Classic Lotus Festival at Snetterton
Photographs and report by Craig Boon.

IN an historic moment for the Lotus car marque just before the 500th appearance of the name at a Formula 1 event, Classic Team Lotus and Lotus Racing joined forces to present EVERY model of Formula 1 car to ever bear their name.

The event was held at Snetterton in Norfolk only a stone's throw from the historic and modern bases of the British Racing Green racers.

Cars fresh from restoration as well as those that regularly fight wheel to wheel in historic races were on display, no matter whether the cars were local or flown in from overseas from overseas for the event the standard of presentation was exemplary. This is only time that an example of each has ever been seen together in one place. A piece of motoring history!!!!

Lotus racing had their new T127 on track that was due to be used at Lotus' 500th GP the next weekend in Valencia by Jarno Trulli. As well as their "show car" great access to the actual race car was given to members of the public who for once were given unprecedented views of a current Formaul 1 machine being prepared for the track.

Lotus Racings' test driver Fauzy took the car through its paces later in the day to a huge crowd that had turned up to celebrate the Lotus name. The 2 current F1 drivers were also present to give autographs and interviews as well as track runs. Heikki Kovalainen took the wheel of a Lotus 77 previously driven my Mario Andretti, whilst test driver Fauzy had a championship winning Lotus 72 of Emersson Fittipaldi. The two took off like championship points depended on it and battled it out for 5 laps, the honours being taken by the young Finn Kovalainen. The Japanese driver wasn't so lucky in the ex-ayrton Senna Lotus 98T as it ground to a halt on the approach to "Bomb Hole" with a sick sound Renault Turbo engine.

Track action continued all day with the Elise Trophy, Lotus Cup Europe, Monoposto cars, the Gazshocks Production BMWs and Heritage Grand Touring cars providing thrill and occasionally spills all day.

Interestingly some of this years Lotus cars have been prepared on Merseyside, in Southport.....