The racing is better than last year and it’s good to see the teams closing in and in some cases being even faster than the Red Bulls. Of course it’s a great field with six world champions and a lot of new talent.

Just two races in, and Kimi Raikkonen looks like he’s lost none of his speed. Are you surprised how quickly he’s got back to grips with F1?

I am surprised that it has taken no time for Kimi to be back at the top of his form. Michael Schumacher is on form this year too, but it took him two years to get back in the groove. Kimi was on it from the very first test.

Romain Grosjean once again qualified strongly but ended in the gravel within four laps. What advice would you give him?

The same advice I’d give any driver, especially a young one: first you have to finish, then you can finish first.

As a driver pairing, how good a partnership do you think Kimi and Romain make compared to the teams around them?

There are good pairings all around, and Lotus is no exception. With Kimi racing so well and Romain showing a lot of speed the pair will keep each other honest and the results will come.

We had a red flag period for nearly an hour due to rain. How difficult is it for a driver psychologically when a race is suspended?

I’m totally in favour of stopping the race in critical aquaplaning conditions. There is nothing the driver can do to defend himself in these conditions. I actually believe the red flag period in this case to be beneficial to the drivers, they can enter again and re-start the race at their best.

Lotus once again proved they are quick, but due to Kimi’s gearbox penalty they perhaps don’t have the optimum result. How do you think the E20 ranks compared to the McLaren, the Red Bull, the Mercedes and the Ferrari?

Lotus has made the most progress of any team. I am happy to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of my 1972 World Championship with Lotus and see the marque becoming a serious contender in F1 again. I know so many of the people involved I am sure that they will get the job done. I have a lot of respect for the new management and especially for my friend Eric Boullier.

In mixed-weather conditions, experience usually comes to the fore. How impressed were you with Sergio Perez, in just his second season, challenging for the lead like he did?

I have known Sergio since he was in karting, and he’s always been fast. He is Mexico’s new hope in F1, and this is great news. His strategy was perfect and he drove like a veteran, turning in the fast laps when it mattered and making everybody follow.

You achieved success in F1 at an incredibly early age. What do you think is going through Sergio’s head right now? And how much is he daydreaming about Ferrari?

I think that he is taking things one at a time, and trying to do his best this season. Today he showed again that he is very focused, so I wouldn’t say he’s daydreaming just dealing with the present.

Fresh from the Malaysian Grand Prix, Kimi Räikkönen joined Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar in Beirut last night to celebrate the return of Lotus to Lebanon.

The legendary marque is opening a new dealership in Beirut in partnership with leading Lebanese automotive dealer RYMCO and luxury real estate and management company Zardman. Lotus’ acclaimed Evora, Elise and Exige are set to quicken the heartbeat of one of the most exciting cities in the Middle East.

Lotus Cars Lebanon welcomed the 2007 Formula One World Champion to Beirut in style, throwing an exclusive party at the MAD nightclub and toasting the future of Lotus in the region. The ‘Lotus is Back’ event was also attended by a few lucky F1 fans, who got to press up against Lotus’ speediest models.

Kimi Räikkönen, racing driver, Lotus F1 Team: “It was a great first visit to Beirut and a lot of fun to join the Lotus Car Lebanon team and launch the marque here. Lotus is a really special car company with big ambitions and part of that is returning to Formula One, another is spreading the word around the world.”

Dany Bahar, CEO, Group Lotus: “The Middle East is a market of huge potential to Lotus and Beirut is a very strong location for us. There were a lot of competitive bids to host Lotus here, and I am very happy that we’ve agreed to partner with Zardman and RYMCO who I’m confident will represent our brand perfectly and give customers a fantastic experience here in Lebanon. This is an important step in Lotus’ international sales plans.”

Fayez Rasamny, Chairman, Lotus Cars Lebanon: “This is a very exciting night for sports car aficionados in Lebanon, and indeed for racing fans. Thank you to Kimi Räikkönen for his special visit, and thank you to Group Lotus for returning to the region and bringing their wonderful cars. We really wanted to be the ones to bring this legendary automotive brand to Lebanon. The Lebanese are massively into premium sports cars and Lotus’ racing heritage. I’m confident Lotus Cars Lebanon is going to be a huge success.”

Assigned to special projects, Mansory will contribute bodywork, trim and special finishes for Lotus’ acclaimed model range; the Elise, Exige and Evora. As the Official Customisation Studio, Mansory is working closely with Lotus’ engineers and designers to produce modifications that scream individuality and quality.

Since the exciting reaction to the Evora Concept Bespoke at the 2011 Geneva expo, Lotus and Mansory have collaborated on several projects together, principally the road-going Evora GTE – the most powerful Lotus yet - which prompted a deluge of international orders.

‘Specials’ followed: The chrome-red Evora GTE by Swizz Beatz and, most recently, the raw carbon-fibre Lotus F1 Team Evora GTE, have claimed poster space on teenagers’ bedroom walls and sparked frenzy among supercar collectors desperate to get their hands on these extremely limited-edition models.

Eponymous founder Kourosh Mansory has always been passionate about British luxury and sports cars. He spent many years in England in order to absorb vehicular values such as tradition, craftsmanship, and state-of-the-art engineering.

Kourosh Mansory, Owner, Mansory Design and Holding GmbH: “At Mansory, we have always been passionate about British cars, and the cooperation with Lotus is the perfect partnership as it meets our quality standard of production on the highest technical level combined with masterly craftsmanship and the most precious materials. As the Official Lotus Customisation Studio, we amplify the existing options with harmonically designed aerodynamics and ultra-light aluminium rims. High-quality accessories and stylish interior fittings complete the Mansory assortment.”

Wolf Zimmerman, Chief Technical Officer, Group Lotus: “Mansory are leaders in their field, and having worked closely with them on the Evora GTE and the special editions we’ve unveiled recently, we now wish to take the partnership to an official level. Together, I am confident we will continue to produce outstanding sports cars, with the bespoke qualities that many of our discerning customers look for.”

Maurizio Parlato, Commercial Director, Group Lotus: “There’s a strong market for official customisation, and Mansory is the perfect partner in ensuring the quality and style we strive to maintain at Lotus. For customers who are seeking Lotus’ principals of speed, innovation and fun, but with added exclusivity, our Official Customisation Studio is the answer. The Lotus Evora GTE is a great illustration of what is to come. The car has already prompted around 250 orders and leads between China and Europe and we expect it to have a very successful future as the top of the range Evora.”

As well as firing up some of the most exciting classic and current Lotus models, Group Lotus is preparing a dramatic sculpture that will become a centrepiece of Goodwood House’s stately grounds during the June 28 to July 1 festival.

Goodwood and Lotus have a lot in common: Passionate about the past and the future, for petrolheads they represent the very best of British. The shared philosophies of speed, emotion, style, competitive spirit and enjoying the good times are all here.

42 historic Lotuses will blast up the hallowed hill climb, while the Lotus F1 Team looks to break the course record with this year’s grand prix challenger, the black-and-gold E20.

The cars and enthusiasts will be joined by famous faces and Lotus legends from every era (can we give a hint or one or two confirmed names here?!?). Lotus remains committed to the motorsport world, with activities at every level in Formula One, IndyCar, GTs, endurance racing and rallying. Racing is core to Lotus’ DNA, and with seven F1 constructors’ titles, six drivers’ crowns and a World Rally Championship to its name, few marques can boast such a successful and multi-skilled heritage.

Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar is proud that the marque will be centre-stage this summer. “The Goodwood Festival of Speed is such an iconic event, for me it completely captures the spirit and passion of British motorsport. We’re always made to feel very welcome by all the fans and the organizers, it’s a home from home for us and I’m delighted that we have such a strong presence at the event this year.”

Landowner and organizer Lord March is thrilled that Lotus will have such a significant presence at Goodwood. “Lotus is without a doubt one of the greatest, most evocative motoring and motor racing brands Britain has produced and we are very happy the company will be our featured marque this year. Lotus’ beautiful, innovative, joyful cars and some of the heroes that made them famous will be out in force, not sitting silently but driven hard for the purpose they were born. It’s going to be a wonderful automotive celebration.”

