A: The first thing I have to say is that Nick did a fantastic job – starting from the back of the grid and finishing in 8th was fantastic - so credit to him. The team did a good job and kept their cool after the incident in qualifying and focussed on the job in hand which is very important.

I think Vitaly qualified well and had a great start to the race, he really pushed but for me Nick really shone, having three spare sets of tyres definitely helped him.

Q: As you mentioned, Nick started from the back and finished in P8 where as his team mate Vitaly qualified in P6 and finished P11 – this example could show that a drivers’ race performance is dictated more by tyre saving than qualifying position – do you think that qualifying strategies need to be rethought this year?

A: It’s an interesting thought but no, I don’t think so. When you look at the final result, only four cars finished on the same lap, the Red Bulls and McLarens, all the other cars were lapped. I think the race result is determined by more than one single factor such as tyre wear – my personal view is that it’s much better to qualify well and start well than to conserve your tyres – I think this helps you more during the race.

Q: We’re five races down in the season now and it’s very clear that changing the tyre supplier has made a big difference to the style of racing we are now experiencing, what are your thoughts on this, both from a driver and spectator perspective?

A: What you must first remember is that the teams and the Federation agreed to the change with a clear idea on the effect it would have on the sport – more tyre wear and increased number of pit stops and therefore more action within a race. As a driver, I don’t think it makes a huge difference. You are constantly in touch with your engineer and the team, so you always know who you’re following, when you need to stop and how much to push. As a spectator though, I wonder if it gets a little confusing after a while, without inside knowledge, it can be difficult to tell who is on what tyre and which strategy but I guess for some, this will make the race even more exciting!

Q: You mentioned before the Turkish Grand Prix that you felt Monaco would be a good race for Lotus Renault GP, with two more races complete, do you still feel that way?

A: Absolutely. I think the Monaco street circuit will suit the R31’s special characteristics perfectly and I think LRGP will do really well there – I would go even further than saying we’ll have a good performance, I think we may even see a podium finish from Nick or Vitaly – the two visits to the podium in the first two races were not accidental. I’m really looking forward to the race!

During the star studded fashion show and auction at the historic Forville Market in Cannes a special edition Evora S donated by Group Lotus was sold for €120,000 to help with the fundraising effort.

Alesi shared the catwalk with stars of stage, screen, fashion and sport. Yasmin Le Bon, Karolina Kurkova, Victoria Silvstedt, Rosario Dawson, Barbara Becker, Novak Djokovic, legendary icon Jane Fonda and Naomi Campbell herself all took a turn on the catwalk for the charity.

Commenting on his modelling debut, Jean Alesi said: "I am so proud to be part of this spectacular event, the people of Japan need all the help they can get and this is a great way to bring people together and make a difference."

Naomi Campbell said: "I love working with our friends at Group Lotus! Fashion For Relief and the charities we support are so very grateful for your support. Thank you to everyone at Lotus who helped us!"

Gino Rosato, Director of Corporate Operations at Group Lotus added: "Fashion For Relief does great work for those in desperate need and we are proud to be part of this fundraising effort. I think many people were touched by the disaster in Japan earlier this year and we're really pleased to be able to do something to help - it's great to see the Lotus family making a difference to families and communities around the world."

Naomi Campbell and ‘Fashion For Relief TM’ will be raising vital funds with a star studded fashion show and auction at the historic Forville Market in Cannes on Monday 16th May and Lotus has donated a customised Lotus Evora to the charity for auction.

Lotus' contribution is a bespoke, high-performance Evora S with a dramatic colour scheme which reflects Naomi's design direction.

Naomi Campbell says, “The destruction caused by the earthquake in Japan is completely heartbreaking and I felt compelled to do our part and support Japan at this time. I am delighted that Lotus Cars has joined forces with ‘Fashion For Relief TM‘ for the second consecutive year and I am sure with their continued support we will raise crucial funds for this deserving cause.”

Gino Rosato, Director of Corporate Operations at Lotus says, "Fashion for Relief does great work for those in desperate need and we are proud to be part of this fundraising effort. Our entire workforce gets behind these projects and we love to see the Lotus family making a difference to families and communities around the world."

Group Lotus are proud to announce a rocking new partnership with 'Anthems', a collection of concerts starring legendary Queen star Brian May and West End and Broadway singing sensation, Kerry Ellis (We Will Rock You, Wicked, Chess in Concert and Oliver!).

Under the creative direction of Brian May, this series of unique productions provides the perfect opportunity to experience Anthems, the stunning hit debut album from Kerry Ellis produced by Brian May. In addition to performing Anthems, the concerts feature an opening set from American 'soul rock' sensation Vintage Trouble and will also include May's special rock-orchestral settings of songs and new material.

Group Lotus decided to partner the concerts after working closely with Brian last year when he played an integral role in the unveiling of Lotus' future model line-up as he joined supermodel Naomi Campbell to unveil the new Lotus Esprit, the eagerly anticipated incarnation of the iconic British supercar.

Commenting on the relationship, Group Lotus Director of Corporate Operations Gino Rosato, said: "I've had the pleasure of working with Brian May many times over the years and when he told us about the concept for the Anthems concerts, we were happy to show our support for what we think will be a collection of really special music events. At Lotus we believe passionately in brand experience rather than traditional advertising, this activity by association is an extension of this policy."

Brian May said: "I have a lot of affection for Group Lotus and I'm really happy that we can work together on Anthems. I'm happy to support what the team at Lotus is doing to return the iconic British sportscar marque to the forefront of people's minds. Now seems like the perfect time to be working together."

Speaking about the concerts he added: "Kerry Ellis is acknowledged as a phenomenon, equally at home in Musical Theatre and Rock. I was convinced from the moment she brought the character of Meat to life in 'We Will Rock You', nine years ago, that she was destined to be a worldwide star. The challenge was to develop songs and arrangements to allow that amazing voice to reach its true potential. I feel we have now achieved this together on 'Anthems: The Concert'. It's a kind of Anthemic-Orchestral-Rock-Musical-Theatre Fusion! But the key is the passion in that unique voice."

