Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Group Lotus PLC, announced today at the Los Angeles Auto Show that DRR will serve as a Lotus factory partner team in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series. The British sports car manufacturer will provide Dreyer & Reinbold Racing entries with its new Lotus V6 turbocharged racing engines, which will be built by John Judd's Engine Developments group. DRR joins HVM and Bryan Herta Autosport teams as Lotus partners next season (see below for separate stories)
• HVM confirms Lotus plans
• Group Lotus confirms 2012 IndyCar partners
“To enter into a partnership with Lotus as a factory partner team is a huge step for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing," said team co-owner Dennis Reinbold (ABOVE). "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 under way and we could not be more enthusiastic about this off-season's testing and development program."
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 for all Lotus teams. DRR is planning to run two cars full time next season, with an additional entry for the Indianapolis 500. Although no drivers were mentioned in the announcement, the third car is a logical place for F1 veteran and Lotus "ambassador" Jean Alesi, who announced earlier this year he plans to make his Indy 500 debut next year in association with Lotus.
“This partnership means a great deal to Lotus Motorsport," said Miodrag Kotur, director of motorsport operations for Group Lotus. "It's a clear demonstration of the progress we've made on the engine development and we are very happy that Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has 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.”
Beyond their technical partnership, Lotus and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will be marketing and promotional partners with 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.
"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," added team co-owner Robbie Buhl. "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."