The production 3 cylinder Lotus Engineering / Fagor Ederlan Range Extender will be offered in two versions with the top of the range 50 kW supercharged variant on show in the cutaway hybrid Evora 414Evolution exhibit. The 1.3 litre, three cylinder Lotus Range Extender engine offers high efficiency and low mass, which will enable the downsizing of expensive batteries, whilst maintaining vehicle efficiency and range of hybrid electric vehicles.

The Range Extender is designed to offer a fast route to market for original equipment manufacturers requiring a dedicated range extender for series hybrid vehicles. Designing the engine specifically for hybrid applications has provided a number of opportunities to significantly reduce the mass of the engine. This mass optimisation has resulted in an engine weight of 58 kg for the supercharged version and 51 kg for the naturally aspirated variant.

The supercharged engine uses a belt driven centrifugal supercharger to produce 50 kW peak electrical power at 3500 rpm, with the naturally aspirated version producing a maximum 35 kW. The engine is optimised to generate power at engine speeds between 1500 and 3500 rpm allowing a lightweight simple 2 valve per cylinder engine architecture and eliminating the need for a complex 4 valve per cylinder design.

As well as an Integrated Exhaust Manifold, the Lotus Range Extender engine has an innovative new Integrated Intake Manifold that gives a significant reduction in weight and package size.

The generator supplied by Fagor Automation, is driven directly off the crankshaft to reduce weight, package size and cost. The engine, generator and power electronics are controlled using a Lotus controller to improve communication and efficient running of the systems. The engine architecture and engine management system are designed to offer flex-fuel capability to allow the engine to run on renewable alcohol fuels.

Official photos here:

http://www.midlandsl...range-extender/

It’s the first time an Exige model has been offered with a factory-fitted soft top roof, one which is typically lightweight and easy to put up and take down.

In true Lotus fashion the finely tuned suspension delivers a responsive ride and sublimely agile handling, whilst the supercharged 3.5 V6 engine with race-derived technologies delivers stunning performance. Reaching 100 kph from standing in a neck-snapping 4 seconds (0 – 60 mph in 3.8 seconds) and 0-160 kph (0-100 mph) in 8.5 seconds this little roadster packs a punch both on and off the track. The top speed for the Exige S Roadster is 233 kph (145 mph) and it produces just 236 g of CO2 per km.

With a targeted weight of just under 1100 kg, this is one of the lightest six-cylinder roadsters on the market by some margin.

Outside, it’s a fine balance of beauty and the beast. The drop-top adds extrovert style to the Exige’s already muscular contours, at the same time it is an elegant machine that keeps its clenched fist under wraps.

The Roadster comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, but will also be available with Lotus’ Serial Precision Shift (SPS), a paddle-operated automated manual transmission, which makes life more relaxed in the city and more F1-like when it’s let off the leash. The SPS gearbox means the driver never has to take their hands off the wheel, it prevents errors during shifting, and it is lighter and more compact than a normal torque-converter transmission.

The car comes with two different suspension settings. There’s the standard setting for an active driving experience suited to public roads; and an optional setting as part of the Race Pack for maximum performance, developed for track use. The launch control system can be activated when the car is in Race mode.

Inside, the car is a lesson in stylish minimalism and functionality. The customer can specify a comfort enhanced plush interior or go for a more stripped down, sporty option.

The car has been developed for the main markets such as Europe and Asia. The Exige S Roadster will not be available to the U.S market.

Fuel economy figures for the Exige S Roadster with manual gearbox: Urban 14.5 l/100km (19.5 mpg), Extra urban 7.6 l/100km (37.2 mpg), Combined 10.1 l/100 km (28.0 mpg). CO2 emissions for the Exige S Roadster: 236 g/km

Official images here:

http://www.midlandsl...ige-s-roadster/

Plus we showed off our latest racing car – the Lotus LMP2 – and, this being Switzerland, a stunning time piece also had a part to play.

HARDCORE SOFT-TOP:

More raw than a Japanese tasting menu, the Lotus Exige S Roadster combines its coupé twin’s mesmerizing grunt and handling with an open air experience that makes the driver feel all the more at one with the road. It’s the first time an Exige model has been offered with a factory-fitted soft top roof, one which is typically lightweight and easy to put up and take down. In true Lotus fashion the finely tuned suspension delivers a responsive ride and sublimely agile handling, whilst the supercharged 3.5 V6 engine with race-derived technologies delivers stunning performance. Reaching 100 kph from standing in a neck-snapping 4 seconds (0 – 60 mph in 3.8 seconds) and 0 – 160 kph (0 – 100 mph) in 8.5 seconds this little roadster packs a punch both on and off the track. The Roadster comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, but will also be available with Lotus’ Serial Precision Shift (SPS), a paddle-operated automated manual transmission, which makes life more relaxed in the city and more F1-like when it’s let off the leash.

KIMI SOME LOVIN’:

Our favourite Finn introduced a very special version of an already limited edition – the Lotus F1 Team Evora GTE is about as exclusive as a sports car can get. Kimi returns to Formula One with Lotus in 2012, and what better way to celebrate the return of the former world champion than by creating a special F1 edition? Unique F1 and Kimi-inspired touches include: An unpainted high-gloss carbon-fibre body, carbon interior with copper inlays, gold-piped black leather bucket seats, and Lotus F1 Team Limited Edition badging. The GTE, expected to be homologated for EU markets by May 2012, is the most powerful Lotus road car ever: 444 horsepower from a 3.5 V6, and with over a 100 kg sheered from the standard Evora it boasts a better power-to-weight ratio than most machines this side of Kimi’s office. What’s not to love?

Discovering the car today Kimi said: “If the Lotus F1 Team Evora GTE is as quick as it looks then it is going to be absolutely incredible. I would love to have this as my company car! I like its aggressive shape and the carbon-fibre finish makes it stand out even more – I can’t wait to drive it. It’s great to be back in Formula One and I’m really looking forward to my first race with Lotus next week in Australia.”

THE EVOLUTION OF ENDURANCE – LOTUS STYLE:

Lotus is competing in the 2012 World Endurance Championship with a Lotus V8-powered Lola-designed LMP2 prototype racer. The team, which is run by former F1 principal Colin Kolles and his Kodewa squad, kicks things off at Sebring on March 17.

This partnership is ideal for Lotus as it climbs the endurance racing ladder, having returned to the GT class last year with the Evora. Though hugely important in themselves, the build-up races of the season are really an amuse bouche for arguably the greatest motor race in the world – the Le Mans 24 Hours – and our LMP2 should be right in the thick of the action.

JOURNE ALESI:

This May, Formula One legend and Group Lotus ambassador Jean Alesi is taking on a stirring new challenge – to race in the Indianapolis 500. Lotus, of course, has a glorious history at the 500 having won it with Jim Clark in 1965. His Lotus 38 was the first mid-engined car to ever triumph at the Brickyard. Lotus returned to IndyCar last year and has stepped up its involvement in 2012 by manufacturing its own engine and powering no less then five cars. Innovation has always been key to Lotus’ DNA, and it’s something shared by Lotus’ newest partner, Swiss watchmaker F.P. Journe. The shared values help to explain why the exclusive watchmaker’s decided to support Lotus and Jean with his first Indy outing. In addition to partnering with Lotus for the Indy 500, Jean will be wearing an F.P. Journe Centigraphe Sport watch, the first all-aluminium mechanical wristwatch. At just 55 grams, its lightweight philosophy is perfectly in line with Lotus, and its high-tech aluminium alloy is normally found in aeronautical engineering and Lotus’ acclaimed chassis technology.

And there’s more:

Hall 2’s Stand 2230 in Geneva is packed with plenty more head-turners from Lotus:

ROAD CARS

The Elise S is all torque and all action. Its 1.8 supercharged engine delivers a buttock-clenching 220 PS, which means more speed, more versatility, and more efficiency. It results in lower fuel consumption and emissions than the previous Elise SC, which the S replaced last year.

Following its debut in Frankfurt, the new Roadster’s brother, the Exige S in its coupe version, makes another appearance – the ultimate closed-cockpit road-faring missile that will make a mess of the competition but not your hair.

And if you missed it in Frankfurt then now’s your chance to see the Evora S with IPS gearbox, the paddle-shift variant of Lotus’ current premium model. Its supercharged 3.5 V6 pumps out 350 PS, which the acclaimed chassis fully exploits. The Intelligent Precision Shift allows a high and even level of power transfer as well as quick, smooth shifts. It allows for more comfort in the city, better fuel efficiency and lots of fun when it comes to the fast stuff.

