News
Lotus Evora Cup/GT4 news archive
Lotus extracts another Evora Cup GT4 class win and 10th overall in the Vallelunga 6 hour endurance race in Italy.
Lotus Sport Italia fielded a strong team in this year's Vallelunga 6 hour endurance race entering two Evora Cup GT4s, featuring the new 2011 production Xtrac gearbox installation, as well as a 2-Eleven GT4.
Evora car 21, driven by Gianni Giudici and Johnny Mowlem, stormed to a class win in the FIA GT4 class, also taking 10th overall in the GT Gold Cup and demonstrating both performance and reliability in a challenging race. Evora car 38 driven by James Rossiter and Ollie Hancock could not capitalize on their excellent twelfth overall qualifying position, retiring mid way through the race as a result of accident damage and denying the team a likely top 10 finish.
Gianni Giudici quote "The car felt very strong and the Xtrac gearbox was perfect, the wet conditions made it an interesting race, I'm very happy – grazie”.
European GT4 Supersport regular Marco Fumagalli was joined by fellow Italian Andrea Perlini and leading 2010 Lotus Cup Europe racer John Rasse from Belgium to race this year's European GT4 Supersport championship winning Lotus 2 Eleven GT4 
The wet conditions were extremely challenging for the only open topped car in the field of 54 cars entered for the race. Despite qualifying 42nd for Sunday's race, each of the three drivers drove superb two hour stints consistently putting in impressive lap times, which yielded a fantastic class win and a climb up the leader board to 24th overall.
Commenting on his two hours behind the wheel John stated "There was so much traffic out there, it was incredible and the two hour stint was physically demanding, especially on the neck muscles - but really really enjoyable"
Rob Barff drove the Lotus Evora GT4 to class victory and second overall in Round 2 of the Cytech UAE GT Championship at the Dubai Autodrome on Friday November 5th.
After qualifying first in GTC class with a time of 1:46.354 against a strong field of Maserati Granturismo MCs, Ginetta G50s and Aston Martin Vantage GT4s, Rob was well placed in the 60-minute race.
The Evora GT4, which was being run by Dubai's NFS Racing, performed faultlessly throughout the race in hot and humid conditions.
After the race, Rob Barff said 'To win the class is a good result - we're developing the car in public, I think everybody knows that Lotus are working as a brand to have more of a presence in GT racing and it's a brilliant environment for developing the car because of the hot ambient temperatures. The air temperature was 35 degrees when we started and all the lessons we've learnt here will be useful for endurance racing going forward.'
'The car didn't miss a beat, it was great. Its pace improved as the fuel load came down - whether it's because the car is pretty light and runs a little light on its tyres as they come up to temperature I'm not sure, but we were more competitive through the middle section of the race once I'd lost some fuel.'
'The guys brought me in early, we got the stop out of the way and then pushed hard for five or six laps out of the box and got a 13-14 second lead and we just managed it from there. We've got no drinks system in the car, so it was a little warm but it was a terrific result.'
Julian Griffin, partner at NFS Racing in Dubai, commented, 'We are very happy; it's a good result for the team and Lotus. It's been difficult getting the car up to speed out here in the Middle East due to the hot climate. However, with determination the Lotus remained cool and calm and performed impeccably throughout the race weekend. This success came much earlier in the development cycle than we had planned, so bodes well for the future. We hope to continue with this form in the next race, which takes place in three weeks time at the Dubai Autodrome.
Lotus Evora Cup/GT4 proves reliability and stamina at 2010 BritCar 24-hour race.
Please tune into ESPN on 10th November at 11.30am, and on MotorsTV on 13th November at 7pm to view coverage of the 24hrs race at Silverstone.
The Lotus Evora Cup/GT4 driven by test driver Ollie Hancock was run at SRO’s European Cup race as a guest entry at the Nurburgring, Germany this weekend. The Evora finished just in front of the winning Ginetta G50 in the first race, proving the car to be a very competitive new GT4 car. Hancock also set the fastest lap in the race and finished second in the second race of the weekend on Sunday. “We wanted to show how competitive the car can be and we hope to see more of our cars very soon in the GT4 series”, Hancock commented after the weekend.
The Lotus Evora Cup/GT4 was also in attendance at the Snetterton round of British GT’s. The lunch break was an opportunity for Lotus’ Gavan Kershaw to demonstrate the car to the spectators and competitors. Three lucky passengers were able to experience the car for the very first time and were blown away by the performance and handling.
MONTEREY, CA – Lotus Cars pulled out all the stops by taking centre stage with a display that included the Evora road car, Evora Cup GT4 Prototype, Lotus 125 and the #5 Lotus – KV Racing Technology IndyCar at the Gordon McCall Motorworks Revival on Wednesday, 11th August 2010 at the Monterey Jet Center in Monterey, California.
The Gordon McCall Motorworks Revival, known simply as the “Jet Center Party”, is one of the most exclusive luxury lifestyle events of its kind in the United States. The one night party is a private affair that kicks off the world-class automobile week held each August on the Monterey Peninsula and culminates in the Pebble Beach Concurs d’ Elegance. Now in its 18th year, the Jet Center Party brings together some of the most significant auto and private aircraft manufacturers along with an “A-list” of VIP guests from Hollywood celebrities to captains of industry. The Lotus display was the centerpiece of this year’s event and was located in the middle of the tarmac just inside the main entry.
On hand to greet guests were Lotus Motorsports Director Claudio Berro (on the right in photo), Lotus Motorsport Commercial Director Chris Arnold, Lotus Motorsport Marketing Manager Stephen Wright, KV Racing Technology co-owner Jimmy Vasser (left), Lotus IndyCar driver Takuma Sato (center) and a host of staff.
