Group Lotus has made an official entry into the CIK FIA World Karting Championship for 2012, as it looks to discover new driving talent.
The move makes Lotus the first car manufacturer to have a presence in karting, where almost the entire current Formula 1 grid started out in motorsport.
The team will compete under the Lotus Racing Karts banner and form part of the Lotus Motorsport division. The team will be operated by Jefra Racing out of its base in Treviso, Italy, and the Lotus karts will be manufactured by Wildkart. The team will enter CIK-FIA international karting events for the KF and KZ categories and the World Karting Championship for the KF1 category.
“Our entry into karting is exciting on many levels,” said Miodrag Kotur, Director of Operations for Lotus Motorsport.
“Not only are we nurturing new talent and widening our motorsport programme, but we also have an opportunity to join forces with two world-class specialists. It is exciting to see Lotus Motorsport grow in such an authentic, fresh and exhilarating way.”
Lotus Racing Karts will unveil their 2012 karts at the annual AUTOSPORT International event on 14th January 2012 at the NEC in Birmingham.