A visit by Jacques Villeneuve to the Lotus factory in Norfolk was supposed to be a chance for the 1997 Formula One Champion to catch up with friends and try the new Evora. However, the visit has sparked more rumours that Villeneuve is set to sign up as one of the drivers of the new Lotus Formula One team for 2010.
Villeneuve spent the day at Hethel touring the factory and trying the Evora on the Lotus test track. The 38-year old said: "My first toy car was a replica of Emerson Fittipaldi's Lotus 72 - I could say his name before I could say my own Dad's."
Lotus's new Formula One team will be on the grid in 2010 and will initially be based near the company's Norfolk headquarters. However, it's thought the team will move to a new HQ at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, closer to Lotus's Malaysian owner's base.
The team has not announced its driver line-up for 2010, but it is thought that Lotus is looking to take on two experienced Formula One hands. Jarno Trulli and Christian Klein have also been linked with possible drives. Villeneuve said: "It's very flattering to know that the team are considering me. The discussions are still only preliminary and we're not yet at the stage to talk about the details of possible association."
Alisdair Suttie - 1 Dec 2009