MOTORSPORT

Lotus is turning up the heat in Formula One this year. World champion Kimi Raikkonen is back in the driving seat alongside a very promising youngster, GP2 champion Romain Grosjean. The Lotus F1 Team’s E20 has been impressive in pre-season tests. While the team is hard at work, we have one of our black-and-gold F1 machines on the stand in Geneva.

We’ve also got our F1-inspired customer single-seater, the Type 125, a car so extreme that everything about it gets the heart racing. Now at the end of its extensive development program, the car has spent the winter with our F1 team in Enstone and has been tested by Romain Grosjean in Portimao. The result is a racing car that can lick F1’s performance envelope, yet is easier to drive, more accommodating, and doesn’t need a 20-man pit crew to run it. Ultimate driver thrills are yours at the touch of a button.

The Evora’s race debut went well last year and we’re looking forward to building on this in 2012. The Evora managed to complete all 24 hours of a punishing Le Mans in June and finished seventh in the GTE-Pro class, which was no mean feat given the programme’s infancy. Meanwhile, the Lotus Sport UK team took three fantastic wins in the British GT Championship’s GT4 category. At Geneva, we have a special gold-and-black Evora GT4 for you to get your paws on.

LOTUS ENGINEERING showcased a number of technologies, all of which point the way for the future of sustainable, efficient transport with ultra low well-to-wheel carbon emissions. Leading the Lotus Engineering presence was the Lotus Evora 414E Range Extender Hybrid, developed as part of the UK’s Technology Strategy Board’s REEV project. Under the skin of this innovative technical demonstrator is an electric drivetrain with two electric motors giving 800Nm of torque and 414 PS, linked to the Lotus’ 1.2 litre, 35 kW range extender engine.

Additional exhibits from Lotus Engineering included key components from the Active Valve Train technology, now developed to run at up to 8000 rpm, and the Omnivore engine which can run efficiently and optimally on almost any type of liquid fuel (including petrol, alcohol, diesel, aviation fuel and paraffin) and as such could lead the way in how engines will be designed in the future.

The Lotus International Rally team is set to make its race debut in April in the FIA European Rally Championship. In partnership with Italian team United Business, who won the title last year, the hotly anticipated Exige R-GT will be painted in Lotus’ iconic black and gold colour scheme.

Former Portuguese champion and Super 2000 World Rally Championship (SWRC) driver Bernardo Sousa is in-line to race the car at the Rally 1000 Miglia in Brescia, Italy, on 19-21 April, provided the car is ready. Next week the Exige R-GT undergoes its final testing before being submitted to the FIA for homologation. Ten cars will be built this year, with seven cars allocated to the official team and European racing drivers.

Claudio Berro, Director of Lotus Racing, started his career rallying and is thrilled to be back. “This will be the first GT car to be homologated by the FIA. Lotus, of course, has been successful in rallying before, winning the 1981 World Rally Championship with the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus. So in many ways we’re all going back to our roots. Partnering with the United Business Rally Team in the FIA European Rally Championship makes perfect sense because they, like us, know how to win. I think this is going to be a very strong collaboration. The championship largely takes place on tarmac, which suits us too. It’s so exciting to go rallying with this new project. It’s another big challenge for Lotus.”

Pier Liberali, Owner and President of United Business, commented: “This partnership agreement with Lotus Racing fills me with pride. Lotus is one of the most famous manufacturers worldwide in the motorsports field. It is an honour for us to be able to work with them, and we will do our utmost to exceed their expectations.”

GT

Lotus is to enter an official team in this year’s European Le Mans Series. The black and gold-coloured Evora GTE will compete in the GTE Pro class with factory driver Johnny Mowlem at the wheel. The two other drivers that will comprise this one-car team will be announced shortly.

Lotus Giudici Racing is run by former professional touring car driver turned GT racer Gianni Giudici, who ran an Evora GT4 in the European Blancpain Series last year and finished runner-up.

Testing kicks off at Lotus’ Hethel track, followed by six hour endurance races at Le Castellet (France), Zolder (Belgium), Donington (UK), Brno (Czech Republic) and Portimao (Portugal).

Director of Lotus Racing, Claudio Berro, is pleased to have GTE programmes on both sides of the Atlantic: “Having already announced our American Le Mans Series team, Lotus-AJR, it’s great to now announce our entry in the European Le Mans Series. Last year marked the Evora GTE’s first year of competition. It was a foundation year, which proved promising, and by now splitting programs between these two prestigious series I hope we’ll be able to further hone the GTE into a title contender.

“Gianni Giudici has long been one of Lotus Racing’s most important customers, and creating this official partnership makes perfect sense. He has been very successful in endurance racing, and has the capability to run the car at a very high level. With Lotus’ technical support this will be a good combination for the European platform.”

Karting

The Lotus Racing Karts team is flat-out in preparation for the 2012 CIK-FIA Under-18 Karting World Championship. Registration is now open and the deadline for entries is 30^th March. The total entries will be limited to 102 and it’s first come first served.

Therefore, drivers interested in entering this World Championship are advised to enter online as soon as possible: http://www.cikfia.com/championships/entry-form.html

The championship, which starts on July 8 in Braga, Portugal, aims to promote drivers aged 15-18 and rigorously limit the costs involved, such as with the free allocation of tyres and engines to all participants. The series promises to refocus the pure sport of karting not as a spending competition, which has seen costs rise drastically across most other international championships, but as the de-facto school for tomorrow’s grand prix superstars.

Just like the greats, from Jim Clark through to Kimi Raikkonen, aspiring youngsters now have the opportunity to become Lotus factory-supported drivers.

Built in Italy, the Lotus Racing Kart is arguably the most fun, raw and inspirational Lotus ever to hit the race track. The focus is on quality, speed, reliability and versatility through its automated robot welding technology of the C30 and C32 chassis, and on developing the next generation of Lotus racers early.

The top three drivers to race Lotus Racing Karts will be richly rewarded: A fully-sponsored Formula Monza test with the Lotus Formula Juniors team and a go in Lotus’ F1-inspired Type 125 customer car, plus a two-day test with the Lotus Racing Karts team and a tour of the Group Lotus factory and facilities in Hethel, England.

So, points mean big shiny prizes.

The Make It In Great Britain campaign calls upon individuals, businesses and media to get behind British manufacturing and challenge the misconception that “Britain doesn’t build anything anymore” – an outdated view that restricts investment, finance and recruitment to one of the country’s most vital sectors.

Business Minister Mark Prisk said, “The outdated perception of the manufacturing industry does not match the reality of today. Make it in Great Britain is all about encouraging support for the sector, dispelling myths and encouraging greater interest in industry by young people and investors ."

David Hewitt has a wealth of experience and knowledge of the modern manufacturing environment, making him best placed to spread the good news we have to tell. That is why I want industry champions like David to generate excitement and interest amongst our young people and future workforce”.

David Hewitt joins 29 other experienced executives, from some of Britain’s most successful and reputable companies, in promoting the government-backed campaign. Group Lotus is one of just five automotive enterprises represented, the others being the Williams F1 Team, Jaguar Land Rover, Ford and Nissan.

Group Lotus is at the forefront of Britain’s high-tech and automotive engineering industries. Since the first Lotus car was built in 1948, the Lotus brand has been synonymous with innovation, style, and success on and off the race track. With five exciting new models in the pipeline and £509 million pounds planned investment at its factory in Hethel, Norfolk, over the next five years, Lotus is a proud British company with a strong future.

“Britain is a nation of innovators,” explains David Hewitt. “Just look at all the brilliant products and inventions that have originated right here in the UK.

“Lotus is a great British company with a rightful place among the very best our country offers in both manufacturing and engineering,” Hewitt continues. “I want to show that British manufacturing can be an exciting, challenging and rewarding place to be.”

Group Lotus is delighted to confirm a brand new ‘LOTUS ORIGINALS’ flagship store will be opening in London’s prestigious Regent Street - 52 Regent Street to be exact! Situated in London’s Piccadilly, from Spring/Summer 2012 the building will host a brand new Lotus experience: a 4,800 sq ft store situated in a Grade II-listed former ‘Café Royal’ with exciting displays and a full stock of apparel, accessories, gifts, toys, and limited edition collectables, it’s one for Lotus fans and shopaholics alike.

