Lotus Circuit Car Launch

[Mark H]

In the build up to the Shelsley Walsh Centenary Celebration, excitement mounts as Lotus prepares the world launch of its greatly anticipated new "Circuit Car".

 

The "Circuit Car", which is based on the Lotus Elise Aluminium chassis, has been designed and engineered exclusively for Track Day and Club Racing.  Reaching 100 mph in an amazing 9.0 seconds, the lightweight, open-topped circuit car will be revealed at the oldest racing track in the world – the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb.

 

In contrast to the Lotus "Circuit Car", which is the face of 21st century motor sport, visitors to the three-day event that runs from the 19th to 21st August will also be able to see the Darracq.  The 10 litre, four cylinder racing car broke the Land Speed record in 1905, the year the first Shelsley event took place.

 

Coinciding with Shelsley’s Centenary, the launch of the "Circuit Car" will take place on day two of the celebrations, Saturday 20th August. Making its racing debut on Sunday 21st August, Tony Shute, head of product at Lotus Cars, will take to the driving seat and put the Lotus through its paces on the track.  Tony commented, “The Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb Centenary Festival Meeting provides an excellent platform on which to give our exciting new car its first outing.  I look forward to driving on a track which carries such rich motor-sport history and to participate in an event which brings together examples of some of the world’s finest racing vehicles.”

 

Paul Matthews, managing director at Footman James and Shelsley Walsh sponsor, said, “As a key supporter of Club Lotus and insurance broker to many classic Lotus owners, we’re really looking forward to the unveiling of the new "Circuit Car" at Shelsley.”

 

James Brearley, managing director of Pendragon Premier Ltd who are also sponsors of the event added, “Not only are we proud to be associated with this centenary event but we are thrilled to see a new Lotus launched, especially as we own five Lotus dealerships under our Stratstone brand.”

 

There will be a variety of cars competing at the event.  One of the most famous will be the 1939 V12 D Type Auto Union, originally driven by Tazio Nuvolari successfully during the 1939 European Grand Prix season.  Also at Shelsley will be the Twin Cam Supercharged Austin single seater, which has not been seen since 1939.

 

The Shelsley Walsh Centenary Celebration is taking place from 19th – 21st August 2005.  From a practice day on the Friday to the British Hill Climb Championship on the Saturday, culminating in the Celebration Day on the Sunday, a great weekend is promised.

 

To find out more about what there is to do and see at the Centenary celebration, visit www.shelsley-walsh.co.uk

 

http://www.grouplotus.com/car/news_detail.php?id=58

 

Press release attached.

pr_download.pdf

 

This post has been promoted to an article

[Mark A]

Bit disappointed to see it has a bare roll-cage as opposed to the covered roll hoop in the original sketches.

 

Still tempted though.

[Greg.g]

We are camping at the hill climb just across the road for the 3 days.

Can't wait now

 

For anyone attending, you will probably be able to get a closer look at the circuit car on the friday testing day. Its sure to be alot quieter then.

 

I will see if i can stick an mloc card on the windscreen when no one is looking

Thats if their is something resembling a windscreen

[Steve J]

Doesn't look like it has a windscreen though Greg

 

Try an MLOC sticker on the back

[Mark H]

Prototype Specifiations attached.

pr_download.pdf

[bermudabob]

I notice there'll be an SVA pack - so you can make it road legal...

 

Could be fun on an Midlands run!

[darren5591]

I like the look, a bit exigey and a bit elisey.

 

Could be fun on an Midlands run!

 

i bet it would

[Mark A]

The pictures have made my mind up, I ain't getting one! It looks naff. Roll cage while very functional and to FIA spec (I hope!) just looks absolutely horrible.

Body design has also changed since the original sketches and unfortunatly not for the better.

The Exige is staying in my garage.

 

[Jonathan E]

It looks a damn site better than the new Europa though,maybe they haven't lost the design plot just yet,I wouldn't like to guess at the cost of the SVA pack though ££££££££££££££

Regards

Jon

[Mark H]

And another

 

[malbon]

its no 340r.

 

just looks like an angle grinded S2 with a roll cage and gt1 rear spoiler. kinda disappointing really.

 

you'd think they would have gone back to the elise way of thinking and gave us something cutting edge.

 

Not sold on it im afraid.

[Snapper]

Looks a bit of a mess if you ask me..... Why with all the R&D staff they have got have they made a car that looks like its been knocked together in someones garden shed?

[Steve J]

Back looks ok apart from that spoiler which doesn't seem to go. Looks like something chavs buy from Halfrauds to stick on the back of their cavalier.

 

Sides are ok

 

Front is not good

 

and that rollcage hhmmm

 

Think a Honda'd elise/exige would be better. Did I hear somewhere that someone's got a 500bhp audi conversion hhmm

[Fiona]

Front is . Will wait until Sunday to reserve my judgement.

[chorton_1]

I prefer it to the 340R. The 340R divides opinion - I don't like the looks and think it looks too stylised to be a true track day car (i.e. with toom many bits to replace if you have an accident).

 

If the circuit car is designed to be repaired as cost effectively as possible (i.e. unfussy and simple), then brilliant. However, to be honest I am not sure that is going to be the case either.

 

In my mind, if you are going to buy a dedicated track day car then a Radical makes far more economic and probably performance sense.

 

I reckon whatever it is like, Lotus will still sell 50.