At Autosport International
A selection of the most rare and valuable Lotus racing cars in existence will be displayed at Autosport International in the Birmingham NEC from 8 to 11 January 2009.
These cars, exhibited by Club Lotus and Classic Team Lotus, include the Lotus Type 32B Tasman, reckoned by experts to be the most original Jim Clark single-seater in existence, and the Lotus 97T, with which the great Ayrton Senna won his first Grand Prix in 1985 in Estoril, Portugal.
The Lotus type 32B was designed to compete in the Tasman series in Australia and New Zealand, which Clark dominated in 1965 by winning nine out of the 13 races. Senna’s 99T was the Grand Prix car in which he took the first of his six Monaco victories, marking the first win for a Formula 1 machine with active suspension. Senna also triumphed with this particular car, chassis four, at the 1987 United States Grand Prix in Detroit: the very last Grand Prix win for Team Lotus.
The other cars on display include a Type 49 Lotus, which Graham Hill took to victory in the 1968 Monaco Grand Prix and to pole position in the British Grand Prix. One year later, Hill triumphed at the Monaco Grand Prix again in the same Gold Leaf-liveried car.
Emerson Fittipaldi claimed his first Grand Prix victory in the 1970 United States Grand Prix, and the Lotus Type 72 that he used to do it will also be on display in Birmingham. This car, arguably the greatest Formula 1 racer of all time, is a veteran of 46 Grand Prix, having been used up until the end of the 1975 season.
Furthermore, two extremely rare Lotus road cars will add some extra colour to the display: a classic Gold Leaf Lotus Elan sprint and a new Lotus 211 in black and gold John Player Special livery, which is the only one of its kind in the world.
“Classic Team Lotus is committed to ensuring that these historic cars are still accessible to the public,” said Club Lotus’ Chairman Alan Morgan. “We work very closely with Clive Chapman and Classic Team Lotus and share the same goal: to keep the heritage of Lotus and its many successes in motorsport alive. All the cars on display currently compete in historic racing and demonstrate just how far the sport has progressed through the years. Exhibiting at Autosport International, with such a range and number of attendees, means that we can keep these priceless cars in the public eye and share the history of motorsport.”
Haymarket Exhibitions’ Show Director Ian France added: “Club Lotus and Classic Team Lotus do a fantastic job of keeping these historic cars in the limelight. It is a pleasure to have them attend Autosport International and illustrate the history of motorsport.”
Notes to editorsThe Club Lotus and Classic Team Lotus display can be seen on stand 6240 at the Autosport International Show next January.
The 2008 Autosport International Show attracted over 84,000 visitors, including 28,000 trade buyers. Over 1,000 media representatives were present throughout the event, covering the show’s numerous live displays and 850 exhibitors.
Autosport International will be open to the public on Saturday 10 to Sunday 11 January 2009. Adult tickets start at £29 per day, with children’s tickets costing £19, and include a 34-page souvenir brochure. To book, visit autosport-international.com or call 0044 (0) 844 579 3188 .
Paddock passes are available for £35 per adult and £25 for children. In addition to standard admission, visitors will have access to the Driver Signing Area as well as fast-track entry to the Live Action Arena and a great viewing position at the centre of the grandstands.
A Platinum Club pass, at £100, includes all the benefits of the Paddock Pass plus exclusive access to the VIP enclosure at the very top of the Live Action Arena grandstand, complete with champagne and canapés. You will also receive complimentary parking, cloakroom at the NEC plus a goodie bag.
