Black-to-Black race wins for Classic Team Lotus customers

Greg Thornton lined up on the Mexican grid. To view the Mexico gallery please visit the Masters Flickr gallery

Team Lotus F1 cars raced in period by Nigel Mansell and Ronnie Peterson were in pole position and on top of the podium at the American and Mexican Grand Prix. Both events featured FIA Grand Prix Masters F1 races as support events and Classic Team Lotus was running Katsu Kubota in his ex Ronnie Peterson Lotus type 72, Greg Thornton in his his ex Nigel Mansell/Elio De Angelis Lotus type 91 and Andrew Beaumont in his ex Ronnie Peterson Lotus type 76.

At the Circuit of the Americas, Katsu Kubota performed brilliantly in a damp qualifying to secure pole position by three seconds, in front of a grid of 31 cars, featuring six Team Lotus F1 cars. Sadly the terrible weather put paid to the first race on the Saturday and for the feature race on the Sunday the cars were led by the safety car for eight laps before it was called to a halt. The results were based on the qualifying positions, so Katsu's pole position was deemed as a race win.

Katsu Kubota in Austin. To view the Austin gallery
please visit the Masters Flickr gallery

In Mexico the historic F1 cars received a fantastic welcome from the huge crowds, with the black & gold Lotus F1 cars - resplendent in Classic Team Lotus/ACBC livery - gaining special recognition. Greg and Andrew qualified an impressive second and sixth in another strong field of cars. Greg set fastest race lap in Race 1 and finished a strong second, with Andrew not far behind in fifth place. In the big race on Sunday Greg took the lead on the first lap and held it until the end, setting another fastest lap despite intense pressure. Andrew finished fifth.

Thanks to the Classic Team Lotus customers for displaying their cars in Classic Team Lotus livery and for flying the Lotus flag in great style at such high profile Grand Prix weekends; black-to-black.

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