Group Lotus announced Tuesday that it would lend its name to Colin Kolles’ Team Kodewa LMP2 program in the World Endurance Championship, which includes the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Kodewa ran the HRT Formula One program through 2011, before the team was sold to new owners. Kolles, seeking new direction, bought a pair of Lola B12/80s to race in the WEC.
The team has endurance racing experience; Kolles ran Audi R10 TDIs at Le Mans in 2009 and 2010.
The new Lolas will be powered by Judd-built 5-liter BMW V8s which will be badged as Lotus engines. Judd is also building the Lotus IndyCar engines.
Lotus, which supported JetAlliance’s two-car Lotus Evora effort in 2011, had plans to build its own LMP2 car but had to scrap those plans. In a press release Lotus’s motorsport director Claudio Berro said, “We made no secret of our intention to tackle LMP2 this year but it had to be done in the right way. We’re very happy with the set up with our partners.”
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