After kicking off at the Royal Albert Hall followed by an appearance at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall the remaining Anthems tour schedule is as follows:

Thursday May 12 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 0141 353 8000 Saturday May 14 Cardiff St David's Hall 02920 878 444 Monday May 16 Manchester Bridgewater Hall 0161 907 9000 Wednesday May 18 Milton Keynes Theatre 0844 871 7652 Thursday May 19 Southend Cliffs Pavilion 01702 351 135 Saturday May 21 Bath Forum 01225 463 362 ADDITIONAL DATES Saturday 1 June Hampton Court 0844 873 7344 Saturday 16 July RAF Cranwell 0844 888 9991

Qualifying: Vitaly Petrov – P7 / Nick Heidfeld – P9

Race: Nick Heidfeld – P7 / Vitaly Petrov – P8

Championship: 4th – 42 points

Lotus Renault GP left Istanbul Park with ten championship points – the first double points finish of the season - after a hard-fought race saw an improvement on the starting position.

With 82 pitstops and dozens of thrilling overtaking manoeuvres the race was breathless. Vitaly Petrov overtook Michael Schumacher on Lap 2 but the Mercedes driver turned in on him, causing damage to both cars. Schumi was quick to apologise after the race. Vitaly soldiered on, before jousting with team-mate Nick Heidfeld through the final turns on Lap 12. There was some anxious foot-tapping on the Lotus Renault pitwall, but the drivers gave each other just enough room, even if there was some gesticulating from the cockpit!

The team employed a four-stop strategy, which turned out to be the optimal strategy. On the final lap, Vitaly pulled a daring move on Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi to finish eighth while Nick was able to cross the line ahead in seventh.

Vitaly Petrov: "It was an interesting race and strategically it was challenging for all the teams. I think what really affected my position today was the collision with Michael [schumacher] early in the race. He hit my car and then I was stuck behind some slower drivers after the first pit stop. If this had not happened, my race would have been much stronger and I could have pulled away. However, I was pleased to overtake Sebastien [buemi] at the end, which took me back into eighth. We must be positive, we have both cars in the points and it's another ten points for the team."

Nick Heidfeld: "It's always good to score points, but I think I could have finished even higher up today, even though I started in P9. I am not totally happy with the race - I was stuck in traffic for quite a while, overtaking was difficult and Vitaly made contact with me - but my pace was good, especially at the end of the race when the car was light on the soft tyres. I also think our strategy was the right one. Overall, to finish in P7 and take six points for the team is good, given that I did not qualify in a higher position."

GP2 – Lotus-ART – Turkish Grand Prix

Qualifying: Jules Bianchi (JB) – P4 / Esteban Gutierrez (EG) – P24

Race 1: JB– P3 / EG – DNF Race 2: JB– P7 / EG– P10

Championship: 5th – 6 points

Turkey saw the GP2 class of 2011 do battle for the first time. In the feature race, Esteban Gutierrez tangled with Ocean's Kevin Mirocha on the run down to Turn 1. A separate incident on the first lap triggered a four-lap safety period and, once the race was underway again, Jules Bianchi was passed by Super Nova's Luca Filippi for fourth place after the Frenchman out-braked himself trying to put a move on third-placed Dani Clos. In the pits, Jules struggled to pull away and lost places to Arden's Josef Kral and Trident's Stefano Coletti which he then regained. On the last lap he skillfully passed Racing Engineering's Clos and Addax' Guido van der Garde to take P3.

In Race 2 there was more first lap drama when Jules was tapped into a spin by Dams' Romain Grosjean, leaving the Lotus-ART driver to fight his way back through the field from 23rd. It was a similar story for Esteban who, after Saturday's crash, started 24th and managed to sprint through to tenth.

Jules Bianchi: "It wasn't an easy weekend! In Race 1 I made a normal start but Clos did a really good one, and then I tried to overtake him and did a mistake in corner 12, and Filippi overtook me at corner one. The first set wasn't good for me, I had a bit of oversteer, but anyway we were P5, so it wasn't too bad. I wanted to have some points for this race but after the pits I did a mistake and put on the anti-stall twice, so I came out around Kral and Coletti, I think, and I had to overtake them. I used my tyres a bit too much on this first lap, so it was not an easy race: I did some good moves but anyway we finished third, so it's a good way to start the championship. Sunday was frustrating, getting pitched into a spin at Turn 14. Battling my way from 23rd to seventh was a big challenge in the 23 lap race, and I had some good battles."

Esteban Gutierrez: "It was a little frustrating what happened in Race 1, but such things happen from time to time. On the other hand it's not a huge deal, we have to take the positive from the experience and continue working. My mission for Race 2 was to finish, and we did so passing 14 cars in the process."

ILMC – Lotus Jetalliance - 1000KM of Spa-Francorchamps

Race: Car 64 (Rich-Slingerland) – P9 / Car 65 (Hirschi-Rossiter-Mowlem) – DNF

The first competitive outing for the new Lotus Evora GTE was encouraging, with Martin Rich and Oskar Slingerland getting Car 24 to the finish line of the 1000km marathon, despite only totaling 450km in pre-race testing. Car 65 of Jonathan Hirschi, James Rossiter and Johnny Mowlem was less fortunate, suffering a blown engine after 21 laps.

Car 64 managed to clock 119 laps during the six-hour-long endurance race, finishing ninth in the LM GTE Pro category. This came despite a mid-race crash into the barriers at Pouhon, costing the team three laps in repairs, and an even more time-consuming gearbox issue after the car stuck in gear. The team changed the transmission's compressor and applied additional cooling before sending the Evora out again.

The next race will be the Le Mans 24 Hours on June 11-12, and the Lotus marque is thrilled to be returning to this most legendary of events.

Jan Kalmar, Team Manager, Lotus Jetalliance: "It's a pain that only one car finished but, to be honest with you, given the lack of testing we had going into this race I think it went extremely well. One thousand kilometres is double the distance the car had been run before. There is an awful lot we need to improve on – engine, cooling and handling – but this is to be expected given the early stage of our Evora GTE program. On the whole, I think we have a lot to be optimistic about. Our goal was to finish, not set lap records."

