You can't believe everything you read on blogs, but blah blah blah...how about some crazy rumors about Lotus creating a two-car team and replacing Honda as an engine manufacturer?
Rumors are swirling that Lotus Group is looking to join the Indycar Series in 2010 as a way to promote the Lotus brand. James Rossiter is supposedly being backed by Lotus in 2010 at KVRT as a Team Lotus USA/KVRT car. James tested at Barber with KVRT and ran around the middle of the pack.The Autocar article states emphatically that Lotus is seeking a major role in the series.
However, this story keeps evolving. Today Autocar is reporting that Lotus has confirmed they will be returning to Indycar racing at the season opening event in Sao Paolo on March 14th.
"Although full details are yet to be confirmed, it is expected a Lotus-branded team will run two cars in the championship under the Team Lotus USA banner. They will be Dallara built and Honda powered."
(MORE from The Other Side)
Currently Honda supplies the 3.5-litre V8 powerplants in Indycar, but Lotus is said to be considering a bid to takeover the supply when Honda's contract ends in 2011.What does it mean? I have no idea. This post is for the gearheads. And the British fans. And The Stig.
UPDATE: Guest Contributor Declan Brennan has gently reminded me that he was alluding to this very story last week here at My Name Is IRL.
*pounding head on desk*
Replacing? I'm not so sure. But keep in mind the company's recent partnership with Cosworth, ex-supplier of engines to Champ Car... both of which were owned by Kevin Kalkhoven... who we know best as the K in KVRT.
I can see it. 100% possible.
Go and look at Claudio Berro's statement when he joined Lotus as Head of Motorsport:
“Lotus has a peerless motorsport heritage, not just in Formula One, but we have also won in sportscar racing, saloon car racing, world rally championships, Le Mans and the Indy 500. There is no other car company in the world which can lay claim to so many accolades and championships in such a wide variety of motorsport fields, and I am looking forward to re-introducing Lotus to high level motorsport to not only compete and win but also to demonstrate the shared technology between Lotus sportscars and future racing cars.”
He told our Sportscar correspondent that they were coming back in 2010, at the AutoSport International Show in Birmingham (UK) back in January.
Dex
if there are extra seats becuase of this move, would rahal have a shot at getting one of these seats?
Watching this one with interest...
I'd buy a Lotus if they do this and I find an extra 70-80k laying around.