The LOTUS ORIGINALS line made its debut at the 2010 Paris motor show alongside five new Lotus cars as a preview to the new Lotus lifestyle that the future Lotus car line-up reflects. Debuting with high-quality apparel, accessories and gifts, the move to Regent Street affords the space to showcase a much expanded LOTUS ORIGINALS collection. In the 16 months since the collections’ preview, LOTUS ORIGINALS has grown to include exclusive sporting items such as bikes and helmets, toys and even stationery.

The development of the LOTUS ORIGINALS retail concept has been rapid, upon its launch in September 2010 the dedicated website www.lotusoriginals.com was the only retail outlet for the collection. The first shops soon followed with a store at Lotus’ Hethel HQ and Norwich City Football Club’s Carrow Road stadium opening in Late 2011. Dealer shops have also recently opened in China at new Beijing and Chengdu showrooms and a Shanghai store is imminent. The London flagship store is the next step in a fully integrated, international retail strategy for non-car Lotus products.

Wiebke Bauer Director of Licensing & Retail for Group Lotus said, “We are delighted to secure this iconic location, it's the result of many months of careful planning and negotiations - the completion of this milestone really demonstrates the success of the LOTUS ORIGINALS offering and the potential we have for the future. This is the cornerstone of our global retail strategy and we have lots to look forward to.”

View attachment: !cid_image003_jpg@01CCD45A.jpg

At the 2012 Brussels Motor Show

Who: Group Lotus

What: Exige S, Elise S and Elise Club Racer, MY12 Evora S and Evora S IPS

Where: Hall 12, Stand 12.06

When: 12 – 22 January 2012

Why: Because you can’t get more Lotus than this...

The Brussels Motor Show is traditionally the start of a series of European motor shows. The Lotus range is fully represented with the amazing new Exige S, the Model Year 12 Evora S and Evora IPS and the Elise range with the Elise S and Elise Club Racer.

Come and see us because you can’t get more Lotus than this...

LOTUS INKS ITS DRAGON TATTOO

Lotus has chosen the Autosport International Show to announce its full factory partnership with the Dragon Racing IndyCar team. Lotus Dragon Racing will be an official Lotus team, racing in the black and gold colours that are shared by the marque’s Formula One programme. Owned by Jay Penske – Chairman and CEO of the Penske Media Corporation, and son of US racing legend Roger Penske – Dragon Racing debuted in 2007, picking up fifth at the Indy 500 straight out of the box at the hands of Ryan Briscoe. In 2009, its first full season, Dragon driver Raphael Matos took the Rookie of the Year honours. In 2012, the Lotus Dragon Racing line up is a particularly strong one: Katherine Legge, the first female driver to win a major open-wheel race in North America, and four-time Champ Car Series champion and former F1 racer Sebastien Bourdais.

Claudio Berro, 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."

INDIANA CLONES AND THE FAST CRUSADE

In 2012 no less than four teams with an anticipated minimum eights 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. The Autosport International Show marks the first public appearance of this ambitious powerplant.

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 1^st 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.”

LOTUS MOTORSPORT BECOMES LOTUS RACING

In order to reflect the broad range of Lotus’ competition activities, Lotus Racing becomes the new umbrella name for Group Lotus’ racing division. All of our official works teams will now race in the evocative black and gold livery. These include the Lotus F1 Team, GP2 and GP3 team Lotus GP (formerly ART) and Lotus Dragon Racing. Partner teams, such as the Lotus-engined IndyCar teams Lotus Herta Autosport, Lotus Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will also run in black and gold with Lotus HVM Racing running in predominantly green, yellow and white. Customer teams have the option of running other classic Lotus liveries, such as Lotus Sport UK’s ‘Gold Leaf’ red, white and gold, which was raced to victory in the British GT Championship last year.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB

As mentioned earlier this week, Lotus has formed one of the most exclusive members clubs in the world - Lotus Club GT. It’s a gentlemen’s – or ladies – club with a difference. No leather Chesterfields, wood-panelled walls or cigar smoke – here, you’ll find bucket seats, carbon-panelling and the smell of burning rubber. It is the ultimate club for sports car enthusiasts. The club’s current entry requirements are met with the purchase of one of Lotus’ premium race-bred models – the Evora GT4 and Evora Enduro with club specification. Member benefits include one-to-one driver tuition catering for drivers of all abilities from our professional works drivers and the Lotus F1 Team. Members also receive exclusive VIP access to Lotus events, like going behind the scenes at the Lotus F1 Team’s high security HQ and in the pits at glamorous grands prix.

Matthew de Morgan, businessman and Lotus Club GT member: “You will enjoy it, and I think what you get out of it is more than what you give. We aren’t out there to be pseudo Michael Schumachers, we’re there to have fun competing, to enjoy ourselves in an environment which is safe, educational and challenging. I think this is what the GT club is all about. I didn’t come here with a previous history of driving cars round a track and having done it I’m delighted. Frankly it’s probably the best thing I’ve done for myself in the last ten years.”

Claudio Berro, Group Lotus Director of Motorsport: “Through all our activity on and off the track, we want to make the driver experience as incredible and unique as possible so creating the Lotus Club GT was a natural step for us. Our clients have come to expect more than just to be handed the car keys, they want to be part of the team and to really understand how to get the very most from their investment. Everything is tailored to match the individual expectations of our clients allowing them to truly realise their potential behind the wheel. So far the feedback we have had from members is fantastic - they really become part of the Lotus family”

Check out the Lotus Club GT in action here: http://www.lotuscars.com/motorsport/en/motorsport-video-gallery

F1 TEAM PIMPS OUR ULTIMATE RIDE

Lotus’ Formula One customer experience, the Type 125, has become even more F1, thanks to its final phase of development work by the Lotus F1 Team. Newly-announced driver Romain Grosjean put the car through its paces in Portugal recently as engineers honed the car’s set-up to replicate those of a current generation Formula One beast, while keeping it safe, easy to drive and reliable for Lotus’ private customers. A normal F1 car requires a huge crew just to start it up, yet the single-seat Type 125 can be fired up at the touch of a button. It’s 640bhp 3.5 litre Cosworth V8 engine is linked to a six-speed gearbox with paddle shift. It weights just 560kg resulting in a phenomenal power-to-weight of nearly 1000bhp per tonne. The Type 125 mule sits in a race bay at the team’s Enstone factory, where the 2012 F1 car is being prepared. It has now reached the end of its comprehensive development programme.

Romain Grosjean: “The idea was to bring the car as close as possible to F1 level. We needed a car that was close to the lap time of a Formula One car, but that was also easy to drive. Development is something that I love to do, and the Type 125 has been a really interesting project for me. Some things were quite funny, like the auto clutch the car has for when you leave the garage and the option of auto up-shift, which seemed odd the first time I used it – a bit like a computer game – but it works well. We achieved a strong level of performance and sensation, but it is not too hard or too on-the-limit to drive which is important, because this car is designed for private customers. We did a lot of laps during our three-day test in Portimao and we had no reliability issues at all. Everything worked perfectly.”

Arnaud Boulanger, Head of External Projects, Lotus F1 Team: "Lotus asked us to take on the Type 125 in September 2011 through to its final development. The programme was not to re-engineer the car completely, but to hone the set-up and the car's performance envelope as close as possible to Formula One, and match the build quality to 2012 F1 standards, while also making it safe, reliable and easy to drive. We needed a car that was exhilarating to drive, that was reasonably forgiving, that was relatively easy to operate but that still offers extreme performance – very close to F1. Our programme had the added benefit of development from a current F1 driver, Romain Grosjean when he ran the car at Portimao in mid-November and gave us the valuable feedback we needed.

“Working closely with Group Lotus, we have managed to fulfill all our engineering objectives in a very short space of time. The performance is just a small step back from Formula One, so as to allow the practical aspects I mentioned, but still provide the F1 experience customers crave. It's going to be very physical still, and not many drivers will be able to cope with more than a few flat-out laps. Drivers will be thrilled with the finished product."

