07 Nov 2011 6 Hours of Zhuhai: Lotus have an eye to the future

Photo : CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES (LE MANS, SARTHE), LE MANS 24 HOURS, RACE, 11th JUNE 2011. For the first time since 1964, a Lotus finishes the 24 hours of Le Mans.

For the first time in fourteen years, Lotus were at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with two Evora entered in LM GTE Pro. Both cars are also entered in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and will be racing at the 6 Hours of Zhuhai.

Against a collection of factory supported teams (BMW, Ferrari, Porsche, Corvette ...), in 2011 Lotus have had a learning season, which still reaped some rewards. The key was to have received the chequered flag in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the seventh place of the LM GTE Pro (22nd overall) Johnny Mowlem, James Rossiter and Jonathan Hirschi.

Absent at Sebring for the opening of the ILMC 2011, the two Lotus Evora, entered by the Austrian team Jetalliance have raced all the remaining rounds of the 2011 season. We saw one of them at the finish of 1000 km of Spa-Francorchamps and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and both completed the 6 Hours of Silverstone. At a respectable distance from leaders of the class, but the key is to learn, develop a reliable car, and gain experience for the future. Lotus hopes to live up its prestigious sporting heritage. This will once again be the target in the 6 hours Zhuhai.

The Jetalliance team entered two Lotus Evora Oskar Slingerland / Martin Rich / Rene Rasmussen (#64) and James Rossiter / Johnny Mowlem / David Heinemeier Hansson (#65).

The Zhuhai 6 hours will be on the 13th November.

Jean-Philippe Doret