Claudio Berro, Director of Motorsport, Group Lotus: "Overall, a very positive weekend's racing for Group Lotus. It was good to kick off to Lotus-ART's GP2 campaign with a podium courtesy of Jules Bianchi. In F1, Lotus Renault GP scored its first double-points finish of the year. And at Spa-Francorchamps the Lotus Evora GTE achieved a lot of mileage which was our goal ahead of tackling Le Mans. Things are shaping up nicely for this Summer."

Le Mans

Lotus Factory drivers James Rossiter and Johnny Mowlem joined the rest of the Lotus Jetalliance driver line up for the official Le Mans 24 hour qualifying test at the iconic French circuit. Lotus make a return to the legendary endurance race with established Jetalliance Racing and will contest one of the world's most famous races with two Evora GTEs. Rossiter and Mowlem join Swiss driver Jonathan Hirschi in car one.

All six drivers completed the necessary time trial to qualify for the main event on 11th/12th June.

Prior to the test at the weekend James Rossiter said: "I'm delighted to make my Le Mans debut with such an amazing brand as Lotus, and I look forward to working with Johnny and getting to grips with a race circuit that I have always wanted to drive."

Johnny Mowlem commented: "It is always a real pleasure to drive at Le Mans and I have been fortunate enough to do the race seven times before, but to drive for a car manufacturer with the racing heritage that Lotus has, will make this race a very special one for me."

Car one completed 735 kilometres, car two completed 450 kilometres during the test.

Watch out for the next GTE outing as Lotus Jetalliance take on the six hour race at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on 7th May 2011.

GT4 European Cup – Zandvoort, Netherlands

Lotus Sport Italy stole the show at the first round of the GT4 European Cup at Zandvoort this weekend. The team, lead by Gianni Giudici, entered two Lotus Evora GT4's and won the first and third race and placed second in the second race thanks to a sensational performance from Stefano D'Aste. In total there were three Lotus Evora GT4s and one Lotus 2-Eleven contesting the opening round of the GT4 European Cup in the Netherlands.

The next round of the GT4 European Cup takes place on 5th June at Silverstone – for further information go to: gt4cup.com

British GT Championship – Oulton Park, UK

Lotus Sport UK fielded two Lotus Evora GT4s for the first round of the British GT Championship at the Cheshire based track. Piloted by Layton Clarke, Freddy Nordström in car one and Lotus employee Oliver Jackson with Jack Drinkall in car two, both cars did well in the first race coming fifth and sixth respectively. This performance was topped in the second race when cars finished in second and third respectively. The next round of the British GT Championship takes place on 15th May at one of Lotus' local tracks, Snetterton – for further information go to: britishgt.com

IndyCar

Following Lotus KVRT's strong start to the season the team is hopeful for a great performance at the Sao Paulo Indy 300 this weekend. Watch the race on Sunday 1st May on Sky Sports HD4 from 5pm. Follow Lotus KVRT by visiting kvracingtechnology.homestead.com where you'll find the latest news from the team and images from the races

Lotus partnered with Brooklyn based charity East Side House Settlement to host the 12th annual Gala Preview on Thursday (April 21st) at the Jacob Javits Center, 11th Avenue, New York. The event, a highlight of the New York Auto Show, culminated in an exciting live auction, where the star prize was a Lotus Evora IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) donated by Group Lotus.

The lucky winner fended off rivals with a generous bid of $80,000 to secure the newly launched Lotus Evora IPS – the latest variant of the multi award winning Evora.

Speaking at the event, Lotus Director of Sales Guillaume Chabin said: “East Side House is a fantastic charity that provides its students and their families the very best classroom prep and technology training for high school and beyond, so we are very proud to partner with them for this special event. The auction part of the evening was great, people really dug deep into their pockets for this worthwhile cause. A big thank you from Group Lotus and congratulations to everyone who took part especially to our auction winner - what an intelligent purchase sir - it’s money well spent and he’s really going to enjoy his purchase!”

For those people who are still unfamiliar with the Evora, this model range is widely regarded as one of the most exciting, uncompromising and genuinely useable sportscars on the market today. With 3.5 litre V6 engine it delivers seamless performance, but that’s not all the IPS variant has to offer - this clever automatic version of the Evora allows you to switch between manual paddle shift and automatic drive modes. It’s been a long time since Lotus created an automatic so, as you can imagine, the clever engineers at Lotus have spent a great deal of time refining this one to make sure that it perfectly complements the sublime Evora drive experience.

Lotus will be at the New York Auto Show until May 1st so fans of the unique British automotive manufacturer have a few days to get up close to a selection of some of the most enjoyable, high-performance, lightweight sportscars on the market including the Evora IPS, the Evora S and a taste of the future of Lotus with the new Lotus Esprit.

Download

….THE US DEBUT FOR THE EVORA S AND IPS

AND

….INDYCAR DRIVER EJ VISO AND TEAM PRINCIPAL JIMMY VASSER

Lotus Advisory Council Member and automotive legend Bob Lutz opened the press conference for Group Lotus today (April 21st ) at the New York Auto Show. Whilst Bob spoke about the future for Lotus, the focus remained firmly on the here and now and this was perfectly demonstrated by the American debut of the stunning new Evora S and the Evora IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) – both models showcase the versatility of the multi-award winning Evora.

Bob Lutz was joined by Lotus’ Director of Sales, Guillaume Chabin who gave an overview on the current Lotus line-up followed by Director of Motorsport Claudio Berro and Lotus KVRT Team Principal Jimmy Vasser and IndyCar driver EJ Viso.

But for Lotus it’s the cars that are always the stars and alongside the famous faces on the stand sat the limited edition RGB Exige and a member of the future Lotus family, the iconic Esprit, arguably the most eagerly anticipated of the new Lotus range.

Lotus will be at the New York Auto Show until May 1 st so fans of the unique British automotive manufacturer have a few days to get up close to a selection of some of the most enjoyable, high-performance, lightweight sportscars on the market.

And now some more details about those all important stars of the show……

About the Evora S: Like the standard Evora, the Evora S has a 3.5 litre V6 engine and produces seamless performance. The supercharged Evora S has 350 PS (345 hp) and 400 Nm (295 lbft) of torque, courtesy of a supercharger which gives acceleration of 4.8 seconds to 100 km/h (4.6 seconds to 60 mph) and a maximum speed of 277 km/h (172 mph).

The Evora S comes with a sport pack as standard featuring a ‘sport’ button which allows the driver to control throttle response and activate the exhaust by-pass valve*. The sport button also raises the instantaneous rev limit and changes the dynamic stability control settings resulting in a total experience change. The external emotion of the Evora S has been improved with a completely new active exhaust which means that at the push of a button the car sounds just as dramatic as it feels.

Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar says: “It’s the next level of Evora experience. The Evora S communicates even more with you, with extra power and control the car responds even more to your direction. It’s an instinctual car, the experience is pure.”

About the Evora IPS: The IPS version of the Evora allows the driver to switch between manual paddle shift and automatic drive modes. The driver also has the option of selecting ‘sport’ mode which showcases the Lotus sport driving experience allowing the driver to really feel each gear shift and be in complete control of the transmission.

Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar says: “The Evora IPS is set to broaden the appeal of the Evora and reach out to a slightly different market. We expect it will be popular with established automatic locations such as Asia, the Middle East and the US. It’s been a long time since Lotus created an automatic and we’ve spent a great deal of time refining this one to make sure that it perfectly complements the Evora drive experience.”

About the RGB Exige: The limited edition RGB Exige also featured on the stand, named in honour of one of Lotus’ most prominent old boys, former Director of Vehicle Engineering Roger George Becker. In celebration of his 44 years of service, which included doubling for Roger Moore’s James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me, Lotus created a special edition of the Exige and Elise which both benefit from some Becker-inspired modifications. For the technically minded out there, the RGB Exige uses the range topping 260 PS (257 hp) supercharged and an intercooled 1.8l engine which allows this lightweight sportscar a 0-60 mp/h in around four seconds and an impressive aerodynamic downforce figure of 92.5 lbs (42 kg) at 100 mph (160 km/h).

The Exige RGB is available in four colours, Aspen White, Starlight Black, Solar Yellow & Carbon Grey and each one is identified by a numbered interior plaque, Roger Becker’s signature on the side of the bodywork and special monochrome Lotus nose badge.

About the Esprit: The new Esprit will be powered by a 5.0 litre V8 pressure charged engine delivering up to 620 PS. The Esprit retains exceptional performance through it’s unique lightweight design making it the ultimate expression of Lotus supercar ownership. It is the supercar that will redefine ride and handling, performance, comfort and exclusivity.

The styling of the Esprit echos the performance with strong lines throughout the sleek low body. The symmetry through the mass and proportion of the Esprit give it an intense look, it’s the perfect example of the new Lotus DNA in action.

Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar says: “Not only does the Esprit look incredible but it will have the performance to match. We’ve stuck to the Lotus core values of performance through lightweight and teamed them with future technology and exceptional engineering to ensure that the Esprit will be the leader of the pack. The design is aggressive, you have to see it to appreciate how low and wide the proportions are but it still retains a level of dignity, of class and most of all exclusivity. I’m very proud of this car.”

*Engine Protection Valve (opens at 4700 rpm) designed to reduce the back pressure at high rpm, allowing the engine to safely generate full power

Conditions Dry

Air Tem 21.1c

Track Temp 31.2c

Track Length 5739m

1st out Edo Piscopo

2nd out Leo Mansell

3rd out Greg Mansell

Race Time 3.0.07.744

Best Lap 2.00.093 (lap 6)

Laps completed 84

Lotus Sport Italia finished 1st in class and 19th overall at the first round of the Blancpain Endurance Series, in Monza. The second Evora GT4 entered as Lotus Driving Academy took second place and finished 20th overall, despite experiencing 3 punctures during the race. The race was an eventful one for the No 70 Lotus Sport Italia entry, with the car swapping positions with GT4 Nissan throughout the race. During Greg Mansell's stint the cars changed places 4 times in one lap and made contact in the Parabolica, which ultimately retired the Nissan and damaged the Evora. Nonetheless despite damage which affected the cars handling Greg was able to bring the car home in 1st after a stunning opening stint by GT4 debutant Edo Piscopo. This was followed by a very solid second sting by Leo Mansell on deteriorating tyres.

The Lotus Driving Academy GT4 result was made all the more impressive as the Driver line-up was made of gentlemen drivers, Stefan Landmann (AUT), Csaba Walter (HUN) and Florian Aichinger (AUT).

Leo Mansell comments: We had a great battle all race with the Nissan which only came to an end during Greg stint. The car has been great all weekend although I did struggle with my tyres throughout the race. Lotus did an amazing job; the car is great and was very reliable. I am very happy for the Team and delighted to have been on the podium twice with the EVORA following the Dubai 24 hours in January.

Greg Mansell comments: It was a really good race and I had a real battle with the Nissan, swapping places 4 times with them in one lap alone. Anyway the car and the Team worked tremendously well all weekend and I could not have hoped for a better start to this Championship.

Edo Piscopo comments: I am so happy for Lotus and the whole team; this is a fantastic result for us in what is a great Championship. I had a great battle with the Nissan. I did struggle with the tyres for the first 5 laps but we had a great set-up and I was eventually able to pull away. I am so happy for Lotus and the entire team the Evora GT4 is a fantastic race car and I am looking forward to racing it all season.

Walter Lechner comments – LDA Evora GT4

We are so happy with our car which we only received two weeks ago but which ran problem free all weekend. We ran with 3 gentlemen drivers with no experience of Monza – so everyone did a good job, with no mistakes. We did experience tyre problems in the race which actually resulted in 3 tyre failures. Anyway I am happy with the Team work and we will build on the result.

First of all it's difficult because after two fantastic race results with podium finishes in both Australia and Malaysia for sure it's disappointing when you don't achieve what you expect but I think we should still be very happy with the car.