BACK TO BASICS

You’re never too old to drive a Lotus. You’re never too young either. Arguably the most fun, raw and inspirational racing machine on our stand in Birmingham is the new Lotus Racing Kart, built in Italy to the highest standards by Wildkarts. The official Lotus Racing Karts team will be evaluating drivers at the end of the month in Lonato, and will compete in the CIK-FIA KF1 Karting World Championship. Championship events will take place at Varennes sur Allier in France (29 April), Suzuka in Japan (20 May), Brandon in UK (22 July), Sarno in Italy (9 September) and Macau-Coloane (21 October).

Lotus Racing Karts has also set its sights on the Asia-Pacific zone and, represented by a Japanese partner, will form a team in the exciting All-Japan Championship.

Another important task for Lotus Racing Karts will be CIK-FIA «U18» Karting World Championship. This new series is aimed at promoting drivers between 15 and 18-years-old through an FIA World Championship in which costs are rigorously limited, in particular thanks to the free allocation of engines and tyres to all participants. Free? That’s not a word you hear often in this business, is it?

TEAM BULLRUN’S NEW BABY

Team Bullrun will be running a Lotus Evora GT4 in the 2012 Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship. The team has previously won the series’ production car titles, while the Evora placed a very credible third in the Britcar 24 Hours last October, but this will be the first full season’s racing for Lotus’ endurance model. Former Britcar Production Champions Richard Adams and David Green will be joined by 2011 BTCC driver Martin Byford. Formula Ford veterans Fluid Motorsport are joining forces with Bullrun to manage the team.

Team Bullrun refers to the US-based luxury rally in which fun-loving and cash-rich enthusiasts take the public roads by storm. Expect some eye-catching Lotus models as well as Burt Reynolds look-a-likes on the Bullrun this year, which kicks off in Hollywood on June 23 and promises seven days of high-octane hedonism. A few thousand miles from Tinsletown – and with no pressure to obey the rules of the road - the first round of the 2012 Britcar series will be held at Silverstone on March 24.

Claudio Berro, Group Lotus Director of Motorsport: “We are delighted that Bullrun share our view that the Evora could be a serious championship contender this year. It is clearly good news to see a British team, with a British car competing for a British title. The overall package Bullrun has managed to put together looks very strong and we look forward to closely following their progress throughout the season.”

Lindsay Allen, Fluid Motorsport co-founder: “We have been considering a move in GT racing for some time – the combination of Bullrun’s track record in Britcar, its trio of experienced drivers and our own race preparation and championship expertise should make for a very strong team. The new Lotus Evora package Bullrun have secured looks to be very competitive. We are very much looking forward to running this alongside our usual Formula Ford operations.”

UP FOR THE CUP

The Lotus Cup Series, which sees enthusiasts race wheel-to-wheel across the globe, is set for even more action this year. In addition to the Elises, Exiges and 2-Elevens that already make up the grids, we will be welcoming Evora V6 entrants worldwide, including the GTS and GTN variants. Lotus-On-Track, which runs the Cup, has its own stand at the Autosport Show 2520 with the GTS on display. Here, you can also view the GTS/N conversion kit, which will turn your production-spec Evora into an out-and-out racer. Bolt it on, and stand well back.

The Lotus Cup has proved massively popular, with 350 participants racing worldwide on some of the most challenging and legendary race tracks and this year there is the added incentive of a prize for the most successful Evora running in the 2012 Cup. Championships are held across the UK, Europe, Eastern Europe, Italy, the USA and Japan, and we’re hoping to add some more territories in 2012.

Echoing our famous Formula One livery, the Lotus Cup gets a lick of paint this year and a new logo in keeping with the refreshed Lotus Racing brand strategy.

HOWDY PARTNERS

Lotus is pleased to announce a couple of new corporate partners to our racing stable.

OCS is an international facilities management company, which provides many businesses with cleaning, catering, security, waste and maintenance services – and, by partnering with Lotus Racing, it hopes to wipe the floor with the competition.

OAMPS is one of the UK’s leading independent insurance brokers, with a broad range of general and specialist insurance solutions – such as motor racing – as well as associated environmental, health and safety services. Partnering one of the most successful marques in motorsport they, too, are in safe hands.

Both brands will be carried on our GT championship Evoras. In addition, on the stand at the NEC, we have a Petronas-plastered Evora GT4. Our collaboration with the Malaysian petrochemical giant is going from strength-to-strength and it’s great to have their growing support.

A PETROLHEAD’S SMORGASBORD

Lotus’ stand at Autosport International is showing off some of our most exciting track-born and race-bred models. In addition to the Petronas-sponsored Evora GT4, in which Lotus Sport UK scored two wins during its maiden season of British GT, we’re displaying a Lotus Renault GP F1 car; the black-and-gold R31 took podiums in the Australian and Malaysian grands prix last year. Then there’s the Evora GT Enduro, our new 440bhp evolution of the GT4, which will be used in the Lotus Club GT. Finally, the NEC boasts the sensational Evora GTE – the ultimate road-going Lotus and by far the most powerful too. With its aggressive face and eye watering stats, it stole the show at last summer’s Pebble Beach Concours, so we were compelled to put it into production.

View attachment: LotusRacing.jpg

After an initial fruitful collaborative year rewarded with a 1-2 Bottas/Calado finish in the GP3 Series and several wins and a 3rd place finish in the GP2 Series thanks to Jules Bianchi and Esteban Gutierrez, the racing team and its partner, Group Lotus, have decided to put it into high gear and create a new dynamic that both partners will benefit from.

For Group Lotus, this new step will embody its heavy involvement in both feeder series to auto racing’s highest level, Formula 1. Since their creation in 2005, the GP2 series have often been the forerunners of a certain idea of the sport and using technologies which are both assurances of quality in the sport and a potential bridge to the automotive industry. The racing team’s structure will be reinforced by this multiple collaboration which will work at several levels and in both directions.

Claudio Berro:

“The relationship between Group Lotus and ART continues to intensify and both parties will benefit from sharing technological developments and engineering support. The partnership goes far beyond an agreement on the team name - this is just the tip of the iceberg. The collaboration between ART and Group Lotus is deeply rooted in the culture and daily life of both entities. For example, Lotus’ road cars, like the Elise and the Evora will benefit directly from the impacts of developments made by the team on the circuit as well as in the factory. The current and future cars will benefit from developments in performance, endurance and stability at high speed and in return, the racing team can draw its inspiration from world-renowned engineering, since Lotus Engineering's engineers may be assigned to Lotus in the GP2 and GP3 Series.”

Frédéric Vasseur:

“I am proud and happy to have the chance to give this new boost to the venture and to have the confidence of as prestigious an auto maker as Group Lotus, whose heritage in the sporting world is known worldwide. I am very happy about the sporting and technical prospects this partnership offers our team. It will enable both entities to capitalize on each others' expertise in order to rise to big challenges in the coming years.”

Lotus Club GT’s current entry requirements are met with the purchase of one of Lotus’s premium race-bred models – the Evora GT4 and Evora Enduro with club specification. Club events come courtesy of the marque’s professional works drivers and the Lotus F1 Team. Club GT will ensure members get the most from their cars and from themselves, and become legends in their own lifetime.

All will be revealed at this week’s Autosport International Show at the Birmingham NEC which kicks off on Thursday (12^th January). And, being Lotus, we’ve got plenty more to talk about – from developments with IndyCar and rally, through to some very exciting partner and sponsorship announcements, an update on the newly formed Lotus Racing kart team and the latest F1-honed development of our Type 125 programme.

For fans of the brand, the official Lotus stand (2520) is not to be missed – every available square metre has been exploited and crammed full of Lotus’s latest racing models and Lotus factory driver Johnny Mowlem and Commercial Director Tony Schulp will be there to talk about Lotus’ exciting motorsport activities for 2012. Both gentleman accompanied by some very special guests will be taking to the famous Autosport Stage from 12:45 on Thursday to reveal Lotus’ plans for 2012 including the rebrand from Lotus Motorsport to Lotus Racing.

View attachment: Club GT.jpg

Whilst most sensible people prepare to wind down for the festive period, the hard working Lotus Motorsport team are busy celebrating the fruits of their labour over the past 12 months following the first successful engine fire up in the Lotus IndyCar chassis AND the first proper Exige R-GT rally car shakedown all within the space of 24 hours.

