Lotus, the England-based auto manufacturer, will design and build engines for the IndyCar series when it launches its new car platform in 2012. Lotus will join Honda and Chevrolet, who announced last week it is returning to IndyCar as well. Lotus served as primary sponsor for the Number 5 car driven by Takuma Sato this season, which was also co-sponsored by iRacing.com, Interush and Phytter at the Indy Japan race in September, 2010.

IndyCar President Randy Bernard called the signing an important step toward creating more competition in the series, which has been using Honda engines exclusively.This will be the first time Lotus has produced an engine for IndyCar competition and gives the IZOD IndyCar Series manufacturer representation from the U.S. (Chevrolet), Europe (Lotus) and Asia (Honda). “Lotus is a renowned name in racing, with a long association with some of the greatest names of motorsports,” said Randy Bernard, CEO of INDYCAR. “We’re honored Lotus has chosen to serve as an engine manufacturer for the first time with us."

“The history and DNA of Lotus is all about extracting the most performance out of a car in return for maximum efficiency, and we are delighted to offer our engine and aero body kit to the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series,” said Claudio Berro, Director of Lotus Motorsport. “We will be using the knowledge gained from our extensive research into E85 biofuel and turbo-charged engines to ensure we extract the maximum performance. As you would expect from the company that pioneered aerodynamics in sports car and F1 racing over the years our aero body kit will also be a world class solution. So, all in all, will the 2012 Lotus IndyCar will be as innovative and revolutionary as the Lotus Type 38 that won in 1965 and changed Indy forever? Maybe. We’ll have to wait and see.”

The 2012 platform allows manufacturers to produce engines with a maximum of six cylinders. The engines will be turbo charged producing between 550 and 700 horsepower to suit the diverse set of tracks on which the IZOD IndyCar Series competes.

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