For me, it's clear that things began to go wrong during qualifying. I don't have the full details on exactly what happened to Petrov's car but this combined with waiting late into the session to run meant that Heidfeld also qualified badly. On a positive performance related note, both drivers were fast in Q1 and Petrov's first lap during Q2 where he came fourth demonstrated that the car is definitely quick.

Both drivers then had to try and recover from qualifying during the race and with hindsight perhaps a three-stop strategy would have favoured them better – but, as anyone will tell you, it's easy to say that once the race is over!

As well as taking onboard some key learnings from the race I think it's important to focus on the positives, the cars were fast in qualifying, they both finished the race and Petrov secured some valuable Championship points.

Vitaly did well to still bring in some points but neither drivers will be happy with the result, is it a good or a bad thing that we now have a break of nearly three weeks until the next race?

From a driver perspective, the break isn't a good thing especially after three races in such quick succession, you just want to get straight back out there and prove you can do even better especially when you have such a good car underneath you. From a team perspective I think they'll be keen to get to Turkey and make a solid return to form.

Generally speaking it was an action filled race, after three exciting events, what do you think is the impact of the new rule changes?

As I see it, the biggest impact this year is clearly the tyres, towards the end of the race, things get really intense and this is great from a fans perspective – it creates some very exciting and unpredictable racing. I'm not the biggest fan of the way DRS (Drag Reduction System) is working, in principal I think the idea is great but I'm not convinced about the implementation. And KERS doesn't really work for me but let's see what unfolds during the next few races. One thing is for sure, the racing is really entertaining this year!

Grand Prix in Malaysia - how exciting was it to see Nick finish on the

podium?

Jean Alesi: Of course it was fantastic. I was extremely proud. Nick

did a fantastic job, but it was also an important result for us as a team.

So many people believed that the result in Australia was down to pure

luck or that the track was simply more in our favour, but the result

in Malaysia proved them wrong. We have a seriously fast, competitive car.

You were in the middle of the action in the garage and you were able

to observe the team at close quarters throughout the race weekend -

what's your general impression?

Jean Alesi: They are a collection of professional, talented and

dedicated individuals who come together to form a fantastic team.

During the test sessions, qualifying and the race there was nothing

but complete focus in the garage. I had a headset that allowed me to

listen to the engineers as they communicated with both drivers and

each time they spoke it was exactly at the right time and with perfect

information. The way the team operates is flawless.

Lots of people have joked that Vitaly made full use of his aero

package during the race - from a driver's perspective, what can you

tell us about the incident?

Jean Alesi: Vitaly made a small error, he went offline and picked up a

lot tyre rubber debris which then caused him to further deviate from

the racing line and resulted in his incident. It was very hard for him

and he was very frustrated but it can happen to anyone, I think next

year you won't see anything like as much debris on the track in

Malaysia. The most important thing is that he is fine, he was checked

afterwards and I'm told that he got the all clear. On a positive note,

Vitaly's performance during qualifying and the start and mid section

of the Grand Prix was fantastic, I think there's a lot more to come from him.

What can we look forward to from the race in China?

Jean Alesi: Another great performance hopefully and an exciting race.

I don't think there will be much variation on the car set-up for

China, the challenge we will have there is the tyres, the temperature

will be much cooler so we'll have to wait and see what will work best there.

In principal, how do drivers feel about back to back races?

Jean Alesi: If you have a great result like Nick then it's nice to

have the time off to celebrate, rest and recover but if like Vitaly,

you have a frustrating race, then you can't wait to get back out there

and show what you can do!

What do you think about Vitaly's performance in Melbourne?

It's a superb result for him and Lotus Renault GP. To be the very first Russian driver on the podium must also feel incredible. What's also great is that his result came from good strong driving, rather than from the mistakes of others, this is a great sign of his potential. The result will give him a good confidence boost too.

After the difficult pre season with Robert Kubica's accident, what do you think a result like this will mean to the team?

An incident such as the one LRGP had with Robert is a disaster for any team however I think what the result in Australia clearly demonstrates is how much progress the team have made with the car. Their hard work has definitely paid off. Watching the race, Robert will have seen how strong the car is and I'm sure he will see this as a very good sign for the team.

How emotional was it for you to see the return of the iconic black and gold livery?

Very emotional. When we unveiled the livery back in January at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham, everyone was really excited just to see the colours again and be reminded of the great drivers such as Ayrton Senna. The colours are fantastic but it's the results that make the real difference and for me, this combination is amazing!

You're the F1 spokesperson for Group Lotus, how exciting is a result like this for Group Lotus?

It's incredibly exciting. To be just a few laps away from the end of the race with one of your drivers heading for the podium is a wonderful feeling. The team and drivers have worked exceptionally hard during testing and we're are very happy with the results. Keep up the good work and let's see what we can achieve in Malaysia!

Lotus Sport Italy secured a podium finish at Monza this weekend during the first round of the 2011 Endurance Champions Cup. The team comprising of Gianni Guidici, Marco Fumagalli and Stefano d'Aste won best in class, coming 11th overall

A Lotus supplement of Autosport magazine has been produced and we can offer this to you online. This gives information about Lotus Renault GP 2011, Indycar, GP2, GT4, the Lotus T125 and much more.

http://digitaleditio...otorsport-2011/

Lotus KV Racing IndyCar driver Takuma Sato clearly shows where his thoughts are

during the Barber open test in Birmingham, Alabama.

New Lotus Sport UK Team take on the British GT Championship

Lotus Motorsport announces a tie up with the new race team Lotus Sport UK to contest the 2011 British GT Championship with two Lotus Evora GT4 race cars.

Finished in the striking colours of Lotus Motorsport Green with a yellow twin stripe bisecting the car from front to rear, the Lotus Evora GT4 run by Lotus Sport UK is powered by a 4 litre 360 hp V6 transverse version of the engine used in the multi-award winning Lotus Evora.

Lotus Sport UK begins the assault on the 2011 British GT Championship at the season opener at Oulton Park, Cheshire, on Monday 25 April 2011 (Easter Monday). The team will also race at select rounds of the European GT4 championships.

