2012 Lotus Evora GX

(from Lotus Press Release)  Lotus Evora GX fires-up for GRAND-AM Road Racing Rolex Series debut

Hot off the back of unleashing its Evora GTC racer, Lotus Racing engineers have been honing the Evora to meet the requirements of North America’s legendary sports car series, the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.

Later in the 2012 season the Evora will race under the Rolex Series’ GT rules as GX rules begin in 2013. With the Evora GX, the driving experience is even more pure, and the beefy body kit is even more aggressive.

McMahon Raceworks with Condor Motorsport have placed an order for their Evora GX, and the team led by David McMahon with Armando Trentini as lead driver and consultant, will enter the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.

Like the GTC, carbon-fibre doors, roof and engine cover have replaced the SMC and RTM composite panels of the previous evolution GT4 Enduro, and Plexiglass replaces the polycarbonate windows in order to trim yet more weight off what is already a very light car. At 1,150kg, it tips the scales at just 10kg over the weight of the GTC model, despite being fitted with the much thicker US-spec roll cage

There are aerodynamic changes too, with a new front splitter and front bumper, and the standard Rolex Series rear wing which, along with the car’s wide wheels and flared arches, give it very mean stance. To meet other series requirements, ABS and traction control have been removed, putting more emphasis on driver skill.

There’s also a new fuel filler system, Continental tyres, and yellow headlamps in order to tick all the race series specific boxes. The 4-litre V6 continues to pump out 440bhp and 440Nm of torque, linked to an XTRAC six-speed sequential paddle-shift. The GX is priced at $335,000.00 and will be built to order.