Yeah, great cars....and look what we have now, glorified shopping trolleys.......Quote:
Originally Posted by OldF
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Yeah, great cars....and look what we have now, glorified shopping trolleys.......Quote:
Originally Posted by OldF
Most successful rally car ever, the Escort, wasn´t much better looking...Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
Major rally legends were mass production derivate models, keeping the sport closer to everyday's and everybody's cars!
That's one of the discipline main foundations that modern WRC's and S2000's carry out greatly!
Let's face it: nowadays exclusive and unafordable GT's aren't suitable with rally spirit and their involvement could just be regarded as marketing operations.
Maybe that's way we only see this Lotus being linked to a reduced tarmac program.
How will the GT Class be run? I must say the Lotus Exige R-GT is a beautiful car and I am not sure the Hayden Paddon's of this world could afford one? Are the GT cars rear wheel drive? Will they be run of gravel rounds?
Lotus Exige R-GT to Bring British Brand Back to Rally Racing: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show | AutoGuide.com News
According to this article Lotus have not had approval from head Office for the Rally Programme.
What other cars will be in the GT Class?
Will they all be rear wheel drive?
Does anyone have an update about what series these cars will appear in?
Lotus Exige should appear at least in Monte Carlo, Corsica and Sanremo next year. And yes, it is RWD.
What do you think is meant with "the Exige R-GT will participate in the newly formed FIA GT category of the FIA Rally Championship on asphalt in Monte Carlo, Tour de Corse and San Remo." (on the official Lotus page)?
Does this really mean, that the FIA will be running a "GT Rally Cup" with those 3 events? Or did Lotus just select those events? The first option would be great. Especially if more manufacturers join. Any news from Porsche?
I think that the number of events of a FIA Championship must be at least 6, but maybe I'm wrong. Anyway, they could add more asphalt rounds, like Catalunya, Alsace and Deutschland.Quote:
Originally Posted by wildboar
What is the price estimate for the Lotus ?
wonderful car!
So, then it looks like we will have a mid- and a rear engined car if Porsche will get homologation. Will anyone take the chance on a front engined car, maybe the Nissan 370, an Aston Martin, a Jaguar or a BMW ?
Then all bases on back wheel drive are covered, and I guess front wheel drive GT is out of the question !
Really looking forward to seeing this class taking its place in Rally !
No, No, and thrice No!! A FWD GT......Sacrilege!! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
Real cars are RWD.....
The video presentation of the Lotus Exige R-GT:
The all-new Exige R-GT Rally Car - YouTube
Some new information on the Exige R-GT:
Rallying Call: Lotus Exige R-GT
Interesting points:
- The FIA’s, Jean Todt asked Lotus Director of Motorsport, Claudio Berro to work with his colleagues at Aston Martin and Porsche to devise a set of global rules that would attract the likes of Alfa Romeo with its 4C and Nissan (GT-R) and Renault with the rumored imminent return of Alpine to run in GT class on rounds of the World Rally Championship.
- Components are currently undergoing tests in a mule Evora before being transferred to the Exige R-GT displayed at Frankfurt, “We will test the car on tarmac with specialist French and Italian drivers and on gravel with British or Finnish drivers,” explained Berro. [gravel!?]
- Lotus, Berro said, had already received interest from an Italian outfit wanting to run a works team but “I would rather have teams from the UK, France, Spain, Italy, the U.S. all competing together."
- "I expect the car’s performance to be about 1.5 secs slower per kilometer than a Super2000 car but on some stages, like asphalt, we could, for sure, be quicker.”
The GT class in my opinion is a golden oportunity for the FIA to bring huge publicity in rallying....which means that they will not do anything about it, because the girls and ladyboys from F1 might lose their "dough".
This could be very exciting class(at last) with a couple more manufactures.
I t would be interesting to see what drivers it would attract. The likes of Francois Delecour and Didier Auriol or some younger drivers or rich business men.
This is a great move.Quote:
Originally Posted by wildboar
It would have to be a tarmac only championship. It would be a bit embarrassing for a GT car to be seen getting it's bum kicked by the shopping carts on the gravel events. We would understand this but the casual sports fan on the street wouldn't. I can't see the GT manufacturers seeing that as a great marketing tool.