Gary Ayles, Team Principal for Lotus Sport UK and former BTCC and Le Mans racer, is also looking forward to the season: Were delighted to be working with Lotus. The Evora GT4 package is a high performer, and with proven reliability, Im very optimistic that we will be competitive throughout the season. Coupled with the appointment of Ollie Jackson, who is the current Porsche Carrera Cup Pro Am 1 Cup Champion, I think we have a good chance to take the winners laurels this year. We will announce the rest of the driver line-up closer to the first race.

Claudio Berro, Director of Group Lotus Motorsport, is confident for the season ahead: Following an extensive period of development and durability testing last year, 2011 is the first full year of competition for the GT4. Despite this, the Lotus Evora GT4 already gained credibility at the Nrburgring round of the GT4 Championships last year, followed by the Brit Car 24hrs and more recently this year at the Dubai 24 hour event, so I am confident that this season will be a good one for us!

Our development team is hand picked from some of the finest sports and GT drivers in the world, so this car not only has the stunning looks of a winner but the pedigree to match.

Lotus Engineering, a company with over 20 years of EV and HEV experience, has been responsible for all aspects of the electric drivetrain integration for 102EX, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Experimental Electric. This includes the largest battery pack fitted to a road car, together with an innovative 7 kW induction charging system. These components and the electric drivetrain have been integrated by Lotus Engineering into the existing Phantom electrical systems, giving an efficient electrical propulsion control strategy and retaining full vehicle functionality.

Lotus Engineering has a broad expertise in vehicle design, manufacture and development. For the Phantom Experimental Electric project Lotus Engineering provided engineering services in the areas of: drivetrain layout, vehicle simulation, Computer Aided Engineering (CAE), component specification, vehicle build, control strategy, control integration, procurement, commissioning and development testing. This project highlights the technical competence in Electrical and Electronic Integration and the capability and range of consultancy services offered by Lotus Engineering.

The Phantom Experimental Electric has two electric motors to replace the 6.75 litre V12 engine. These electric motors each produce 145 kW of power to provide a total 290 kW and torque of 800 Nm giving a 0 - 100 km/h time of under eight seconds and a top speed limited to 160 km/h.

In the conversion of a Phantom into an electric vehicle a study was conducted to ensure that the optimum layout of the electric drivetrain and ancillaries was achieved with no intrusion into passenger compartment. Following an iterative design study the 71 kWh, 640 kg lithium ion battery pack was placed under the bonnet where the engine had been. The two motors, gearbox and inverters were located behind the rear seats in the original fuel tank bay, with power cables running longitudinally between the converters and the battery. This has enabled the Phantom Experimental Electric to retain its 50:50 weight distribution and characteristic Rolls-Royce driving experience.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom is a complex vehicle with many advanced electrical systems. The integration of the electric drivetrain and ancillaries with the existing vehicle control unit provided the greatest challenge for the project. To compound this the Phantom Experimental Electric features the additional complexity of a 3 mode charging system (single phase, three phase and the inductive power transfer) together with a two level driver selectable regenerative braking system.

Dr Robert Hentschel, Director of Lotus Engineering, said "The Rolls-Royce Phantom Experimental Electric is an extremely advanced vehicle. I am delighted that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has recognised Lotus Engineering's world class engineering capability and chosen us to be a part of this project. We have taken a great deal of pride working for such a prestigious ultra luxury brand and I believe that this project illustrates the technical competency of Lotus Engineering in Electrical and Electronic Integration and the capability to apply our expertise to a wide range of applications and types of vehicle".

Geneva shows that there's no time like the present to go Lotus.

14.15 CET was the time, the Lotus Stand at the Geneva Motor Show was the place. La Roux's 'In For The Kill' set the scene as the backing track for the Lotus update movie that showed the progress at the head quarters in Hethel during which Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar reiterated the importance of the task in hand saying: 2010 was the dawn of a new era for Lotus, in 2011 the vision comes to life.

Time has been the theme for Lotus so far. Whilst the Paris Motor Show with the unveiling of five new models was all about the future, Geneva was all about the here and now.

Alongside reminding people of what's yet to come for Lotus, the Geneva Motor Show provided the perfect opportunity to showcase what's currently on offer, starting with the unveiling of the new 1.6l Lotus Elise Club Racer. In a move that's bound to please the lightweight lovers, the Lotus engineers managed to shave off up to 24kg from the iconic lightweight sports car. This plus the addition of Lotus DPM (Dynamic Performance Management) mode equate to the perfect car for soaking up the spring sunshine.

Sharing the stage with the Elise Club Racer were the latest editions to the award winning Evora family, the Evora S, the Evora IPS and the Lotus Concept Bespoke, a unique collaboration on the Evora S between Lotus Design and customisation specialists Mansory.

Commenting on the Lotus Concept Bespoke, Lotus Director of Design, Donato Coco said: The customised Evora showcases the future potential of Lotus product individualisation. We want to test the water first before committing to a full tailoring strategy, feedback here is a really important part of the process. Working with Mansory has been a good experience and we're pleased with the results, but our opinion isn't necessarily what sells cars, let's see what the public think.

Lotus Renault GP were out in force to show their support at the show, drivers Nick Heidfeld, Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna were on stage with the stunning black and gold liveried F1 car. Whilst at the show the team took time to check out the other black and gold stunner, the Evora Enduro - GT Concept, the base car for Lotus' GT2/GTE Le Mans challenger. In an earlier GT4 Endurance variant, this car enjoyed phenomenal success in it's first few outings with a recent podium finish in the hands of Nigel Mansell's sons Leo and Greg at the Dubai 24 hour race.

Commenting on the activity in Geneva, CEO Dany Bahar said: For me, this show is about the Evora, particularly the Evora S, it complements the range perfectly, the response from the media so far has been fantastic, we're really proud of it. I think our collaboration with Mansory really showcases the aesthetic potential of the car too, the only limit is your imagination. And on the subject of pleasing aesthetics, I think the Evora Enduro looks incredible in black and gold, I saw the F1 team checking it out and I know Bruno Senna is looking forward to putting it to the test at our track in Hethel.

