the excitement and anticipation of the 2014 Formula 1® season, Lotus gives its Exige S range a shot of race adrenaline with the Exige LF1 limited edition.

This summer 81 Lotus Exige S cars will receive a Lotus F1® Team inspired livery and interior trim to commemorate the number of grand prix victories held by the Lotus marque*,

Delivering race-car thrills on the road and track, the critically acclaimed supercharged 3.5l V6 Exige S is well known for its focussed dynamic performance, now, with a striking bespoke black and gold paint scheme with red accents and gold 17” front and 18” rear cast alloy wheels, the Exige LF1 leaves no doubt as to its heritage or indeed to its intention! Continue reading →

Posted in Group Lotus, Lotus F1 Team | Tagged , , , ,

Lotus Cars – PROTON Appoints New Lotus CEO

Posted on 6th May 2014

Jean-Marc GalesPROTON Holdings Berhad (“PROTON”) last week announced the appointment of Jean-Marc Gales as the new Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus plc, effective 1 May 2014. Lotus is a wholly owned subsidiary of PROTON and a member of the DRB-HICOM Group.

Gales, a Luxembourgian, holds a MSc in Management from London’s Imperial College, and a MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Karlsruhe in Germany. A known industry player, Gales has held several significant positions with numerous global automotive manufacturers. Prior to his new appointment at Lotus, Gales was Chief Executive Officer of the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (“CLEPA”) since 2012, where he played a key role in turning around the association through various strategic initiatives, including streamlining the working processes and increasing corporate members from 82 to 112. Gales also established a lobbying strategy with the European Parliament and European Commission, and helped define the Industry Research & Innovation Strategy and Roadmap for 2025. Continue reading →

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LoTRDC – Rasse doubles up at Hockenheim

Posted on 17th April 2014
copyright Hockenheim-Ring GmbH

copyright Hockenheim-Ring GmbH

Gregory Rasse got his 2014 Lotus Cup Europe campaign off to the perfect start with a pair of race victories at Germany’s Hockenheim circuit. Racing on the bill of the annual Jim Clark Revival meeting, the Belgian’s Evora held off the similarly-powered Exiges of Jon Walker and Phillippe Loup in both contests.

Poleman Walker and fellow front row starter Rasse disputed the lead throughout a pulsating opening race, and it was the Evora that just managed to squeeze ahead at the line. The result was repeated for the second encounter. Xavier Georges and Nicholas Ferrer claimed both 2-Eleven and Exige class wins respectively. Continue reading →

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Lotus F1 Team – Lotus Displays Its Resilient Spirit in Malaysia

Posted on 31st March 2014

Lotus F1 Team - Malaysia 2014Romain Grosjean delivers a steady and progressive race in Sepang, whilst power issues for Pastor Maldonado forces a tough decision to retire.

Round two of the 2014 F1® season got underway yesterday, and it was a bag of mixed fortunes for the Lotus F1® Team. Starting in P15 and P16, Lotus F1® Team drivers Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado made good progress off the grid until a loss of power for Pastor during the first lap, cut short the Venezuelan’s race who took the tough decision to safeguard his engine and retire.

Romain however kept the black and gold flag flying high and advanced quickly, accelerating two places and sliding into P13 during the fourth lap. He then maintained his pace, overtaking Caterham’s Kobayashi to claim P12 during lap 32. Continuing his steady fight forwards and providing valuable data for the team, he further ascended into P11 and was forced to furiously defend his place in the last laps of the race thanks to a spirited challenge from teammate of old, Kimi Räikkönen. The Räikkönen charge did not break Romain’s lock down and he successfully crossed the line, his P11 finish in hand. Continue reading →

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Kiri Bloore to present Lotus on Track TV programme in 2014

Posted on 31st March 2014

Kiri BlooreSports broadcaster Kiri Bloore will be joining the LoTRDC broadcasting team to bring all of the latest action to your living room this season.

Part of the new generation of sports broadcasters, Kiri is certainly one to watch and she will add the finishing touch to what is already set to be a very exciting year for LOTRDC. Joining the hugely successful Lotus Cup UK and Lotus Cup Europe, the Elise Trophy will become a championship for the first time in 2014. Meanwhile newcomers to motorsport are taking their first competitive steps in the Lotus Cup UK Speed Championship. All will be represented in Motors TV’s Lotus on Track
programme, anchored by Kiri.

