Photo by: Eric Gilbert
DREYER & REINBOLD RACING AND LOTUS CONFIRM INDYCAR SERIES PARTNERSHIP
Indianapolis, IN (November 17, 2011) - Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Group Lotus PLC announced today that DRR will serve as a Lotus factory partner team. Additionally, the historic auto manufacturer will provide Dreyer & Reinbold Racing entries with its new Lotus IndyCar V-6 racing engine for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season.
Group Lotus Director of Motorsport Operations, Miodrag Kotur said, "This partnership means a great deal to Lotus Motorsport, it's a clear demonstration of the progress we've made on the engine development and we are very happy that Dreyer & Reinbold Racing have chosen to work with us at the start of a new chapter of our commitment to the IZOD IndyCar Series. We believe that their faith in us and our capabilities as a partner will pay dividends - the numbers that are coming from our dyno testing are extremely encouraging. Our hard work is paying off and we think our partners will be very happy with the results."
As a factory partner team, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will be responsible for a significant amount of on-track testing, off-track research and development activities and act as a driving force to create a successful on-track product for all Lotus teams in 2012. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is planning to run two cars full-time for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar season with an additional entry for the Indianapolis 500.
"To enter into a partnership with Lotus as a factory partner team is a huge step for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. In working closely with the team at Lotus over the past few months, we have had unique access and awareness of their strong commitment to the IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500. Many of our collective efforts are already underway and we could not be more enthusiastic about this off-season's testing and development program," stated Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Co-owner, Dennis Reinbold.
In addition to a heightened level of technical partnership with Lotus, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will be a valued commercial, marketing and promotional partner of Lotus moving forward. These activities will include a new co-branded logo for the team, large-scale presentation and team re-branding efforts, business development and partner sales cooperation and unique business-to-business opportunities for current and prospective Dreyer & Reinbold Racing partners. Over the course of the off-season, Dreyer & Reinbold and Lotus will communicate these initiatives and their details at a later date.
"We're very excited at Dreyer & Reinbold Racing to have a partnership with Lotus Motorsport and to be a part of the rich and meaningful history of Lotus. The goals were simple; to partner technically with a sophisticated engineering team at Lotus to ensure on-track success in this new era of IndyCar racing, and commercially to align ourselves with the most appropriate fit to our brand, our current partners and our long-term goals in motorsports. We look forward to working extensively with the Lotus team to ensure success both on and off the track in 2012," commented Dreyer & Reinbold Co-owner Robbie Buhl.
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, who is entering its 13th season of full-time competition in 2012 and making it one of the longest-tenured teams in IZOD IndyCar Series competition, has one of the longest lines of heritage in American open-wheel racing and the Indianapolis 500. Dennis Reinbold's grandfather, "Pop" Dreyer, built leading roadsters that raced at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the 30s, 40s, and 50s.
Lotus, based in Norfolk, England, has competed in a variety of motorsports disciplines since the legendary Colin Chapman founded the company in 1948, including IndyCar racing, Formula One and sports cars. Jim Clark drove a Lotus chassis to victory in the 1965 Indianapolis 500. This will be the first time Lotus has produced an engine for IndyCar competition.
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will continue to make further announcements regarding details for the 2012 season.
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