Video – When Kimi visited Hethel

When Lotus F1 Team driver paid a visit to Hethel ahead of the British Grand Prix this year, testing out the Exige V6 Cup R, Exige S coupe and Roadsters and the Evora S Sports Racer around the companies test track and taking a number of lucky Lotus employees out for a spin – including Group Lotus Chief Engineer of Test & Development, Matt Becker.

“Kimi very quickly found a rapport with the car and the circuit – we were not even half way round the first lap before he was optimising grip and coming out of each corner with remarkable speed. Kimi is a world champion so I was not surprised how relaxed and quick he was, or even to see him take a different line around the track, but what was significant was the sensitivity he showed the tyres; normally we would expect to replace tyres after such a heavy track session, but the skill in which Kimi preserved the tyres was astonishing — they looked like they had barely been driven on!”

Source: Youtube – When Kimi visited Hethel

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

Article – Zak Brown discusses the Lotus-Renault 98T

Lotus-Renault 98T at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2012

Lotus-Renault 98T at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2012

Although its racing career ended almost 27 years ago the 98T came back to the motoring worlds attention after the Classic Team Lotus run and Paul Morgan owned Chassis #4, used by Senna for the latter part of the 1986 season, came to an abrupt and expensive halt at Molcomb Corner whilst being driven by Gary Ward at the weekends Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Fortunately the damage will be repaired and the car will no doubt be seen in action in the not to distant future, but it got us thinking about how difficult such a car would be to drive. As luck would have it earlier in the year SELOC member Andrew Swift spoke with another Type 98T owner about this fearsome car…

Article: Zak Brown discusses the Lotus-Renault 98T
Discussion: SELOC Forums – SELOC Chat – Classic Team Lotus 98T pranged at Goodwood

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LoTRDC – Lights-to-flag win for Fenn at Spa

Image courtesy of SnappyRacers.com

Image courtesy of SnappyRacers.com

Rob Fenn took a lights to flag victory this weekend as the Lotus Cup UK headed across the channel to the stunning Spa-Francorchamps circuit for Round 5 of this years championship.

Source: LoTRDC – Lights-to-flag win for Fenn at Spa

Rob Fenn added another Lotus Cup UK victory to his collection as the championship visited Spa-Francorchamps. A large contingent of Lotus Cup Europe competitors joined in the action, including serial winner Gregory Rasse, who qualified at the front and provided an early challenge for the Englishman on the opening lap of the race.

Using the Evora’s V6 power to pass Fenn’s Motorsport Elise, Rasse took the lead on the run out of Eau Rouge and was soon followed by the 2-Eleven of Marcus Jewell. However defending into La Source at the start of lap two, Jewell collided with Rasse, which gave Fenn a straightforward run to victory. Continue reading

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Lotus to show Elise S Club Racer alongside other attractions at this years Goodwood Festival of Speed

Elise S Club RacerThose heading to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the coming days will have plenty to see from Lotus, with the new Club Racer spec version of the Elise S on display along with a host of other attractions including the Exige S Roadster and an appearance from Lotus F1 Team driver Romain Grosjean.

Full details: Lotus Cars – Movie Stars, Debutants, and F1® competitors… and that’s just the cars!
Discussion: SELOC Forums – SELOC Chat – Elise S Club Racer

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

Lotus F1 Team return to form with double podium in Germany

2013 German Grand Prix - SundayAfter a few difficult races it was a return to form for the Lotus F1 Team this weekend in Germany, with a double podium finish and Kimi Raikkonen only narrowly missing out on victory at the Nurburgring.

With a late tyre change for Kimi from medium to soft tyres, it was then Kimi who quickly advanced to P2 and with both Lotus’ putting the pressure on the frontrunner, all eyes were on the black and gold in the final laps. A bare knuckle battle no less and both Lotus’ claimed the podium in P2 and P3 respectively, with our favourite Finn, narrowly missing out by 1.008 seconds. Kimi remains in third position in the Drivers’ Championship with 116 points, with just 7 points behind second place. The team was the highest scoring in the Constructors’ Championship today, remaining in fourth place on 157 points.

Source: Lotus Cars – Das Ist Wunderbar!
Discussion: SELOC Forums – SELOC Chat  – German GP

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Article – Cholmondeley Pageant of Power 2013

Image courtesy of Andrew Swift

Image courtesy of Andrew Swift

If you didn’t visit this years Cholmondeley Pageant of Power then you might just have missed one of this years stand out events, with a stunning range of machinery on display and taking to the fearsome hillclimb.

There were some breathtaking performances this year, but if you didn’t make it along you can catch up as Andrew Swifts takes a look back over the weekends attractions.

Article: Cholmondeley Pageant of Power 2013

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Autocar take a first drive of the Exige S Roadster

Image copyright Autocar

Image copyright Autocar

With deliveries of the Exige S Coupe now in full flow it’s time for attention to turn to the Exige S Roadster, and Autocar have just posted up their First Drive Review.

The Exige S Roadster doesn’t just swap the coupes hard-top for an Elise soft-top, but also sees a number of detail changes which alter its driving characteristics.

Review: Autocar – Lotus Exige S Roadster first drive review
Discussion: SELOC Chat – Exige S Roadster – First Drive (Autocar)

Posted in Group Lotus | Tagged , , , , , ,

Carbon-fibre Evora door handles available now from Elise-shop

Evora Carbon Fibre Door HandleOne of the minor issues often picked up on in the Evora interior was the plastic interior door handles.

To help remedy this niggle Elise-shop are now offering replacement autoclaved carbon-fibre door handle covers, available in both gloss and matt finishes with UV block coating to keep them looking great for years to come.

The door handle covers are priced at £119.40 inc VAT per pair, and are great little modification to help lift your Evoras interior.

Link: Elise-shop – Evora Interior Door Handle Covers
Discussion: Product News – Evora / Evora S Carbon Fibre Doorhandle Covers

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LoTRDC – Walker headlines V festival at Hockenheim

Lotus Cup Europe - Hockenheim Finish 2013

Photo courtesy of Paul Golding.

The V6 engined cars continued to lead the pack in this years Lotus Cup Europe series, with Jon Walker taking victory in his Exige V6 Cup R in both races ahead of the Evora GT4 of Gregory Rasse at Hockenheim this weekend.

Source: LoTRDC – Walker headlines V festival at Hockenheim

V6-powered cars dominated proceedings as Lotus Cup Europe returned to Germany. Jon Walker powered his Exige to two close victories from Evora-mounted Gregory Rasse at Hockenheim, with Nikolaj Ipsen’s Exige and Thierry Verheist’s Evora completing the top four. Continue reading

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LoTRDC Snetterton 2013 coverage now on YouTube

Image courtesy of snappyracers.com

Image courtesy of snappyracers.com

This years LoTRDC Lotus Cup UK and Elise Trophy series kicked off back in April at Snetterton with Jon Walker taking victory on the first outing for the Exige V6 Cup R.

The racing was shown on Motors TV, but if you missed it then don’t worry, you can still watch all the weekends action on the Motul YouTube channel or find the videos embedded after the break….

Discussion: SELOC Chat – LoT 1st TV program of 2013 now on you tube – includes Exige V6 Cup win  Continue reading

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