The Lotus F1 team has announced its 2012 challenger will be named the E20 to commemorate the 20th F1 chassis designed at the team's base in Enstone.
Enstone has been the outfit's base since 1992.
The team, previously known as Renault and racing under the Lotus name this year, will unveil the new car on February 5 on its website.
The new E20 will be driven by Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean.
"Our naming of the chassis to recognise Enstone's importance to the team's evolution highlights our recognition of the contribution of the facility and the personnel who work tirelessly every year to produce the very best car possible," said team boss Eric Boullier.
"We certainly hope that this is the case with the E20 and we are looking forward to revealing the car to the world and seeing it out on track for the first time.
"There are a number of technical changes from last year and we have an exciting new driver line-up to extract the maximum from the E20 through the twenty Grands Prix of the 2012 season, including the 500th race for this team through its different incarnations. We hope that the E20 proves to be a performing Enstone design."
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I can see it flying off the track.
Well said Grummps! Colin Chapman was all you described and more, his brilliant Lotus Severn is still relevant and blisteringly fast more than half a century after he designed it. What a man!
The difference is the true original Lotus was the product of an inventive genius who had octane in his bloodstream, racing in his heart and an amazing knack with duck tape and rubber bands.
This latest incarnation is the product of a bunch of bankers (literal) who’s only link to genius is the similarity in their made up name and their only motivation is money.
grummps.
It can never be a Lotus. Remember those lovely green cars with yellow wheels aND sometimes a yellow nose.
Still it is good to see the name. Let us hope thye can make it go like a Lotus.
It don't matter squat what they call it or themselves.A Proton by any other name etc.
What they need to do is make the thing go fast.
It remains to be seen but I have my doubts.
grummps.
The team spent most of its F1 career as Bennetton not Renault, so why the omission? Perhaps to remove the name of Flabbio Briatore from their history?? One can hardly blame them for not wanting to be associated with Flabbio.!!!
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