At its launch at the British International Motor Show on 22nd July 2008, the Evora was the star of the event. It was the first new Lotus since the Elise in 1996. Designed by Russell Carr, this 2+2 mid-engined coupé is equipped with a 3.5 litre V6 (280 hp) and weighs 1350 kg. It follows the philosophy of the marque's founder Colin Chapman (1928-1982), for whom extra pounds were the worst enemy. Then, at the Paris Motor Show 2010, Lotus unveiled the Evora S, whose power had risen to 350 hp.

Two Lotus Evora will be run by the Jetalliance team in the Le Mans Intercontinental Cup, and have been selected for the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans, pending the arrival of an LM P2 prototype. Directed by two persons of high reputation: Claudio Berro, former head of Ferrari's customer competition, and Paolo Catone, responsible for the design of the future LM P2, and who has previously worked on the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, winner of 24 Hours of Le Mans 2009 and the first champion in the history of the ILMC. This ambitious programme, will also be accompanied by the launch (by 2015) of no fewer than five new road cars, presented at the Paris Motor Show 2010.

Jean-Philippe Doret

Photo: The colours of the team Jetalliance subtly recall Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus, was a former aeronautical engineer.