Lotus parent company Geely will mentor drivers of the new racing car.
Lotus lifted the lid of its new Evora GT4 concept racing car at this years Auto Shanghai.
The little sports car comes in a combination of the Union Flag, Chinese Flag, and is built on the same lightweight aluminum chassis that the road car uses, but has some modifications that increase aerodynamics and cooling. The Evora GT430 Road car’s front end is almost identical to the Lotus, but Lotus has made some modifications to accommodate the cooling ducts.
The Norfolk-based company also installed louvers alongside the wheels to reduce air pressure buildup in the arches. A composite four-vane diffuser has been added to the tail and an adjustable carbon-fiber rear wing. Inside, you’ll find an eight-point T45 roll-cage, six-point FIA HANS approved harnesses, a HANS-compliant chair, an electrical kill switch, and a fire extinguisher. The instruments now have a 6-inch TFT color screen that includes data logging and critical issues alerts.
Gavan Kershaw is Lotus’ head for vehicle engineering. He stated: “Every Lotus has a reputation for its ride and handling on difficult roads, surfaces, and through tight corners. This is the result of years of motorsport experience, as well as testing at our HQ track in Hethel. This all gives the driver confidence, responsiveness and feeling. This knowledge, combined with the support of a stiff chassis and low center of gravity, double wishbone suspension, and all the characteristics expected from a Lotus racecar, will give the driver an edge in the race.
Two Chinese drivers will drive the Lotus factory car – hoping to take advantage of that competitive edge and Cui Yue and Gaoxiang fan. Both were graduates of Geely’s apprenticeship program and have had considerable success in China. Gaoxiang (25 years old) was the China Touring Car Champion in 2017. Cui, 29 years old, won the China Touring Car Championship. Cui also competed in the China Formula Grand Prix, China GT series and the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.
The team will spend some time at Lotus Hethel Headquarters, but the drivers will be demonstrating the car’s capabilities at the Lotus Driving Academy in China. The public and the team will have the opportunity to drive the car during driver training sessions, driving days, and hot lap experiences.
Phil Popham, Lotus Cars’ CEO, stated that Lotus was founded from the excitement of competition. The Evora GT4 Concept will carry on this tradition while also opening up new chapters in Lotus Cars’ racing history. Every car we make has motorsport in its DNA. In fact, almost every road car built by Lotus Cars has been successful at the track. This is the philosophy Colin Chapman created Lotus, and it’s something we continue to live by today.