Motorsport: Race ready Lotus a star of Speedshow

Photo / Supplied

Two of the most famous and enduring names in motorsport - Lotus and Renault - appear at this year's CRC Speedshow in the form of a 2011 Lotus Renault Grand Prix Formula 1 race car.

The race-ready F1 car is being transported to New Zealand especially for CRC Speedshow, which takes place at the ASB Showgrounds on July 23 and 24.

Formally known as a Lotus Renault GP R31, the spectacular race car will sit alongside a new Renault Megane Renault Sport 250 hatch as the local Renault distributor relaunches the French marque in New Zealand.

"Having a current model Formula 1 car at CRC Speedshow is something of a defining moment for the F1-mad Speedshow team," says Keith Sharp, who developed and organises the annual automotive and motorsport expo.

"The legions of Kiwi F1 fans have never had an opportunity like this before to see a current specification F1 car here in New Zealand, so we're very excited to have worked with Steve Kenchington from Motorcorp New Zealand to make it possible to bring the display model of the very latest Lotus Renault F1 to CRC Speedshow."

The 5m-long race car has a moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque chassis weighing just 640kg in race trim with driver, cameras and ballast. The Renault F1 RS27-2011 engine is a 2400cc 90° V8 which revs out to a maximum of 18,000rpm and has maximum power of around 600kW (800hp).

The UK-based Lotus Renault GP team has 34-year-old German Nick Heidfield and 26-year-old Russian Vitaly Petrov on its driver line-up for 2011 after star driver Robert Kubica, from Poland, missed the start of this season after crashing in an Italian rally in February. After four rounds of the 2011 FIA World Formula 1 Championship, the team is fourth on the constructors' points-table with the two drivers seventh equal in the drivers' standings.

The Lotus Renault GP F1 car adds to an ever-expanding array of exciting features at this year's Speedshow.

Sharps adds: "Every year we talk to fans about what they'd like to see at Speedshow. There's no doubt that Formula 1 is one of the most popular forms of motorsport in the world, so it's just fantastic to have secured the Lotus Renault car.

"Among Kiwi and Australian fans there isn't anything better than V8 Supercars, so again, it's a real pleasure to have Kiwi star racer Shane Van Gisbergen and one of his SP Tools Falcon race cars at Speedshow this year.

"Add a great line-up of new cars and motorcycles, exciting competitions and demonstrations in the Ezy Buy Car Auctions live action arena, fantastic hot rods and classic cars and bikes of all generations and, once again, there is truly something for every kind of car or bike fan when the doors to CRC Speedshow open at 9am on Saturday, July 23."

Tickets to CRC Speedshow are available at the gate with an adult day pass priced at $18.50, children aged 10 to 15 years $10 each and children under 10 are free.

A family pass offers great value at $48 for two adults and up to three children.