Lotus splits with Bryan Herta Autosport and Dreyer & Reinbold IndyCar teams
Lotus has split with two of its IndyCar teams, reducing the number of full-time Lotus-powered cars from five to three for the remainder of the season
Bryan Herta Autosport and Dreyer & Reinbold have both parted with the manufacturer following a difficult start to the season, with the lateness of Lotus's deal to join the series and consequent lack of testing having resulted in an engine that has proven to be both unreliable and underdeveloped.
Bryan Herta Autosport had already announced its intention to miss this weekend's race in Sao Paolo and will not use the Lotus engines from this point on, while Dreyer & Reinbold will run the unit in Oriol Servia's car for the final time in Brazil. Both teams are expected to have new engine deals in place in time for the Indianapolis 500.
Lotus Group motorsport director Claudio Berro said that the reduced commitment would allow the manufacturer to focus on bridging the gap to rivals Chevrolet and Honda.
"Lotus in IndyCar is like David versus Goliath," he said. "We are and always will be a niche British sportscar company built for the few, not the many.
"That said, I'm delighted with our solution and I can assure everybody that the actions were taken after careful consideration and will assist in ensuring the brand's high racing ambitions and the high expectations of the IndyCar community are realised."
As part of the overhaul, Lotus has also committed to provide additional resources and funding to Engine Developments Limited, which designs and builds the engines on its behalf.
The cancellation of the two contracts leaves HVM and Dragon Racing as the only Lotus-powered teams in the series.
The Indy 500 poleman who didn't live to raceday
The Indy 500 poleman who didn't live to raceday The Indy 500 poleman who didn't live to raceday
Fast Failures: American heartbreak at the Indianapolis 500
Fast Failures: American heartbreak at the Indianapolis 500 Fast Failures: American heartbreak at the Indianapolis 500
Indy Lights champion Spencer Pigot gets three race IndyCar deal
Indy Lights champion Spencer Pigot gets three race IndyCar deal Indy Lights champion Spencer Pigot gets three race IndyCar deal
Kyle Kirkwood reveals 80G impact flipped his car in Indy 500
Kyle Kirkwood reveals 80G impact flipped his car in Indy 500 Kyle Kirkwood reveals 80G impact flipped his car in Indy 500
Andretti swaps IndyCar strategists for Herta and Kirkwood
Andretti swaps IndyCar strategists for Herta and Kirkwood Andretti swaps IndyCar strategists for Herta and Kirkwood
What will it take to get American drivers in Formula 1?
What will it take to get American drivers in Formula 1? What will it take to get American drivers in Formula 1?
Rahal: Wilson family links “compelled” Indy 500 sub decision
Rahal: Wilson family links “compelled” Indy 500 sub decision Rahal: Wilson family links “compelled” Indy 500 sub decision
Wilson “doing well”, targets 2024 Indy 500 return from hospital bed
Wilson “doing well”, targets 2024 Indy 500 return from hospital bed Wilson “doing well”, targets 2024 Indy 500 return from hospital bed
Rahal “can’t believe” Honda allowed him to race a Chevy in Indy 500
Rahal “can’t believe” Honda allowed him to race a Chevy in Indy 500 Rahal “can’t believe” Honda allowed him to race a Chevy in Indy 500
Kyle Kirkwood reveals 80G impact flipped his car in Indy 500
Kyle Kirkwood reveals 80G impact flipped his car in Indy 500 Kyle Kirkwood reveals 80G impact flipped his car in Indy 500
Kanaan, Castroneves battled over 15th in Indy 500 like it was “for the win”
Kanaan, Castroneves battled over 15th in Indy 500 like it was “for the win” Kanaan, Castroneves battled over 15th in Indy 500 like it was “for the win”
Piastri learned from following Verstappen in wet Monaco GP
Piastri learned from following Verstappen in wet Monaco GP Piastri learned from following Verstappen in wet Monaco GP
Revealed: Three key speed secrets of Newgarden's Indy 500 win
Revealed: Three key speed secrets of Newgarden's Indy 500 win Revealed: Three key speed secrets of Newgarden's Indy 500 win
The long evolution of Dallara's Indy 500 winner
The long evolution of Dallara's Indy 500 winner The long evolution of Dallara's Indy 500 winner
Nigel Mansell’s greatest F1 and Indycar drives
Nigel Mansell’s greatest F1 and Indycar drives Nigel Mansell’s greatest F1 and Indycar drives
How Ericsson achieved Indy immortality as Ganassi's main man stumbled
How Ericsson achieved Indy immortality as Ganassi's main man stumbled How Ericsson achieved Indy immortality as Ganassi's main man stumbled
Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021
Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021 Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021
How F1's other IndyCar exile finally unlocked his potential
How F1's other IndyCar exile finally unlocked his potential How F1's other IndyCar exile finally unlocked his potential
How Ganassi's relentless new champion outfoxed IndyCar's best
How Ganassi's relentless new champion outfoxed IndyCar's best How Ganassi's relentless new champion outfoxed IndyCar's best
Have Harvey and RLL formed IndyCar’s next winning match-up?
Have Harvey and RLL formed IndyCar’s next winning match-up? Have Harvey and RLL formed IndyCar’s next winning match-up?
Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing IndyCar win
Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing IndyCar win Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing IndyCar win
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.