Lotus Cars Australia will enter the Targa Tasmania Rally’s with Tv Personality Grant Denyer.
Lotus Cars Australia, which is now distributed by Simpy Sports Cars will enter the Targa High Country and Targa Tasmania Rallies with the campaign headed by Grant Denyer, who has been named a Lotus Brand Ambassador.
Denyer who has a long history in Motor racing both on track and on tarmac rallies, will lead the team’s assault on the GT2 class at next years 2017 Targa Tasmania.
The team from Simply Sports Cars are a good fit for the campaign have spent time running various Lotus cars at previous Targa events, including last year’s Targa High Country.
As well as entering Targa, Lotus will also provide course cars for Targa High Country 2016 and Targa Tasmania 2017.
I look forward to seeing what cars they bring to Targa High Country later this year.
Full Press Release below
Lotus Cars to Launch Targa Assault
- GRANT DENYER, TV PERSONALITY, RACE CAR DRIVER AND JOURNALIST SIGNS ON AS LOTUS BRAND AMBASSADOR AND TEAM DRIVER
- TARGA TASMANIA TO BECOME A FOCUS FOR LOTUS CARS AUSTRALIA
- LOTUS TO SUPPLY TARGA COURSE CARS
Having recently taken over distribution rights for Lotus cars in Australia and New Zealand, Simply Sports Cars have announced today that TV personality and race car driver Grant Denyer has signed on as the Brand Ambassador for Lotus Cars Australia. Grant will also take on the role of team driver for Lotus Cars Australia who will mount an assault to win Targa Tasmania in 2017.
Lotus has enjoyed over 50% growth in 2015/2016 on a global level and as the new distributor for Australia and New Zealand, Simply Sports Cars aim to replicate that success locally. Key to that success is a strong ambassador program and pro-active involvement in motoring events that are relevant to the Lotus community.
Lee Knappett, CEO of Lotus Cars Australia & New Zealand said;
“We are really excited to have Grant sign on as Lotus Ambassador and Team Driver. Grant is a well-known celebrity and an accomplished race car driver with a passion for motor sport. His love of Targa is well documented, and his decision to choose Lotus as the vehicle on which to base his 2017 Targa assault is extremely pleasing. My team are looking forward to preparing and maintaining a highly competitive car for Grant to use during his Targa campaign. The vehicle selection process has already started, with Grant sampling a range of Lotus vehicles before making a final decision on which one to drive at Targa. Regardless of which Lotus model Grant chooses, we know our cars with their benchmark handling, light weight and great efficiency are perfect for the demanding roads that confront Targa competitors.”
Grant will use the Targa High Country 2016 event in November as a test for both car and team before the start of the 2017 Targa season. In addition to his duties as Team Driver, Grant will engage in a number of different activities as part of his broader Brand Ambassador role.
Grant Denyer said;
“I’ve always admired Lotus for their purity and performance, I love competing in Targa and have done well in previous events. I am relishing the opportunity to compete in the newly formulated GT2 competition in a truly competitive car. My vehicle selection is still work in progress and it won’t be an easy choice because all these cars are so good to drive. Whatever car I choose, I am confident that the team at Simply Sports Cars will provide me with a reliable and competitive package. They have proven their abilities to prepare and run winning race cars with two consecutive class wins at the Bathurst 12 hour endurance events in 2014 and 2015. I am also excited at the opportunity to be the Brand Ambassador for such an iconic sports car brand as Lotus. The history of the brand and its innovative creator Colin Chapman are inspiring. The cars themselves are explained superbly by Chapman’s quote “Simply, then add lightness”. It’s a good job I don’t weigh too much!”
Mark Perry, Event Director of Targa Australia, said;
“It’s testament to the strength of Targa Australia that two strong brands in Grant and Lotus have decided to come together to compete in our iconic events. We are excited at the prospect of seeing Grant in a highly competitive car going head to head with other marques. We are equally excited at having Lotus Cars Australia show their support for Targa by agreeing to provide the course cars for Targa High Country 2016 and Targa Tasmania 2017. Putting their cars on display in such a way can only help raise awareness for the brand and they (Lotus Cars Australia) are to be congratulated for their commitment in this regard. With such committed and passionate people running Lotus Cars Australia, I am not surprised to hear that there are no less than 14 customer cars have entered to compete in Targa High Country 2016.
Mark continued “Recent changes to the Technical Regulations that govern Targa have been designed to encourage manufacturers to put forward their products to compete largely unmodified. Grant will be competing, and has a real shot at winning in a car that any customer could go out and purchase from their local Lotus Dealer.“
Lotus has enjoyed over 50% growth in 2015/2016 on a global level and as the new distributor for Australia and New Zealand, Simply Sports Cars aim to replicate that success locally. Key to that success is a strong ambassador program and pro-active involvement in motoring events that are relevant to the Lotus community.
Lee Knappett, CEO of Lotus Cars Australia & New Zealand said;
“We are really excited to have Grant sign on as Lotus Ambassador and Team Driver. Grant is a well-known celebrity and an accomplished race car driver with a passion for motor sport. His love of Targa is well documented, and his decision to choose Lotus as the vehicle on which to base his 2017 Targa assault is extremely pleasing. My team are looking forward to preparing and maintaining a highly competitive car for Grant to use during his Targa campaign. The vehicle selection process has already started, with Grant sampling a range of Lotus vehicles before making a final decision on which one to drive at Targa. Regardless of which Lotus model Grant chooses, we know our cars with their benchmark handling, light weight and great efficiency are perfect for the demanding roads that confront Targa competitors.”
Grant will use the Targa High Country 2016 event in November as a test for both car and team before the start of the 2017 Targa season. In addition to his duties as Team Driver, Grant will engage in a number of different activities as part of his broader Brand Ambassador role.
Grant Denyer said;
“I’ve always admired Lotus for their purity and performance, I love competing in Targa and have done well in previous events. I am relishing the opportunity to compete in the newly formulated GT2 competition in a truly competitive car. My vehicle selection is still work in progress and it won’t be an easy choice because all these cars are so good to drive. Whatever car I choose, I am confident that the team at Simply Sports Cars will provide me with a reliable and competitive package. They have proven their abilities to prepare and run winning race cars with two consecutive class wins at the Bathurst 12 hour endurance events in 2014 and 2015. I am also excited at the opportunity to be the Brand Ambassador for such an iconic sports car brand as Lotus. The history of the brand and its innovative creator Colin Chapman are inspiring. The cars themselves are explained superbly by Chapman’s quote “Simply, then add lightness”. It’s a good job I don’t weigh too much!”
Mark Perry, Event Director of Targa Australia, said;
“It’s testament to the strength of Targa Australia that two strong brands in Grant and Lotus have decided to come together to compete in our iconic events. We are excited at the prospect of seeing Grant in a highly competitive car going head to head with other marques. We are equally excited at having Lotus Cars Australia show their support for Targa by agreeing to provide the course cars for Targa High Country 2016 and Targa Tasmania 2017. Putting their cars on display in such a way can only help raise awareness for the brand and they (Lotus Cars Australia) are to be congratulated for their commitment in this regard. With such committed and passionate people running Lotus Cars Australia, I am not surprised to hear that there are no less than 14 customer cars have entered to compete in Targa High Country 2016.
Mark continued “Recent changes to the Technical Regulations that govern Targa have been designed to encourage manufacturers to put forward their products to compete largely unmodified. Grant will be competing, and has a real shot at winning in a car that any customer could go out and purchase from their local Lotus Dealer.“