The first official Lotus IndyCar engine fire up in new car took place on 22nd December at Dallara’s headquarters in Varano Melegari, Palma under the watchful eye of Group Lotus Director of Motorsport Claudio Berro and technicians from the team. Pleased with the overall results, the team have now prepared the engine and car for shipment to the US where full testing will begin in January.

Heading north to Turin, the Exige R-GT, the Rally version of the new Exige S, took centre stage with a quick track shakedown for the first time in full Rally specification. The car handled exactly as expected and the team were delighted with the results. Testing will continue in the new year ahead of the start of the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship season where the Exige will contend the FIA GT category on asphalt at events in Monte Carlo, Tour de Corse and San Remo.   

Claudio Berro said: “The fire up in the car went really well, there were no nasty surprises and I think our partners are going to be very happy with the results. It was only October last year that we announced that we would become an IndyCar engine supplier and just 12 months on, we had an all new Lotus engine and three teams signed up - Bryan Herta Autosport, Dreyer and Reinbold Racing, and HVM Racing. We’ve still got a lot of work to do ahead of the start of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar season but so far I’m very encouraged by what I see.

“And as for the Rally car, when you consider that we’ve only began working on this car in July, I think what we’ve achieved in that time has been incredible. For me the Exige S makes the perfect GT rally car, it has an awesome 3.5-litre, supercharged engine, and we’ve managed to balance the weight perfectly to meet the minimum weight regulations. The shakedown today (23rd December) has only made us even more excited to show off the car in true race form early next year – I think we’re doing the Lotus motorsport pedigree proud.”

Located at the Group Lotus HQ, Hethel, UK, the new retail concept clearly demonstrates the reinvigorated identity of Lotus, one befitting the current and future collection of cars planned for 2013 and beyond.

Part of a global strategy, the Hethel store is the first LOTUS ORIGINALS retail experience to open in Europe and finally gives customers the chance to try the collection before they buy having only been able to buy online since March 2011.

Commenting on the launch Group Lotus Director of Licensing and Merchandise Wiebke Bauer said: "It's a very proud day for us today, it's more than a simple store opening. One of the biggest challenges we have as a business, outside of selling cars, is to make the Lotus brand as accessible as possible. We have many fans out there in the world who aren't necessarily in a position to buy one of our cars but they still want to be part of the Lotus world and this means a lot to us. Developments like this first shop - as part of our global retail strategy, our motorsports activities and the magazine allow us to reach out to so many people who believe in Lotus and this can only be a good thing."

"The team have worked incredibly hard to put together a range of apparel and accessories that will appeal to even the most hard to please Lotus enthusiast. Our focus throughout has been on quality and ensuring a truly authentic Lotus experience for the customer. This shop opening is just one of the many small but important steps we are currently taking as part of the overall brand development strategy. Our next major step will be the official LOTUS ORIGINALS store opening in London early next year - which we're very much looking forward to. People won't need to wait until next year though, they can come and get a taste of what to expect right here, right now at Hethel."

Alongside the shop, Group Lotus also showcased the new look customers can expect from Lotus dealerships in the future. The dealership environment has a modern look and feel with an inviting lounge area where customers can browse the Lotus library or leisurely spec their new Lotus! Lotus’ latest cars will be on display with a full paint and trim swatches to complete the Lotus shopping experience.

The store is open to the public Monday to Thursday 8.30am until 5pm and 8.30am until midday on Fridays. Customers can also shop online at LOTUSORIGINALS.com.

More about the LOTUS ORIGINALS concept and collection

The shop design reflects the LOTUS ORIGINALS brand direction of authenticity, innovation and design excellence and beautifully demonstrates the Lotus approach to modern application with a classic twist. A high-gloss finish throughout the store and concealed lighting make for a clean, even engineered appearance, yet beyond the floating shelves, glass and chrome elements, heritage details are found. Rails are bound with high quality black leather complimented with contrast yellow stitching and subtle panel designs reverence the brands’ rich heritage in a very British way.

Consistency throughout the store and the product offering is very important. The LOTUS ORIGINALS collection is a refined, cohesive range of luxury apparel, leather goods and performance outerwear that centre on craftsmanship, heritage and the spirit of Lotus yet use new technologies and techniques that appeal to today’s buyer – a theme that runs throughout everything Lotus does and results in desirability and exclusivity.

High quality and attention to detail are key, with Loro Piana 100% cashmere yarn used in block coloured sweaters, cardigans and V-neck knits. Polo shirts and T-shirts feature double stitch edging with a playful approach to branding including; vintage Lotus logos, racing stripes and car silhouettes. A hand-treated leather jacket, inspired by the 1970s drivers’ suits, uses authentic design details in the form of protective quilted padding on the shoulders and a two-button side-fasten collar.

The new store will also showcase a range of luxury lifestyle accessories. Hand-crafted luggage will be available in several styles; all finished with heavy zips, contrast stitching and discrete embossed Lotus logos. Calfskin leather driving gloves are the ultimate indulgence, in tan, black, Lotus green and bright yellow. Carbon fibre gaming sets, calfskin wallets, range of colourful belts and luxury desk accessories are also available as part of the range.

Jean, are you excited about the news that Kimi Raikkonen is returning to F1 next year with Lotus Renault GP?

It’s fantastic news. Kimi has more natural speed than just about anyone who has ever raced a Grand Prix car, and if he’s coming back it’s because he wants to do it, he misses F1, and he believes he can do well. He has had a short break, which was a little bit forced by Ferrari. I think he was fed up with the system and wanted to take time out, which I can totally understand. But now he’s coming back, with Lotus, so it’s really exciting.

Kimi’s speed was never in question, but there were concerns he failed to develop the car as Michael Schumacher had done before him. Is that a concern for you now?

Michael was brilliant at that, but it isn’t working for him now at Mercedes and I think this is a reflection of how F1 has developed in recent years and re-prioritized. Now you just need to focus on having a quick driver, someone who does the job. The great thing with Kimi is he extracts the maximum from a quick car. When the car was good at McLaren and Ferrari he was always winning. LRGP will expect him to extract the maximum from the Lotus as well.

It’s sure to fire up the workforce at Enstone, isn’t it, having a world champion in the car?

F1 teams need a driver who will consistently set lap times that are 100 percent on the edge. That is what a driver of Kimi’s caliber can do, to dance on the edge and never fall off. From that, the engineers get a baseline. They understand the true speed of their car and can make changes accordingly. It eradicates any doubt. I expect Kimi will be a very valuable tool indeed. But I don’t expect a lot of talking outside the car! I’m sure he hasn’t changed a bit.

Let’s talk about the Sao Paulo race. Bruno Senna was given a drive-thru penalty after he came together with Michael Schumacher. Did you think that was unfair?

Definitely, yes. It was a 50/50 accident, so why penalize one of them? Both cars were compromised – Bruno with a broken front wing and Michael with a rear puncture. To then penalize one of the drivers in this situation kills the spirit of racing. The stewards should have let it go.

Vitaly Petrov started the year on a high with his podium in Australia and finished the season tenth in the Drivers’ World Championship. How well do you think he did?

He’s been very competitive when the car is quick, and it’s been more difficult for him in the second half of the season. He did a fantastic first grand prix but he seems to suffer more when the car is not perfect.

Lotus Renault GP started the year on the podium but struggled towards the end. Did the designers take a few wrong turns?

The R31 was extremely aggressive in terms of design. At the start of the season, Red Bull’s designer Adrian Newey said that the most creative car out there was the Lotus Renault GP. When the best designer in the world says that, it means a lot, and at the start of the year LRGP were brilliant. Then the exhaust-blowing rules changed, and that hurt the team a lot. We were penalized more heavily than any other team. To finish fifth in the championship is superb.

How did you rate the F1 World Championship 2011 generally?

Even though Red Bull Racing was dominant throughout, I thought it was a very interesting season and I enjoyed the races very much. Out of those 19 races, only three or four were a bit boring; I was on the edge of my seat for the rest. We’ve seen lots of overtaking, lots of incidents, and there was tough competition out there, particularly between McLaren and Ferrari. Lotus Renault GP were very competitive at the start of the season as well, so overall I really enjoyed it.

Which race stood out for you?

