Lotus has officially unveiled the Emira GT4 race car by running a few hot laps on the iconic Hethel test track in Norfolk, England.

The Emira GT4 ran the 2.2-mile circuit at an exclusive event last week. Gavan Kershaw, former British GT Championship winner and current Director of Vehicle Attributes at Lotus, was behind the wheel.

This model is the first to come from Lotus Advanced Performance, a division within Lotus aimed at creating bespoke performance vehicles. Each GT4 is handbuilt using lightweight motorsport materials, up to spec on the latest safety regulations. It is powered by a Toyota V6 2GR-FE engine, said to displace 400 brake horsepower; power is brought on thanks to a Harrop TVS supercharger, and power is distributed to the rear wheel drive system through a six-speed sequential gearbox. All in all, the vehicle weighs just 1,300 kilograms (without fluids) or 2866 pounds.

The Emira GT4 is said to “mark the start of an exciting new era in performance GT racing for Lotus,” and we look forward to covering more of it soon on MotorWeek!