Why the car Colapinto will drive through Buenos Aires is historic | OneFootball

The Argentine driver will be behind the wheel of the naturally aspirated V8-powered single-seater in which Kimi Räikkönen won the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

On April 26, Franco Colapinto will take center stage in an exhibition on a street circuit set up in Palermo. The event will feature a 2012 Lotus E20, a Formula 1 car from before the hybrid era, known for its V8 engine and a much louder sound than today’s cars, allowing the public to enjoy a unique experience right in the city.

The choice of this car is due to the fact that current vehicles cannot be used in exhibitions, so historic models like this Lotus are used instead. Designed by James Allison, the E20 holds a special place in recent history: with this single-seater, Kimi Räikkönen won in Abu Dhabi in 2012, in a season in which he also shone alongside Romain Grosjean, contributing key points for the team.

As for its performance, this Formula 1 car combines a 2.4-liter V8 engine with 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in just 2.5 seconds and a top speed of around 300 km/h, along with an engine speed reaching 18,000 RPM and a seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox, which explains its trademark roaring sound.

Although it bears the Lotus name, this single-seater belongs to the outfit that now competes as Alpine F1 Team, a team that has changed names and owners over the years. Its origins go back to Toleman in the 1980s, which later became Benetton and was eventually acquired by Renault.

Over time, Renault sold part of the team to an investment group that secured an agreement to use the Lotus name. That is how Lotus F1 Team was born, and in 2012 it fielded the E20, although it still used Renault engines and kept its operations base in Enstone. However, years later the French brand bought the team back and regained full control. It first returned to competing as Renault and since 2021 has adopted the Alpine name, its performance division, which explains why this historic Lotus is now part of the current team’s heritage.

In this context, the E20 became an ideal model for exhibitions. Its fully analog mechanics and powerful sound made it a highly sought-after showpiece, something Argentine fans will be able to enjoy up close when Colapinto takes to the track.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.