Lotus LMP2 team cleared to race at Le Mans

The German-based Lotus/Kodewa team went to court in Le Mans this afternoon (Wednesday) following the impounding of key components from its pair of Lotus-Praga T128 coupes on Tuesday evening.

The judge ruled in favour of the team, which is in the process of retrieving the impounded parts. They include gearboxes, suspension components and, crucially, the steering wheels of the two cars.

The #31 Lotus was able to take to the track in the hands of Christophe Bouchut during free practice in the immediate wake of the ruling after a supplier brought a spare steering wheel, the only component missing from the car.

The team is expecting to be able to prepare the second car using the retrieved components in time to take part in tonight's two-hour qualifying session, which begins at 10pm.

The court case was brought by the ADESS AG engineering consultancy, which designed the T128.

Lotus/Kodewa successfully claimed that ADESS had presented fictitious invoices to the court and has alleged that ADESS owes the team a "seven-figure amount."

The case followed Lotus LMP2 breaking off its relationship and filing a criminal complaint against Munich-based ADESS at the start of the week.