The uncompromising award-winning Lotus gets more power and an IPS option

The Lotus Evora, now available in two versions - the Evora and the Evora S - is regarded as one of the most exciting and genuinely useable sportscars on the market today. Both cars have a 3.5 litre V6 engine and both produce seamless and phenomenal performance. So the obvious question is, whats the difference between the two?

The answer in a word is supercharger. The Evora S has 350 PS (345 hp) and 400 Nm (295 lbft) of torque, courtesy of a supercharger which gives acceleration of 4.8 seconds to 100 km/h (4.6 seconds to 60 mph) and a maximum speed of 277 km/h (172 mph) and the Evora has 280 PS and tops out at a quick at 261 km/h (162 mph) whilst returning a class leading 199 g of CO2 per km!

The Evora S comes with a sport pack as standard featuring a sport button which allows the driver to control throttle response and activate the exhaust by-pass valve. The sport button also raises the instantaneous rev limit and changes the dynamic stability control settings resulting in a total experience change. There are cross-drilled brakes for improved cooling. And heres a heads up for those who buy into the old adage you can tell the men from the boys by the size of their toys: the external emotion of the Evora S has been improved with a completely new active exhaust which means that at the push of a button the car sounds just as dramatic as it feels.

Dany Bahar Lotus Chief Executive Officer summed it up by saying: You dont realise what you were missing from your driving experience until you get behind the wheel of the Evora S.

So apart from the obvious power difference, how is the Evora S different to the Evora? Its another question we put to the CEO (given that hes spent a little time behind the wheel, we thought hed be best placed to answer questions). This is what he said: Its the next level of Evora experience. It communicates even more with you, the suspension setting has been fine tuned for added power and control so it responds even more to your direction. Its an instinctual car, the experience is pure.

Evora IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) option:

Now available for the Evora is the IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) option. This option is an automatic 6-speed gearbox with Lotus developed transmission control with a 3.5 l V6 engine delivering 280 PS assuring a superior automatic driving experience.

The IPS version of the Evora allows the driver to switch between manual paddle shift and automatic drive modes. The driver also has the option of selecting sport mode which showcases the Lotus sport driving experience allowing the driver to really feel each gear shift and be in complete control of the transmission.

Commenting on the development IPS option, Dany Bahar said: The Evora IPS is set to broaden the appeal of the Evora and reach out to a slightly different market. We expect it will be popular with established automatic locations such as Asia, the Middle East and the US. Its been a long time since Lotus created an automatic and weve spent a great deal of time refining this one to make sure that it perfectly complements the Evora drive experience.

We are proud of the whole Evora range, each versions does the true Lotus experience justice. With a wider selection of options, the Evora will appeal to a broader audience, even those who dont want to use their left foot to change gear! With higher quality levels, more options available and all round improvements to the whole range, its a taste of what people can come to expect from the next generation of Lotus cars - performance through lightweight, style, comfort and efficiency.

Here's a sneak preview of the sensational Lotus Evora Enduro GT Concept, one of the Evora variants on show at The Geneva Motor Show today – Press conference at 1315GMT.

The new production Range Extender that has been designed by Lotus Engineering together with Fagor Ederlan will be exhibited at the 81st International Motor Show in Geneva.

The production Lotus Range Extender is an extremely compact, lightweight, low-cost engine and generator, designed specifically for hybrid electric vehicles. The initial concept engine was fitted to the Jaguar Limo Green research vehicle and this new version has been redesigned by Lotus Engineering and Fagor Ederlan to optimise performance and develop the engine for series production.

The production Lotus 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 Lotus 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.

Lotus Engineering cutaway hybrid Evora 414Evolution exhibit

The cutaway hybrid Evora 414Evolution exhibit will be displayed at the 81st International Motor Show in Geneva and demonstrates Lotus Engineering's technical expertise in: Lightweight Architectures, Efficient Performance, Driving Dynamics and Electrical and Electronic Integration. The production Lotus Range Extender forms part of the Lotus Engineering series hybrid drivetrain, which is displayed in the cutaway hybrid Evora 414Evolution exhibit along with the new intelligent HALOsonic system.

Robert Hentschel, Director of Lotus Engineering, said "Lotus Engineering is one of the world's most dynamic automotive engineering consultancies. We are rapidly expanding into new regions and investing heavily in facilities, personnel and our world leading technologies. One example of this investment in technology is the cutaway hybrid Evora 414Evolution exhibit, which showcases the advanced series hybrid drivetrain, with production Lotus Range Extender and intelligent HALOsonic technology. It is anticipated that these technologies will, in conjunction with our technical partners, be in production vehicles in the near future".

Lotus and HARMAN create next generation intelligent pedestrian warning system, integrating the advanced HALOsonic sound synthesis system with video technology.

This cutting-edge enhanced version of the HALOsonic safety system incorporates input from imaging sensors to enhance the quality of the sound synthesis system. HALOsonic has been developed specifically for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, and will have its first public demonstration on the Lotus Engineering cutaway hybrid Evora 414Evolution exhibit at the 81st International Motor Show in Geneva.

The system on this latest version of HALOsonic, a collaboration between HARMAN and Lotus uses a single camera to determine the distance, trajectory and speed of pedestrians and other road users, calculating the risk of collision by comparing this information with the car's path. The new HALOsonic system uses this data to actively control the volume of the External Sound Synthesis to warn pedestrians of the vehicle's location, thereby improving pedestrian safety and reducing noise pollution. Under certain conditions the system will generate an audible and visual warning for the driver using the Internal Sound Synthesis and instrument panel.

The new active system is optimised to operate in urban environments where there is the greatest risk of a collision with a pedestrian. It is calibrated to actively control the volume and pitch of the sound synthesised while the vehicle is travelling from 0 - 75 km/h, continually evaluating the risk of a pedestrian collision and operating in an area up to 60 metres ahead of the vehicle. All of the HALOsonic systems are designed to use low levels of power and with the new active version there will be less power consumed as the system will only increase the volume when there is a risk of an impact.

