Lotus unveil new Hethel Test Track with F1 stars and cars

Nigel Mansell was re-united with his Essex-Lotus 81B – the car he started his F1 career in 30 years ago – to celebrate the opening of the newly-re-vamped Hethel test track at the Lotus factory in Norfolk. Mansell led a convoy of seven stunning Lotus race cars around the new circuit, with a host of race aces, including Mansell's two sons, the 1980 Type 88 twin-chassis car, the Lotus Type 125 Exos Experience car driven by F1 star, Jean Alessi and a brace of Lotus Renault GP cars, driven by current F1 stars, Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna. The layout of the 2.2-mile circuit has changed very little, adding just one new corner, but there's new asphalt and larger run-of, to better suit modern racers. Nigel Mansell, Group Lotus ambassador said: "What a joy it is to be reunited with my old 81B after 30 years. This is a very special place, Hethel, and it was wonderful to open the circuit up today by driving alongside my sons, Leo and Greg." Road will be there very soon, no doubt, as we gave offices just down the road and you can read all about the latest Evora IPS twin-clutch car on the cover of the next issue of www.roadmagazine.co.uk, out next week.