Commenting on the event Arnold said, “Colin Chapman, the pioneering founder of Lotus, was an aero engineer by training and carried many philosophies of aircraft design into Lotus road and race cars. A philosophy that is still at the heart of every Lotus car designed today. It was wonderful to display our latest high technology products, the Lotus 125 and Evora Cup GT4 at the Monterey Jet Center, alongside such a range of high quality automotive and aircraft products and in front of such a distinguished group of guests. All of which made for a perfect setting to showcase Lotus.”
MONTEREY, CA – Jimmy Vasser and Takuma Sato took the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the new Lotus Evora Cup GT4 at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California.
Sato and Vasser joined Johnny Mowlem to support Lotus’ various activities in the days leading up to the Pebble Beach Concurs d’ Elegance. Mowlem, the official factory test driver for the Evora Cup GT4 program, provided Sato and Vasser with some insight into the performance capabilities of the car prior to them taking to the track.
Developed from the highly acclaimed Lotus Evora sports car, the Lotus Evora Cup GT4 race car has been engineered to give drivers a competitive racing package straight out of the box. Lotus Motorsport has developed the Evora Cup GT4 in conjunction with a number of prestigious technical partners using the Evora’s world class chassis as its base. Further development of the vehicle’s steering, brakes and suspension system delivers exceptional grip and handling capabilities on track. Cosworth are supplying a naturally-aspirated V6 race engine and full Electronics Systems which delivers 445Nm of torque at 5500 rpm powering the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox, with a paddle shift option. With FIA designed and approved safety features, the Evora Cup GT4 is accepted in over 12 of the world’s leading GT series and can be easily modified for the demand of endurance events.
Vasser, one of the most respected names in United States open-wheel racing, is the 1996 IndyCar Champion and co-owner of KV Racing Technology. After driving several laps in the Evora Cup GT4, he said, “First of all, it is a beautiful car. It looks aggressive and you can drive it with confidence. I think Lotus has done a fantastic job kitting it out. It’s got all the modern amenities you would expect, and it is a lot of fun to drive.”
Sato, who spent seven seasons in Formula One and currently competes in the IndyCar Series behind the wheel of the #5 Lotus – KV Racing Technology entry, was ecstatic about his first laps ever in a GT car saying, “Driving the Lotus Evora Cup GT4 was absolutely amazing. I really enjoyed it. I have never driven a GT car before so this was just outstanding. The car sounds great, the power pulled really nicely and the handling was good. It has great braking stability so you can really dive into the corners. It is a car that gives the driver confidence he can go really deep into the corner before braking. This is a car you can learn and attack the lap time with. It is a driver friendly car.”
Lotus Motorsport is targeting the Nurburgring (Germany) round of the European GT4 championship, the weekend of August 28-29, for the debut of the Lotus Evora Cup GT4. The driver line-up will be announced when the entry is confirmed. For more information please contact Russell Gibbons: rgibbons@lotuscars.co.uk; office phone: +441953608507; mobile: +447718793992
This weekend saw the successful US debut of the Lotus Evora Cup/GT4 at Laguna Seca, California where customers and Lotus enthusiasts flocked to see the car in action. For the lucky few who enjoyed high speed passenger rides with Lotus test driver Johnny Mowlem, the experience was one to remember, the car living up to Lotus’ racing pedigree.
Jim Navarro - Founder Lotus Challenge Series:
“I have been racing for 15 years and I have to tell you that there were a couple of times that I closed my eyes and just hung onto the roll bar because there was no way that in a normal production car you can get the feeling I got during the ride and drive with Johnny Mowlem in the Evora Cup GT4. It was more than exciting. It was interesting that you can take a street car like the Evora and convert it into a race car and have the kind of grip and braking that I just experienced. The Evora Cup GT4 is a full blown race car. It should be in a higher class.”
Any Kern – Financial Consultant and Racing Enthusiast:
“I was here at Laguna Seca three weeks ago for the Lotus Challenge in my 2-Eleven. So experiencing this track was fresh in my mind. Riding with Johnny Mowlem in the Evora Cup GT4 showed how much potential the car has. He was braking later and carrying a lot more G’s through the corners. The dynamics of the GT4 are exceptional. The car is very impressive and when you are in it…it sells itself.”
Jack Fried - Attorney and self proclaimed track-a-holic:
“The GT4 is impressive in terms of what it has. The braking is great and the shifting phenomenal. I think that every Lotus dealer and salesman should get in the GT4 or any of the Lotus cars and learn about them. They are great products.”
Kern and Fried - The Lotus Reception:
“We are having a blast. It is just a lot of fun to be here in a relaxed atmosphere looking at these great cars and talking with all the people from Lotus. Lotus should do more functions like this where they get their customers together for a ride and drive.”
The Lotus Evora Cup/GT4 was on display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2010. Sat alongside a range of Lotus cars, to include the Carbon Evora, Exige Cup 260 and the historic Lotus Type 49, the Evora Cup/GT4’s stunning new racing look was a real crowd pleaser.
These are the first images of t
he new Cosworth developed and tuned 4.0 litre V6 powerplant to be run in the Evora Cup/GT4 race car. The first engine has now been installed into the prototype car and testing has begun on the test track at Hethel. Development of the Evora Cup/GT4 is progressing almost as fast as the car itself.....
Lotus Motorsport attended the first race of the GT4 European Cup at Silverstone, May Bank Holiday weekend with the 2-Eleven GT4. The team were all pleased to see a successful win in class for race 1 and 2nd place in class for race 2.
On display in the paddock for racers and visitors, were the racing green Evora Cup/GT4 show car, along with the white Evora Cup/GT4 prototype. See all the pictures in the Gallery.
