CLASSIC 70’s F3 ACTION

LOTUS vs LOTUS FOR 2011

The long rumoured takeover of the Renault F1 team by Lotus cars is now official with the announcement that the team will race in 2011 under the banner of Lotus Renault F1. Genii Capital and Group Lotus plc made the announcement which includes a strategic alliance between the two companies that will provide Group Lotus with significant [...]

HUGE FIELD SET FOR PHILLIP ISLAND SPORTSCAR CLASSIC

Philip Island's CUE one hour Sportscar Enduro next weekend is shaping up to be one of the biggest and best Sportscar races ever seen in Melbourne. A highlight of PIARC's 20th anniversary Island Magic, the one hour race has attracted a quality field of cars and drivers from all over Australia. Former Australian GT Champion Mark Eddy leads the entries in his spectacular Audi R8. The R8 is just made for this type of event and reliability is unlikely to be a problem give Audi's reputation for longevity. Lamborghini will be represented by the Gallardo's of Victorian State Champion Ted Huglin and Mark Seamons. Huglin's car is the current model racing in the European GT3 championships and as such is not eligible for the Australian titles. The fight between Huglin and Eddy will be a highlight. The race will also feature the return to racing of veteran competitor Murray Carter. At an age when most people have long since retired the 79 year old will debut his new Corvette Z06. The car features plenty of ideas from the GT1 & 2 cars of the ALMS and Carter certainly knows his way around the Island track. Fans of the classic Ford GT40 will be thrilled to see the return to Melbourne of NSW State Sportscar star Iain Pretty in his Roaring 40's replica.

LOTUS JOIN INDYCAR AS F1 ROW CONTINUES

With the controversy continuing over the fight for the Lotus name in F1, now comes the news that Lotus will join the 2012 Indycar series as an engine supplier. Australian businessman and former Champ Car series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven along with Gerry Forsythe are the men behind the move, with Cosworth to build the new engine. KV Racing, which Kalkhoven co-owns with former driver Jimmy Vasser is set to run the engine which will be announced at this year's LA Auto Show this Thursday at 5.00 PM local time. The announcment comes one week after General Motors annoced that Chevrolet would also be joining the series when the new regulations come into effect in 2012. Meanwhile the fight over the use of the Lotus name in Formula One next year has heightened with the news that Proton Holdings Bhd will buy a 25% stake in the Renault F1 team and changes the name of the team to Lotus Renault. Lotus Racing, which is led by Air Asia boss Tony Fernandes, intends to change the name of his team to Team Lotus next season after buying the rights from David Hunt a few months ago. The fight is almost certain to end up in London courts later this year.

CLASSIC LIVERY FOR LIMITED LOTUS

Lotus Cars Australia has announced that it has secured three Exige S limited edition vehicles for the Australian market, the Lotus Exige S Type 72. The limited edition Exige S celebrates the most successful F1 car of all time, the Lotus Type 72 Formula One car, which achieved 20 Grand Prix victories between 1970 and 1975. The Lotus Type 72 was driven by such Lotus greats as Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ronnie Peterson and Jacky Ickx and won three Formula One Constructors’ Championships (1970, 1972 and 1973) and two Drivers’ World Championships (the first being won by Jochen Rindt in 1970 and the second by Emerson Fittipaldi in 1972). The Type 72 features a number of enhancements that draw on the history of Lotus racing.

PORSCHES ON TOP IN ADELAIDE GT OPENER

Porsches have dominated the opening day's practice session of the first round of the Australian GT championship on the streets of Adelaide. Canberra driver James Koundouris in his Porsche 997 GT3 outpaced defending champion David Wall and Victorian Max Twigg to lead a big field of 31 GT cars. Tony Quinn in the controversial Mosler MT900 was the only car to challenge the Porsches which featured in five of the first six places. High profile Lamborghini driver Peter Hackett had to play second fiddle in the battle of the Gallardo's to local driver Andrew Taplin. Former GT champion Mark Eddy debuted his new Audi R8 LMS in 11th spot just ahead of the battling Dodge Viper pair of Greg Crick and Ross Lilley.

LOTUS TO RETURN WITH MALAYSIAN F1 PUSH ?

A Malaysian F1 team, possibly running under the famous Lotus name, could be on the grid for next years Grand Prix season according to the Malaysian media. The popular newspaper the Malay mail has carried several stories quoting well placed sources indication a desire to get on the grid for 2010. AirAsia founder and CEO Tony Fernandes is said to be part of a Malaysian-led consortium eager to bid for a spot on the grid. AirAsia currently sponsors the Williams team but the appeal of a home based F1 team would undoubtedly be very strong. The Malaysian petro-chemical giant Petronas is also said to be involved in the plan which could involve the purchase of the BMW-Sauber operation.