Lotus Sport USA will locate their North American headquarters operations at the North Carolina Center for Automotive Research in Garysburg, according to a news release from Simon Cobb, chief operating officer for the facility.

Lotus Sport USA is a newly formed and factory endorsed team which will focus primarily on the GT2 and LMP2 classes in the International Motor Sport Association.

The UK group will participate in motorsport activities in selected U.S. racing series, develop new technologies for race cars and establish related educational programs.

Testing and developing of the new Lotus Evora GTE will start later in 2011 with a full U.S. race series schedule planned for 2012. The formation of Lotus Sport USA was announced in a July 13 press release from Group Lotus Motorsport.

Director of Motorsport Claudio Berro said in that press release: “We are very happy to confirm the formal plans for Lotus Sport USA. This part of the world represents a very important market to Group Lotus now and for the future. With Ian Dawson and John Pritzlaff on board, I’m sure Lotus Sport USA will go from strength to strength.”

The factory endorsed team will focus primarily on the GT2 and LMP2 classes in IMSA..

Following the recent announcement of the World Endurance Championship by the Fédération Internationale de L'Automobile and Automobile Club de l’Oust, the driver and constructor championships are being considered.

The new team will initially race with the Lotus Evora GTE through a full North American and International schedule in 2012. The program will begin testing in quarter four of 2011.

The team will be announcing some innovative and exciting new partners to the program, including key personnel to support this long-term partnership.

The move marks the welcome return of Dawson to the Lotus brand. Early in his career, he was a member of the prestigious Team Lotus in the 1970’s. Afterwards he continued working with the brand in a key role for the only private Lotus Team, Rebaque F1.

With his background in banking as a financial executive Pritzlaff will bring structure and oversight to the racing program. “John has a great understanding of this legendary marquee and is dedicated to the preservation of the Lotus heritage and legacy through motorsport.”

North American Headquarters for Lotus Sport USA are located at the North Carolina Center for Automotive Research complex and testing facility. The European Headquarters is near the Group Lotus Headquarters in Norfolk, England.

Cobb said in his press release, “As you may know, NCCAR has been developed to exacting standards with a deliberate intent to support and encourage development of the automotive industry in North Carolina.

“We have worked with Lotus Sport USA team principal Ian Dawson for some time now, and welcome the opportunity to have Group Lotus Motorsport operations for North America based at the NCCAR facility.  We expect that their activities here will attract further and broader interest in NCCAR and North Carolina as great places to conduct business.”