<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-31269" title="Lotus_Exige_R-GT-1" src="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Lotus_Exige_R-GT-1-600x388.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="388" />
Even with the current turmoil that Lotus is in for the moment such as the termination of their CEO, they could still manage to gather up their resources and put some focus into their motorsport program. And for their latest progress, the legendary British sports car marquee is set to make a debut of their Lotus Exige R-GT as a course car at the Belgium’s Geko Ypres Rally happening this 21-23 June.
<a href="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Lotus_Exige_R-GT-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-31270" title="Lotus_Exige_R-GT-2" src="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Lotus_Exige_R-GT-2-600x330.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="330" /></a>
The Geko Ypres Rally takes place in the town of Ypres in West Flanders, and is one of the most beautiful rallies in both the European series and the IRC. The Exige R-GT will be driven by Portugese driver Bernardo Sousa, who will also be competing in the FIA European Rally Championship and the International Rally Challenge later this year.
<a href="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Bernardo_Sousa_Corrado_Mancini_Lotus.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-31267" title="Bernardo_Sousa_Corrado_Mancini_Lotus" src="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Bernardo_Sousa_Corrado_Mancini_Lotus-600x455.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="455" /></a>
This specially-prepped Exige has gone through a series of tests in Italy, and this is its first participation in a rally event, although only as a course car. This will also be the first opportunity for the fans to catch the car up close with the team of Bernardo Sousa and Corrado Mancini on board. And since this is the first official event for the team, the Lotus International Team will also be dropping down at Ypres in full force.
<a href="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Lotus_Exige_R-GT-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-31271" title="Lotus_Exige_R-GT-3" src="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Lotus_Exige_R-GT-3-600x315.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="315" /></a>
"I am very pleased to be at the Geko Ypres Rally, even if I’m only driving the Exige as a course car. This presence will certainly help us to start having some stage time comparisons against those who will be our next opponents. During the tests the car has improved continuously and I am discovering its great potential day after day”, said the Portugese driver.
<a href="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Lotus_Exige_R-GT.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-31268" title="Lotus_Exige_R-GT" src="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Lotus_Exige_R-GT-600x343.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="343" /></a>
The participation is also to provide Lotus with valuable data in further improving the car’s tuning and setup, which now runs on a new suspension evolution, refined electronics and Michelin tires due to their new technical partnership with the French company.
Even with the current turmoil that Lotus is in for the moment such as the termination of their CEO, they could still manage to gather up their resources and put some focus into their motorsport program. And for their latest progress, the legendary British sports car marquee is set to make a debut of their Lotus Exige R-GT as a course car at the Belgium’s Geko Ypres Rally happening this 21-23 June.
<a href="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Lotus_Exige_R-GT-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-31270" title="Lotus_Exige_R-GT-2" src="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Lotus_Exige_R-GT-2-600x330.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="330" /></a>
The Geko Ypres Rally takes place in the town of Ypres in West Flanders, and is one of the most beautiful rallies in both the European series and the IRC. The Exige R-GT will be driven by Portugese driver Bernardo Sousa, who will also be competing in the FIA European Rally Championship and the International Rally Challenge later this year.
<a href="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Bernardo_Sousa_Corrado_Mancini_Lotus.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-31267" title="Bernardo_Sousa_Corrado_Mancini_Lotus" src="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Bernardo_Sousa_Corrado_Mancini_Lotus-600x455.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="455" /></a>
This specially-prepped Exige has gone through a series of tests in Italy, and this is its first participation in a rally event, although only as a course car. This will also be the first opportunity for the fans to catch the car up close with the team of Bernardo Sousa and Corrado Mancini on board. And since this is the first official event for the team, the Lotus International Team will also be dropping down at Ypres in full force.
<a href="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Lotus_Exige_R-GT-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-31271" title="Lotus_Exige_R-GT-3" src="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Lotus_Exige_R-GT-3-600x315.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="315" /></a>
"I am very pleased to be at the Geko Ypres Rally, even if I’m only driving the Exige as a course car. This presence will certainly help us to start having some stage time comparisons against those who will be our next opponents. During the tests the car has improved continuously and I am discovering its great potential day after day”, said the Portugese driver.
<a href="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Lotus_Exige_R-GT.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-31268" title="Lotus_Exige_R-GT" src="http://www.zerotohundred.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Lotus_Exige_R-GT-600x343.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="343" /></a>
The participation is also to provide Lotus with valuable data in further improving the car’s tuning and setup, which now runs on a new suspension evolution, refined electronics and Michelin tires due to their new technical partnership with the French company.
