autoevolution
 

Lotus Fancies Rallying with Exige R-GT and Endurance Racing with Evora GTE

Notice the car in the background of the image above? That’s the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, a vehicle that won the World Rally Championship back in 1982. Lotus is now returning to the world of rallying, as well as entering the 2012 European Le Mans Series.
Lotus Exige R-GT 3 photos
Photo: Lotus
Lotus Exige R-GTLotus Evora GTE
The British carmaker recently announced that it has joined forced with Italian team United Business, which won lat year’s title, to return to the FIA European Rally Championship. The company will use the Exige R-GT, which will be dressed in its traditional black and gold livery.

The Exige R-GT will enter its first testing session next week and will subsequently be entered in the FIA homologation program. The vehicle should make its racing debut in the Mille Miglia rally on APril 19-21, with former Super 200 World Rally Champion Bernando Sousa behind the wheel.

"This will be the first GT car to be homologated by the FIA", says Lotus Racing Director Claudio Berro. "Lotus, of course, has been successful in rallying before, so in many ways we’re going back to our roots."

In addition to that, Lotus will enter the GTE Pro class of the 2012 European Le Mans Series, using the Evora GTE. The vehicle will be run by Lotus Gudici Racing with a line-up of three drivers, of which just one has been announced so far - Lotus factory driver Johnny Mowlem.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Andrei Tutu
Andrei Tutu profile photo

In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories