Villeneuve visits Lotus

Former Formula 1 champ and fellow Canadian Jacques Villeneuve recently visited Lotus headquarters in Norfolk, UK, touring its operations and test-driving the new Evora sports car.

The 1997 champion was in Britain to visit with his friend Gino Rosato, VP of corporate affairs at Lotus, who’d recently taken up the roll after working at Ferrari.

Villeneuve also meet Clive Chapman (son of Lotus’ founder Colin Chapman) and the two shared stories of their father’s days competing in F1.

“My first toy car as a child was a replica model of Emerson Fittipaldi’s Lotus 72,” said Villeneuve. “I could say his name before I could say my dad’s! I really enjoyed watching them racing when I was a boy."

Following a tour of Chapman’s first workshops, Villeneuve visited the factory where the Evora’s bolted up, “often stopping to take in the detail of the process and to pose for photos and autographs.”

Recently appointed CEO of Group Lotus, Dany Bahar, said the visit was a morale booster: "Jacques’ visit is an honour for Lotus… this is a special day for us all."

After Villeneuve’s drive of the Evora, which he described as “a really nice car, fun and comfortable to drive “ he passed on comments to the engineering team.