This innovative new active safety system is integrated into the HALOsonic range of products, which includes: External Sound Synthesis, Internal Sound Synthesis, Road Noise Cancellation and Engine Order Cancellation. The HALOsonic range has been designed by Lotus Engineering and HARMAN Automotive and offers a production ready technology as a stand-alone or integrated ICE system solution.

Governments around the world have acknowledged the increased risk posed by almost silent vehicles and are in the process of drawing up legislation to compel car manufacturers to equip vehicles with pedestrian warning systems like the HALOsonic system.

Colin Peachey, Chief Engineer, Control and Electrical, Lotus Engineering said, "The integration of video technology into the HALOsonic system illustrates the flexibility of the technology to evolve new features and functionality; offering a system that is more intelligent and produces less unwanted noise while using less power! This is just one of the several enhanced functions we are currently developing for HALOsonic that is now the global benchmark pedestrian safety system of this type, and which is receiving a lot of attention from large vehicle manufactures keen to meet the upcoming legislation in the US and Japan. The HALOsonic system offers the ability to tune the sound synthesis to a manufacturer's requirements, giving the capability to synthesise anything from a conventional engine sound to a very futuristic Sci- Fi designer sound."

"The latest active HALOsonic system is the most advanced system on the market and meets all the proposed legislation, providing the benchmark for this type of system" said HARMAN's Rick Kreifeldt, Vice President of Global Automotive Research.

Lotus Engineering cutaway hybrid Evora 414Evolution exhibit

The cutaway hybrid Evora 414Evolution exhibit will be displayed at the 81st International Motor Show in Geneva and demonstrates Lotus Engineering's technical expertise in: Lightweight Architectures, Efficient Performance, Driving Dynamics and Electrical and Electronic Integration. The new intelligent HALOsonic system is displayed in the cutaway hybrid Evora 414Evolution exhibit along with the supercharged production Lotus Range Extender.

Dr Robert Hentschel, Director of Lotus Engineering, said "Lotus Engineering is one of the world's most dynamic automotive engineering consultancies. We are rapidly expanding into new regions and investing heavily in facilities, personnel and our world leading technologies. One example of this investment in technology is the cutaway hybrid Evora 414Evolution exhibit, which showcases the advanced series hybrid drivetrain, with the production Lotus Range Extender and intelligent HALOsonic technology. It is anticipated that these technologies will, in conjunction with our technical partners, be in production vehicles in the near future".

Official Press Conference: 1 March 2011, 14.15 CET, Stand 1031, Hall 1

Alongside the newly announced Elise Club Racer and the 'Concept Lotus Bespoke' (Lotus Evora and Mansory collaboration), the Lotus stand at the Geneva Motor Show will also play host to the Lotus Renault GP team.

Lotus CEO Dany Bahar will host the press conference on the Lotus stand where he will be joined by both Lotus Renault GP drivers, Vitaly Petrov, newly appointed Nick Heidfeld and Bruno Senna, alongside Team Principal Eric Boullier and the stunning black and gold liveried F1 car.

Lotus Chief Technical Officer Wolf Zimmermann, Director of Design Donato Coco and Director of Lotus Motorsport Claudio Berro will be in attendance. Former F1 driver and Lotus Ambassador Jean Alesi will also be there accompanied by Lotus Advisory Council members, Bob Lutz and Tom Purves.

The UCL Colin Chapman Lotus Engineering Masters Scholarship has been awarded to Nicholas Mak, a Mechanical Engineering student on the Postgraduate MSc degree course at University College London.

Nicholas displayed an outstanding technical knowledge of engineering, the automotive industry and Lotus Cars throughout the tough selection process for this hotly contested award. The prize for his efforts is a one year scholarship of 10,000 and an internship at Lotus Engineering in his chosen subject. The internship will form part of the study for Nicholas MSc research project dissertation, and provides valuable industrial experience and an insight into the workings of modern automotive consultancy.

The scholarship was presented on the 27th January 2011 in the Provosts office at UCL by Dr Robert Hentschel (Director of Lotus Engineering) at a ceremony attended by Clive Chapman (Colin Chapmans son), UCL President and Provost Professor Malcolm Grant, Professor Stephen Caddick (UCL Vice-Provost, Enterprise), Professor Nicos Ladommatos (UCL Kennedy Professor of Mechanical Engineering) and Dr Anna Clark, (Director of UCL Business Partnerships).

In 1948, Colin Chapman modified an Austin 7 to produce a competition car while at UCL studying Civil Engineering and thus the Lotus Mk 1 was born. The Chapman family has strong links with UCL as Colin Chapman and Clive Chapman are alumni of the university. The UCL Colin Chapman Lotus Engineering Masters Scholarship was created after a spectacular event held at UCL in 2007 celebrating Colin Chapmans contribution to automotive design.

Dr Robert Hentschel, Director of Lotus Engineering commented, Colin Chapman was one of the greatest and most innovative engineers the world has seen and it is fitting that this scholarship was created to inspire talented engineering students. Lotus Engineering is a world renowned engineering consultancy undergoing a large expansion as part of our five year plan we are looking to recruit around 400 engineers and to attract brilliant graduates like Nicholas Mak.

Adding, In line with our continual improvement programme, I am keen to develop additional links with leading academic institutions such as UCL to further our technical capability and maintain our world leading reputation.

Clive Chapman, Managing Director of Classic Team Lotus said, I am delighted that Dr Robert Hentschel has presented the UCL Colin Chapman Lotus Engineering Scholarship. Group Lotus values and respects my fathers legacy and it is nice to see this appreciation being represented by such an admirable initiative. University College is a leading university worldwide and Nicholas Mak is a young engineer with great potential; together with Lotus Engineering they make a great combination.

Professor Malcolm Grant, President and Provost of UCL, stated, UCL has an outstanding Department of Mechanical Engineering, and I am delighted with this collaboration with Lotus Engineering and the award of this Engineering Scholarship to Nicholas Mak. We need to develop many further such positive university-industry partnerships.