My shoes are still drying after the Canadian Grand Prix, so that was memorable not least for the incredible race we saw. I could have done without the two-hour red flag delay in the middle, but that race was really exciting and it’s always great to see a change of the lead on the last lap.

Sebastian Vettel was the class of the field, but who would you nominate as your Man Of The Year?

Apart from Vettel, who did an unbelievable job, the award should go to Jenson Button. I was not surprised by his performance, because he’s been a world champion, but the way he managed to be there all the time, even when he was struggling with set-up, and still get good points was impressive. He also pulled some great overtaking moves, so he was aggressive when he needed to be and smooth when he needed to be, adapting to the Pirelli tyres quicker than most. What a mature performance, and all the more impressive when your team-mate is Lewis Hamilton and Jenson is still, essentially, the new boy. I believe 2011 was even more impressive than his championship-winning year, given that he didn’t have the best car and his team-mate was Hamilton

• Lotus Motorsport will supply engines to Bryan Herta Autosport, Dreyer and Reinbold Racing and HVM Racing.
  
• Engine supply partnership agreements will enable Lotus Motorsport to build long term technical and commercial collaborations with these teams.
  

Lotus utilized the Los Angeles Auto Show today as a platform to announce three partner teams that will race the new Lotus IndyCar V-6 engine in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series. Alongside this Lotus showcased developmental updates on future products and introduced the new Evora with Intelligent Precision Shift (IPS) transmission to the Western US.

Just as developmental work is progressing at full speed on the first of Lotus’ future cars, the all-new Lotus Esprit and its clean-sheet high performance V-8 engine, Lotus Motorsport is rapidly readying its new twin turbo V-6 IndyCar engine for the rigors of racing.

Group Lotus Director of Motorsport Operations, Miodrag Kotur said: “At the LA show last year, we announced that we will be an engine supplier to IndyCar and exactly 12 months on, we are here with an all new Lotus engine and three teams, ready to go. The numbers that the engine is already achieving in our dyno testing are extremely encouraging so our hard work is well and truly paying off.”

“These partnerships with Bryan Herta Autosport, Dreyer and Reinbold Racing, and HVM Racing mean a great deal to Lotus Motorsport and mark the start of a new chapter for Lotus in the IZOD IndyCar Series. We’re thrilled that these already successful and illustrious teams have chosen Lotus, as we believe that our capabilities as a partner will pay dividends for them in the future. These three teams have immediately become part of the Lotus legend and have joined us in our journey as one of the most innovative and successful sports and racing car brands in the world.”

Each of these racing organizations, as Lotus partner teams, will benefit from the extensive testing and development work of the others to more quickly achieve the mutually desired competitive results.

In addition to the new Lotus V6 twin turbo IndyCar engine, work is continuing on the new Lotus Motorsport facility in Indianapolis, which will give the company its base close to the action and its partner teams.

As the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season draws nearer, further announcements will be made by the teams at their individual launch events in due course.

As Marina Circuit used to be a cure for insomnia until the double DRS zone was created this year. It made a real difference on Sunday, didn't it?

Sure there was more overtaking, but I think there's room for improvement on the locations of the two zones. One car would overtake, take the corner, and then immediately get re-passed in the second DRS zone, and for me that felt rather artificial. Had they just had the one zone I think it would have worked better. That said, I'm sure the spectators and the viewers at home enjoyed it and that's the most important thing. I enjoyed watching Fernando Alonso because he was pushing all the time to catch Lewis Hamilton, but when Sebastian Vettel went out after just 200 metres the race, for me, was a little bit damaged.

No points for Lotus Renault GP today. Both drivers looked to struggle in qualifying and the race. Is all attention now on next year's car?

I think everyone is looking to next year. These last couple of grands prix, because the championship is settled, are basically test sessions with trophies at the end. Because the teams are so restricted on testing they're already trying out their new parts for 2012, and LRGP are no exception. However, it's clear the team are struggling with their new exhaust system. It seems to be penalizing them a lot on slow speed and twisty tracks, like Monaco, Singapore and Abu Dhabi.

It would be great to see Bruno Senna get points at home in Brazil in a fortnight. How do you think he's been developing in these past seven races he's driven for the team?

The speed of the car at the moment is not great, this is clear, but there are some high-speed sectors at Interlagos, where the R31 will be more at ease. Bruno is racing with a top team for the first time, so there's lots to learn on his side too. He managed to impress straight away on his LRGP debut in Spa and everyone was surprised how quickly he adapted. Now I think we can see that the car's set-up is not following exactly what engineers forecast, and that's not easy for the driver. Because of his nationality and surname Bruno will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders at Interlagos, but I'm sure he's going to be okay. He's a pretty cool customer.

FORMULA ONE - ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

Lotus Renault GP were disappointed to finish outside the points at the penultimate round of the FIA Formula One World Championship after another tough weekend.

Vitaly Petrov wrestled some technical issues in practice to pull out a maximum attack lap in qualifying, but that was still only good enough for P12. Bruno Senna, meanwhile, made a mistake on his single Q2 flyer and had to settle for 14th. From there, race strategy demanded a degree of gambling.

The Brazilian pitted on Lap 1 to exchange medium for soft rubber and then sprinted from the back. Meanwhile Vitaly played a more conservative game, which was not helped by a faulty DRS system. He crossed the line 13th while Bruno, who was handed a drive-thru penalty for failing to respond to blue flags, also battled with a KERS issue and wound up 16th.

Vitaly Petrov: “It was quite a frustrating afternoon because my DRS wasn’t working. We thought we could have a good fight with the cars in front, but we were pretty helpless. The pace was not good enough to score points, and that’s the reality.”

Bruno Senna: “Let’s be honest here – there’s not a crumb of comfort to take from that performance. We suffered from a KERS failure, drive-thru penalty and a car which was not on the money at this particular track. Put those together and you can see why I finished where I did. Overall my pace this weekend was as good as it could have been. Maybe for Brazil we will have a better baseline.”

GP2 SERIES FINAL – ABU DHABI

Lotus-ART took a lights-to-flag victory atYas Marina Circuit on Sunday, finishing the final race of 2011 on a high. The non-championship showdown saw team-mates Esteban Gutierrez and series debutant James Calado united for the first time, ahead of Lotus-ART’s 2012 campaign. And it was Calado who took the spoils.

The Englishman was out-qualified by Gutierrez, starting Race 1 11th and eighth respectively. The Mexican made an absolutely blinding start and shot up to fourth before Stefano Coletti tagged the rear of his green-and-yellow car and bit half the wing off. Gutierrez soldiered on, setting the fastest middle sector despite his impediment. But on Lap 4 he had no choice but to pit, and this sent him to the back of the field and a lap down.

Calado, meanwhile, was patiently promoted, making up a place at the start and rising to eighth by the chequered flag. This put him in pole position for Race 2’s reverse grid, and he seized the opportunity by leading all 31 laps to the finish. It earned him a 15,000 Euro prize from Pirelli.

Gutierrez once again proved his pace, fighting his way through the field from his 21st place grid slot. By Lap 5 he was 14th, and by Lap 18 he was ninth. As Alexander Rossi and Fabio Leimer squabbled over fifth place, and the field bunched up behind them, he kept his head while others were losing theirs and came through to steal fifth on the final lap.

James Calado: “It’s a fantastic feeling. The emotion going over the line was incredible. To be at such a prestigious event and win is just great. I got a good start which was obviously key because around here it’s quite hard to overtake. I saw that Markus Ericsson was behind me and I knew it was going to be tough because he’s experienced on these tyres, but I managed to hold him off.”

Esteban Gutierrez: “Congratulations to James. He’s a great guy and it’s important for me to have a very competitive team-mate, so this weekend has confirmed to me that 2012 with Lotus-ART is going to be brilliant. We had strong race pace on both Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately traffic and a gearbox issue meant I qualified further down the field than I would have liked. I made a very good start in Race 1 but was then hit and my car was damaged, and this is a familiar feeling as it’s happened a few times this year. So that ruined my race and made Sunday very difficult. Nevertheless, it was great fun cutting through the field and in the last couple of laps there was a real scrap going on for fifth position. I managed to come through unscathed and I think I can be very happy with fifth, having come from 21st.”

ILMC – SIX HOURS OF ZHUHAI

Lotus Jetalliance managed to get both Lotus Evora GTE’s to the finish of China’s sports car endurance meeting, claiming an impressive fourth and sixth place.

