Lotus Cars – Las Vegas Indy 300

Posted on 17th October 2011

A very sad day in motor sport yesterday, with two time Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon tragically killed in a huge accident on Lap 11 of the season finale in Las Vegas.

The 2011 Indy Car finale was red flagged and finally cancelled after a horrendous multi-car pile up on Lap 11 resulted in the tragic death of 2005 champion and father of two, Dan Wheldon.

The incident was triggered at Turn 2 when light contact between James Hinchcliffe and Wade Cunningham sent the latter spinning across the track, causing a chain reaction. Several cars were launched into the air as they t-boned stricken rivals. With full fuel tanks, some cars erupted in flames, including Wheldon’s. KV Racing Technology-Lotus drivers EJ Viso and James Jakes’ cars were just two of the 15 cars involved in the accident. Continue reading →

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Damon Hill Charity Evening Raises Over £10,000 For HALOW

Posted on 16th October 2011

Last night was the third in a series of very special events organised by long time member and motorsport enthusiast Michael Hipperson – an evening with Damon Hill in aid of his charity HALOW, which works to support young people with learning disabilities and help them to better integrate in to their local community.

Held at the spectacular BRDC (British Racing Drivers Club) Clubhouse at Silverstone, the 1996 World Champion and former BRDC President, with questions from renowned motorsport journalist Alan Henry, talked the audience through his experience growing up amongst racing in the 60’s and the gradual realisation his father was involved in something very dangerous, his early days in motorbike racing, his transition to racing cars through to winning the Formula 1 World Championship, and how he came to take the mantel of BRDC President – presiding over the renovation of the Northamptonshire circuit and securing deals for hosting both the MotoGP and F1 races. Continue reading →

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LRGP – Korean GP – Race – Lotus Renault GP Report

Posted on 16th October 2011

A less than stellar race for Lotus Renault GP, with Petrov crashing out making contact with Schumacher trying to defend from Alonso in to Turn 3, while Bruno Senna could only make up one place to finish 13th.

Force India however only closed up 1 point, with Lotus Renault GP still maintaining a 23 point buffer in 5th in the championship thanks to strong results early in the season.

Bruno Senna, R31-04
P13

Vitaly Petrov, R31-06
DNF

Lotus Renault GP suffered a pointless finish at the Korean Grand Prix after a mistake on lap 15 left Vitaly smarting from a case of what might have been, having started the race from eighth on the grid.

Full report: LRGP – Korean GP – Race – Lotus Renault GP Report
Discussion: Forum Thread

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

LRGP – Korean GP – Qualifying – Lotus Renault GP Report

Posted on 15th October 2011

An early morning qualifying over in Korea, and unlike yesterday a dry session.

Bruno Senna, R31-04
P15, 1:38.791 (Q2 time) 14 laps

Vitaly Petrov, R31-06
P8, 1.38.124 (Q3 time) 19 laps

Lotus Renault GP has one car in the top ten for the Korean Grand Prix after Vitaly set a 1min 38.124secs for eighth position on the grid for tomorrow’s race.

Bruno wasn’t able to deliver as well as he wanted and will start the race from P15 after setting a lap of 1min 38.791secs in Q2.

Source: LRGP – Korean GP – Qualifying – Lotus Renault GP Report
Discussion: Forum Thread

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EVO – Lotus Competition Verdicts

Posted on 14th October 2011

EVO Magazine have posted up a pair videos from recent events at Hethel.

First up we have the Lotus Champions event, where 20 competition entrants spent the day at Hethel driving the Evora S on track and competing to win a car for a year – see if you can spot the SELOC fleece on one of our members…

Continue reading →

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LRGP – Friday Practice Roundup

Posted on 14th October 2011

Wet conditions in Korea this morning meant limited running out on track for the LRGP team, with both drivers only completing installation laps in FP1 and some wet weather running in FP2.

LRGP – Korean GP – Practice 1 – Lotus Renault GP Report

Bruno Senna, R31-04 No time set, installation lap only

Vitaly Petrov, R31-06 No time set, installation lap only

Both Bruno and Vitaly went out for an installation lap but after that it was a waiting game in the garage to see if weather conditions would improve; they didn’t.

Continue reading →

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Lotus Cars – Group Lotus Goes Grassroots

Posted on 13th October 2011

Didn’t see this one coming! Not content with GT racing, F1, Indycar and rallying, Lotus has just announced it’s entering in to another form of motorsport – the CIK-FIA World Karting Championship 2012…

Group Lotus is determined to discover new talent with an official entry into the CIK-FIA World Karting Championship 2012.

With the move into karting, Group Lotus becomes the first car manufacturer to have a presence at the entry level of motorsport and provides a very special opportunity for early talent spotting. Some of today’s most famous and successful motorsport personalities cut their teeth in karting – the newly crowned FIA F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel is the perfect example of the benefits of early driver development as are his peers, fellow former World Champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. Continue reading →

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LRGP – Senna and Petrov have their say on the Korean GP

Posted on 13th October 2011

Practice starts tomorrow for the Korean GP, and LRGP have interviews with both drivers ahead of the race.

LRGP – Bruno Senna on the Korean GP – “The layout of the track means that all the weaknesses we had in Singapore won’t be as pronounced in Korea”

What’s your impression of the circuit?
BS: It is a difficult track, and I think there are many places where you can make mistakes. There are off-camber corners scattered through the track and for a driver that’s not really the most comfortable thing.

LRGP – Vitaly Petrov – “It’s important F1 comes to new territories”

What are the key skills you will need to demonstrate in order to have a successful weekend?
VP: We will try to find the appropriate set-up as early as possible this weekend, and we will approach things in a similar way to Suzuka. We need as much track time as possible to stand us in good stead come qualifying on Saturday and then the race on Sunday.

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

LoTRDC – Lotus Cup UK champion set to be crowned

Posted on 13th October 2011

After yesterdays announcement of the Lotus Cup Europe Driver of the Season things are hotting up in the Lotus Cup UK as well, with the final race next weekend at Brands Hatch…

The Lotus Cup UK Championship goes down to the wire next weekend (22 October) at Brands Hatch and the inaugural champion will be crowned from the Production class as Ken Savage leads Steve Quick by just twelve points. Both drivers have fought a long and hard season not just in Lotus Cup UK, for Savage has taken several wins in the Elise Trophy, often against tough opposition from Quick, who won at Silverstone. Continue reading →

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Proton – “alleged moves between Group Lotus and Genii Capital are untrue”

Posted on 13th October 2011

Autosport has posted an article this morning in which Proton have denied rumours that Genii Capital, majority shareholder of the Lotus sponsored Lotus Renault GP team, are looking to invest in Lotus, potentially to the extent of a majority shareholding.

On Thursday, however, Proton said the reports were “untrue and highly speculative”, and that it had no plans to make a deal with Genii Capital.

“Proton hereby states that the alleged moves between Group Lotus and Genii Capital are untrue and that the reports are highly speculative in nature,” Proton said in a statement.

“Proton’s relationship with Group Lotus is as good as it has ever been. Our priority now is to ensure that the Lotus Business Turnaround Plan is executed according to schedule and that both parties are committed to its success.

You can find out more on the subject on the Autosport Website, or have your say on the announcement in our forums.

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