Whereas a tarmac championship would be fantastic. It could bring a lot of new names (or famous names of the past) to the podium.
It reminds me when the 2WD Xsara kit car of Bugaski won Catalunya and Corsica in 1999, beating the Impreza, Focus, Corolla etc 4WD WRC cars. Not saying that the Xsara was by anyway a GT car, but it made for a very interesting event.
Bring it on!
Question: The Nissan GT-R is a 4WD vehicle, would this be eligible?
The thing is very interesting, I really hope they lead it to something concrete, not just talking about his and that manufacturer ;)
This is exciting. I think the Exige is amazing. I can't wait to see what it will be like on gravel. I am a little disppointed Lotus didn't think to make choose a cheaper car for the rally project as I think the Tanaks and Paddons of this world would take their money elsewhere. I wonder why Lotus didn't just tune someone else's car as they did with Talbot.
As said in the article in Road & Track: the car costs $156,000 plus local taxes. That means 156,000.00 USD = 115,379.79 EUR after todays currency converter.
Not a bad price if the car delivers what it looks like and tech data. Many Gentleman Drivers, and old top drivers could have a lot of fun in this car !
Has the testing started on the mule started yet, and have anyone filmed it ?
If this one is close to the truth, it would also be a perfect R-GT car: http://facecarsx.com/sport-cars/2012...-design-study/
Put Duez in the car ^^
I see in the Dutch Rally Championship there are some Nissan 350Z and 370Z... what about them?
These are interesting figures. Although the Lotus is a beautiful thing I am not sure there are many Kiwis who could afford one unfortunately. I am interested to know how this package compare to what Prodrive if offering for a Mini. I would have felt that with Prodrive you would get a ST2000 (1.6) and a WRC, as well as technical support for more rallies than Lotus can offer with the Exige. Is this correct???Quote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
For sure but You pay much more for Mini. The biggest difference must be in running cost.
Now that we know the first car is made for this class, what do we know of homologation for a 911, are anyone working on that ?
That Alpine looks great!
Quote:
Originally Posted by wildboar
Very disapointing and confusing that this page has disapeared from Lotus's website... :/
Maybe I am wearing pink tinted specs but the GT class could prove to be a major factor in the possible re-emergance of rallying as the number 1 form of motorsport in popularity since the demise of Grp B... The return of Lotus would be a huge coup!... Why do I have this gut wrenching feeling that it is not going to happen?
It just moved:Quote:
Originally Posted by Zico
News - The Return of Lotus to Rally
[quote="wildboar"]It just moved:
News - The Return of Lotus to Rally[/QUOTE
Thank you!
I also think it is great news and can't wait to see the GT cars on some nice stages, hopefully already in Monte Carlo. However, there should definitely be more than one manufacturer. Also, they probably won't match the speed of the World Rally Cars, but if they can match the S2000 on tarmac, they would be an excellent option in the IRC and ERC, both having more tarmac than gravel rounds.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zico
Will GT have class in 2012, news please.
They already have class since January...
Would love to see Henning S in a GT car, but are any of them homologated yet, or will that happen btw today and Monte Carlo ?
They always indicated that the Lotus Exige R-GT should be homologated and ready for Monte Carlo.
It will be displayed next week at the LA Auto Show. Maybe there will be more information in connection with that event.
LA Auto Show
does any one know if lotus (works team)will enter the monte, or will we have to wait for some privateer to take the plunge. the lotus artical doesn't really make it very clear
I think they made the car just for privateers. I don't see any chances to see a works/sem-works team...Quote:
Originally Posted by gtimad73
They said they will run several events like Monte Carlo or Sanremo so I guess they will have a works car at least for promotional starts.
Really? I missed it. Great!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek
thats a shame. i miss not having oddball cars in the wrc like back in the dayQuote:
Originally Posted by focus206
No. Nothing planned yet. They just observe szene and regulations. Since they do costumer sport only, it will take time...Quote:
Originally Posted by Sulland
Lotus + Kimi = Monte ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mirek