The Lower Austrian team also set the quickest time in class during free practice in heavy rain, courtesy of Lotus works driver James Rossiter. Martin Rich, Oskar Slingerland and Rene Rasmussen crossed the line P4 in the GTE/Pro class with team-mates Rossiter, Johnny Mowlem and David Heinemeier not far behind.

And the day was not without drama, as team manager Jan Kalmar explains: “We did have some problems, but in the end we can take pleasure from a great result. Above all our drivers were struggling with the heat in the cockpit and, on top of that, there were problems with the gearbox, a tyre failure, two off-track excursions and hostile contact with a competitor. But we’ve come through all that in one piece today. Congratulations to the entire team.”

Group Lotus director of motorsport Claudio Berro sums up the weekend: “Congratulations to Lotus-ART and James Calado for victory in the final GP2 round of 2011. It’s been a great year for the team and I think the driver pairing of Calado-Gutierrez is a very special one which bodes well for next year. Well done too to our ILMC team, Lotus Jetalliance, and their strong result in China. The potential of the Evora GTE can be in no doubt. Finally, we hope that in Brazil, the final round of this year’s Formula One World Championship, we can get back in the points where we belong.”

1Malaysia Racing Team, Caterham Cars and Tony Fernandes

Proton, Group Lotus, 1Malaysia Racing Team and its owner Tony Fernandes are delighted to announce that the legal dispute in the English Courts relating to the "LOTUS" and "TEAM LOTUS" brands has now ended amicably with the parties agreeing settlement terms earlier this month.

The terms of the settlement are confidential but the deal sees the "LOTUS" brand reunited under the sole ownership of Group Lotus. This includes the rights to the "LOTUS" and "TEAM LOTUS" names in Formula 1 motor racing.

1MRT will race in the 2012 Formula 1 season under the name "CATERHAM F1 TEAM" and will use a “CATERHAM” chassis.

The deal also sees a working relationship established between the parties and they will work together on future projects in the automotive field.

Group Lotus Chief Executive Officer Dany Bahar: “On behalf of Group Lotus and Proton I would like to express how pleased we are that this matter is finally closed and we can now focus on looking forward to the future.

“We understand that this has been a very difficult and confusing time for the fans of the sport and the Lotus brand so we are glad to have reached a clear resolution on this important matter – I would like to take this opportunity to thank our fans for their continued support, it means everything to us.”

Riad Asmat, Group CEO: "We are proud of what we have achieved by bringing the Team Lotus name back to Formula One when many tried and although we are sad to say goodbye to Team Lotus we are excited about owning our own future and being in control of our own destiny. Now we have no one to be compared to. We make our own history and we will remain green and yellow.

"Now we look forward to an exciting future racing under our new team name of Caterham F1 Team. Please continue to support our very special spirit of never say die and support us on the track as we move up the field and demonstrate that the good do win."

Last week saw a major milestone event in Group Lotus’ history as the first Lotus showroom in China was declared officially open for business. The formal opening ceremony at the showroom in Beijing was overseen by senior representatives of Group Lotus and Lotus China alongside Clive Chapman, the son of Lotus Founder Colin Chapman.

China-based sports car enthusiasts had their appetites for the Lotus brand whetted with the first public unveiling of the Evora GTE Road Car and the F1-inspired customer race car, the T125 before being introduced to the rest of the current Lotus line-up. The Beijing Showroom features six models, the Elise R, Elise SC, Evora, Evora IPS, Exige S 240 and the Exige S 260.

Speaking at the launch Li-Chen Zhang, President and CEO of Lotus China said: "This is the first showroom that the Lotus brand has set up in China since entering the Chinese market on June 15 and it’s a very proud day for all of us who believe so strongly in the brand. We truly believe that the Chinese market will completely embrace the Lotus philosophy of performance through lightweight and innovation through clever design – we sold around 300 units before we even opened the showroom so the initial interest and orders put forward indicate that our faith in the brand is well placed."

Group Lotus Chief Executive Office Dany Bahar said: “East Asia and in particular China represents an interesting market for Lotus and this latest development is a crucial step in the strategic plan we have for expansion within this important region. We see many exciting opportunities for growth within the Chinese market and we could not ask for better partners than Lotus China to join us on this journey. The response we have had from China to the current and new Lotus range has been incredible particularly the demand for the Evora GTE Road Car – this activity confirms our suspicions that now is the perfect time to really push in this market.”

The showroom, situated in the fashionable Chaoyang district, also represents another key event in Lotus’ journey as it’s the first showroom in the world to adopt Group Lotus’ new corporate identity alongside a dedicated boutique for Lotus Originals. Covering a total area of 600m², the uniquely designed showroom has two floors, the first is dedicated to the cars, sales and Lotus Originals with offices on the second.

A further ten showrooms are expected to be opened in China in 2012.

FORMULA ONE – INDIAN GRAND PRIX

Lotus Renault GP narrowly missed out on points in India’s inaugural 60 lap race, with Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna crossing the line in 11^th and 12^th respectively.

They did, however, improve on their starting positions and the R31 showed decent pace in clean air. Bruno started 14^th, having struggled with changing balance as the dusty track evolved. Vitaly ended Q1 at the top of the time sheets, but made some errors in Q2 that left him 11^th. A five-place penalty handed over from the Korean Grand Prix meant he started behind his team-mate in 16^th.

Bruno made a lightening start to get up to 10^th place at the end of the first lap. Unfortunately a KERS problem made him a sitting duck later in the race and, though he was riding ninth in the middle stint, he eventually dropped out of the points.

Vitaly pitted on Lap 3 to switch hard tyres for softs, and a mistake with the clutch baulked his hopes of a quick getaway. This put him behind traffic, and scotched his race plan because Sergio Perez and the Force Indias were quicker on the straights and difficult to overtake.

Bruno Senna: “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 then I suffered a KERS problem, and fighting without it made the remainder of the race difficult. I had a good second stint and we had a chance to get in the points, but now we must look forward to Abu Dhabi.”

Vitaly Petrov: “My start was good especially considering I was on hards. I made an early pitstop and made a mistake with the clutch which cost me time as I couldn’t pull away. This disrupted our plan and I emerged behind cars whose straight-line speed was higher than mine, but I kept attacking like hell to try to pass. I had a lot of oversteer and nearly lost the car in Turn 9 after hitting the kerb and touching the grass, but luckily I caught it. That was a big moment!”

Eric Boullier, Team Principal: “Overall this weekend was a squandered opportunity. It’s very clear that we had pace at this track. During the practice sessions we managed to show what we were capable of but we were not able to pull the quick laps out of the bag when it mattered. We need to pull ourselves together for the last two races so we can close the season on a better note.”

Claudio Berro, Group Lotus Director of Motorsport: “It’s disappointing not to have any points to show for the weekend when, clearly, the car had the pace to net eighth or ninth place, but let’s hope everything comes together in these final two races and we fulfill our promise with some strong finishes.”

Lotus Renault GP narrowly missed out on points today, but were you happy with their race pace?

To be honest, it looks like something is missing. The performance of the team is inconsistent. We seem to have the raw pace to get both cars in the points, but the speed isn’t there when it’s really needed. We’re struggling to score points now, whereas we started the season so strongly. I cross my fingers that we’ll end the season on a positive note.

What did you think of the Buddh International Circuit and the racing it produced?

It looked nice on TV, but to be honest I was expecting more competition between the cars. We’ve seen many races this year where, in the last 20 laps, you’ve got the top four or five guys fighting, but that was not the case in India. Jenson Button wasn’t far off Sebastian Vettel, but Vettel was just managing the gap and cruising to the line. By setting the fastest lap on the last lap, he was telling us how much pace he had. There was not a lot of overtaking today – I was definitely expecting more.

Are you glad to see India on the calendar?

It’s always nice to go to another country, and India is a very welcome addition to the calendar with enormous potential - I think India could end up loving F1. I read in the papers in Italy that this is actually the 30th different country to be visited by F1, and that’s cool.

We’re headed to New York in 2013 – you must be excited about that…

It’s going to be fantastic for F1. We need to make the sport work in America, and soon we will have two races – Austin next year and then this new street circuit with Manhattan as a backdrop. It’s going to be amazing, I can’t wait.