Chris's Lotus Cortina

[blueskev]

I heard Chris in an interview saying that he was racing his Lotus Cortina at Donnington 48 hours after the end of the tour. Does anyone know what series he is racing in and how he got on?
Regards,
Kev.

[chrismiller]

Hey Kev,

This is his Cortina (painted on the Auberge cover):

But it was sold for charity in 2005. See the link: http://www.motorbase.com/auctionlot/by-id/1393842352/
Maybe he's got a new one...

As far as I know Chris races a Ferrari 308GT4, this one:


He took 11th place in Donington Park 30 September 2007 (Round 12 Pirelli Ferrari formula classic series) and that's his latest result can be found for the present.

Plus, he owns this 1961 Ferrari 196SP Shark Nose Replica:


Hope it helped. Yours truly,
Chris

[blueskev]

Hi Chris,
Thanks for the reply and pics. The blue car is the Lotus 7 that Chris used to race. He now owns Jim Clarke's Lotus Cortina as pictured in the Hofner book and I think he is going to be racing it this year.
Regards,
Kev

[lilybee]

I love car racing

My hubby and I did photography for NASCAR here, for two years.

Wonder if Chris would ever do stock car racing?

I also like Indi and the Ausstralian trails.

lilybee

[lilybee]

Hi Chris,

Is the 61' Ferrarri the one on the cover of "The Best Of Chris Rea" album?

lilybee

[chrismiller]

Hey Lily,

Judging from the rearview mirrors the cars definitely aren't the same.
But it seems like a Ferrari, if I can spare some time I'll do a bit of a research to find out what model is.
Yours truly,

Chris

[chrismiller]

Hey,

After searching some Ferrari sites through and through I believe that car on the cover is only a product of fantasy. Very similar to Chris' 196 SP, though.
In the meantime I found the official pictures of the very car built for Chris and appeared in La Passione:



Nice ride.

Chris

[lilybee]

She's a beauty!

Thanks for the research,

Lily B.

[imagemkr]

Looking at the picture on the cover of the Best of Chris Rea album, I'd have to say its more like a touring car of the sixties, similar to, but not, a Jaguar 3.8 sedan. Looks like maybe four headlights judging by the bulges and chrome pieces on top of them. Its definitely not a race car, and probably not a Ferrari. Just my two cents.

Cheers, Thom

[eddierose0608]

just found this pic of Chris with the lotus


dunno if its been posted before.

[lilybee]

and someone on his Facebook page posted this picture of his sharknose replica:
http://en-gb.facebook.com/photo.php?pid ... =525428068




Lily

[lilybee]

I scanned these pix from MY copy of Q Mag, 1994, which I got on eBay.

Here's Chris with his orange "Espresso Logic" BMW 318,
at the International Toca Shootout, in Donington Park, 1993.









Ronald has the whole interview posted on his site, (so I won't show it on mine yet).
Go under "Interviews", then click on "Q magazine 01/94" (14th down) http://www.chrisrea.biz/


Lily

[blueskev]

Hi lily,
I was at the Toca shoot out. If I remember correctly the grid was chosen on experience (to give less experienced drivers a chance) but they put him near the back and I think he ended up in the gravel. Still, he did better than Nigel Mansel who ended up crashing into the bridge in front of where I was standing!

Just to clear up the Lotus thing, his Caterham (they manufacture it now) Lotus seven is the car on the front of Auberge and the Lotus Cortina is a sixties saloon car that was and is raced as a touring car.

Kev.

[lilybee]

That's great that you were there Kevin!....


Ok....so I don't speak a word of Japanese.... but this is great footage of Chris and his cars!!!


http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php ... 9194949094

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php ... 9194949094

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php ... 9194949094


Does anybody have this on DVD somewhere....?


I have gotten permission to post them on my YouTube and Facebook Pages....

Lily

[blueskev]

Hi Lily, these are great it's strange that we haven't seen them before. Thanks for the links,
Kevin.