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.
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.
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.