Kiri’s voice will be familiar to motorsport fans from programmes on Silverstone radio, whilst she has
demonstrated sporting knowledge on screen with Golfing World News. She has grown up in the world
of motor racing and favourite driver of all time is Ayrton Senna. To keep up to date with Kiri
throughout the season check out her Twitter @kiribloore

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LoTRDC – Lotus Cup UK Speed Championship gets underway

Posted on 18th March 2014
Photos courtesy of Derek Partridge

Photos courtesy of Derek Partridge

The opening event of LoTRDC’s 2014 season took place on Sunday 16 March, with the first
round of the Lotus Cup UK Speed Championship at North Weald airfield in Essex.

Xavier Brooke won the event, and also took the Production Class from Robert Clark, with former Team Lotus Formula 1 driver Martin Donnelly posting the third fastest time in class in his sprint debut. He was locked in a close duel with son Stefan, the pair driving a borrowed 111R whilst their S1 Elise is being made ready for round two at Snetterton in three weeks’ time. Continue reading →

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Lotus F1 Team – Lotus learn in Melbourne

Posted on 18th March 2014

Lotus F1 Team - Australia 2014A tough season opener and a difficult start to the 2014 F1® season for The Lotus F1® Team down-under.

They always said it was going to be a dramatic first race in this new era of F1® and dramatic it was. Melbourne’s Albert Park 3.3 mile circuit provided the stage for top-flight motorsport entertainment that saw Lotus put up a positive assault in what was always going to be a tough race for the black and gold team.

Disappointing qualifying for both drivers meant whilst Pastor Maldonado began at the very back of the grid, Romain Grosjean began from the pit-lane and was then further slapped with a drive-through penalty for leaving the pit garage early. Never-the-less, after lights out Maldonado was soon on the march and ascended to P11 before problems with the Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic (MGU-K) hampered his fight resulting in his retirement in lap 29. Continue reading →

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Former F1 driver Donnelly’s son to make motorsport debut with LoTRDC

Posted on 6th March 2014

Stefan and Martin DonnellyFormer Formula 1 driver Martin Donnelly’s son will be making his motorsport debut in 2014, competing alongside his father in LoTRDC’s Elise Trophy, Lotus Cup UK and Lotus Cup UK Speed Championships.

Stefan Donnelly, 20, will compete in a Lotus Elise previously raced by World Land Speed Record holder Wing Commander Andy Green and former BBC F1 TV presenter Jake Humphrey, as well as his famous father. The pair will take part in sprints and races with the car this season.

The car will run to Production class rules, meaning that it is eligible for all three series. The Speed Championship takes in several sprint events around the UK and Stefan will be making his competition debut alongside his father at North Weald on 16 March. Round two will take place at Snetterton on 5-6 April, where Stefan will also race in the Elise Trophy, and pair up with Martin for the Lotus Cup UK mini-endurance race the same weekend. Continue reading →

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LoTRDC UK Awards 2013

Posted on 3rd March 2014

Martin and JohnnyOn Saturday 1st March LoTRDC held their annual UK awards night at Brands Hatch.

After another well-attended pre-season trackday, drivers and teams headed to the MotorSport Vision Centre’s Stirling Suite for the awards dinner. Presentations were made by Martin Donnelly and new LoTRDC TV presenter Kiri Bloor. Donnelly was then joined by guest of honour, fellow Team Lotus alumni and winner of the British Grand Prix and the Le Mans 24 Hour race, Johnny Herbert. The pair reflected on their racing careers and enduring friendship, providing plenty of laughter to draw proceedings to a conclusion. Continue reading →

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Maidstone Sports Cars add MOT testing to their range of services

Posted on 25th February 2014

MSC MOTGood news for Lotus owners in the South East, as Maidstone Sports Cars have opened the new MOT test centre in addition to their current Lotus servicing, tuning and Honda engine conversion facilities.

Maidstone Sports Cars are proud to announce the opening of their brand new MOT test centre, which is the latest addition to the ever-growing MSC Group.The new facility boasts state of the art equipment, operated by experienced staff, with a real knowledge & understanding of the classic & sports car world.

Maidstone Sports Cars have always taken pride in the quality of their services, now backed with brand new facilities, equipment & expertise to rival any main dealer.

Now being able to provide all of their services in house, Maidstone Sports Cars really have become the ultimate one stop shop!

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