Lotus F1 team partners Ruf

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The owner of Lotus’s Formula 1 team – Genii Capital – has bought into Ruf, the maker of extreme Porsche derived supercars. Genii becomes a shareholder and strategic partner, with founding partner and Lotus F1 team chairman Gerard Lopez becoming a non-executive chairman of the board. He’s promised an eventful 2013 Geneva motor show, suggesting a new Ruf model with an exciting powertrain. ‘The high performance vehicle market is going through a fundamental transition with emerging markets and alternative propulsion solutions paving the way for Ruf's future. In light of these developments, the Geneva motor show will be especially exciting this year’, said Lopez. Worried about whether Ruf is in the right hands? evo met Lopez back in 2010 just as he took delivery of his bonkers 710bhp Litchfield Nissan GT-R (in the main picture), and proved his petrolhead credentials – and fondness for Ruf – when quizzed about his envy-inducing car collection. ‘I’ve got cars that I’ve kept for a long, long time. Some of my favourites are an E30 M3 Evo, the last Clio Williams and a Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9. They are all low-mileage cars, but I enjoy driving them very much. They have a special place in my garage. I also enjoy my Yellowbird Ruf CTR and my 993 GT2 Clubsport. I’ve also got an AC Cobra 427. They are all very particular flavours, if you like. You go back to them to remind yourself of that special experience, that feeling.’ Ruf was established in 1939, and has produced many reinterpreted Porsches since, most famous being the 1987 CTR Yellowbird and fastest the 236mph CTR3. With Lopez and Genii on board, it’s future looks yet more exciting.