The annual Lotus festival is back at Brands Hatch for the Bank Holiday weekend and it will be celebrating a special landmark.
The Lotus Cortina will be celebrating its 50th birthday and there will be action on the track to celebrate the classic cars birthday.
The original performance saloon, it won championships in Britain and Europe. Former drivers Jack Sears, who drove the car in late season races on route to the 1963 British Touring Car Championship, and Sir John Whitmore, 1965 European Touring Car Champion with an Alan Mann-prepared Lotus Cortina, are both expected to be attending the event.
Classic Team Lotus will be demonstrating the Grand Prix cars of yesteryear such as those driven by Jim Clark and Graham Hill.
The weekend’s race programme also features racing from the Lotus Cup Europe and Lotus Cup UK championships, which includes entries from the factory’s Elise, Exige and Evora cars, plus the popular Elise Trophy series. Lotus owners from across the continent and even as far as Australia are expected to travel to the event. Examples of almost every car from the marque will line the circuit, and many will take to the track for a special parade on Saturday. This will include a collection of Esprits, with a timeline of the James Bond-starring supercar.
Lotus Cars and Motorsport will also have a presence at the event, with cars on display and taking to the track including the T125 F1-style trackday car, Evora and the brand new V6-powered Exige S Roadster.
The event also features racing from other marques, action on the rally stage from Lotuses, with visitors also able to enjoy a sideways ride in one of the venue’s specially-prepared cars. The festival atmosphere will also be enhanced with trade stands, a show and shine competition, an aerobatic display on the Sunday and even live music on Saturday with a band formed by Lotus owners!