Stéphane Chosse, the founder of ADESS, first proposed building a Le Mans prototype car in March 2011.

The programme was officially announced during the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans race weekend, and its scheduled first test in December was delayed by seven weeks to allow for the installation of additional parts.

Lotus took their only podium of the season at the 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas, but finished no higher than sixth in the final three races.

In March 2011, Stéphane Chosse, founder of the German-based Advanced Design and Engineering Systems Solutions (ADESS), announced preliminary plans to build a Le Mans Prototype car.

A year later, German racing team Kodewa ordered two chassis for the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship.

[3] The T128 was also designed to meet the 2014 Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1) regulations, which significantly improved driver safety and visibility.

Finally, the use of the Radioss software enabled the simulation of crash tests, which influenced the design of the monohull's front nose.

[8] The scale wind tunnel at the Mercedes-Benz Formula One team's Brackley headquarters was used to develop the design's aerodynamics.

[9] Choose stated that the car's aerodynamics were the main priority in its design, and he took a similar approach to his years in Formula One.

[11] The suspension setup at the front and rear of the vehicle was a double wishbone pushrod actuated torsion bar with dampers housed inside the car's monocoque.

[9][10] Its engine, a naturally aspirated V8 variant of the BMW S65 used in the company's M3 model,[10] was angled at 90 degrees,[1] and rebadged by Praga.

[9] The Brembo brake discs were made of carbon ceramic materials and also features power steering.

[12] After the car's launch, Igor Zamorano of Motorpasión wrote of his feeling that its front resembled the Audi R18.

[15] Less than a month later, the team re-signed James Rossiter and Vitantonio Liuzzi to drive one of the two T128s alongside Weeda.

[17] During the various sessions, a ruptured oil tank limited the sole car's running for several hours before a replacement arrived and Rossiter drove some installation laps.

[18] Lotus were expected to bring two T128s to the season-opening 6 Hours of Silverstone and changed the driver lineups of both cars.

[24] Due to alternator issues, both vehicles were slowed down in the race but were still able to finish in their respective class positions (albeit switched with the No.

31 car in the first qualifying session for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, placing him 15th in class, while Holzer secured 16th for the No.

Furthermore, the trio's lack of experience due to their young combined age and reoccurring engine overheating issues dropped the car down the order.

[30] Lotus filed a lawsuit against Chosse, ADESS, and SCE Solutions on June 17 after learning that the team's owners, Romulus and Colin Kolles, were in debt.

Choose filed a complaint in a French court, claiming that the owners of Kolles owed them "a seven-figure amount" in unpaid invoices.

[34] Kraihamer and Holzer were among the top five in their class, while the second Lotus of Weeda and Bouchut were two places further back on the grid due to slower traffic.

31 car's engine after practice for the inaugural 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas, the fourth since the start of the season, resulting in a three-minute stop-and-go penalty for the team.

[41] As the team concentrated on finding the ideal setup for the 6 Hours of Fuji, both Lotus T128s qualified for the race in dry and sunny conditions, starting in eighth and ninth places (the No.

[42] Typhoon Wipha's passing brought heavy rain to the area,[43][44] preventing any competitive action and limiting the overall race winner to only 16 laps behind the safety car.

[44] Bouchut replaced Rossiter, who was unavailable due to a Super Formula commitment at the Suzuka Circuit, for the 6 Hours of Shanghai.

The Lotus stopped for 20 laps at turn ten before being declared a non-finisher due to heavy damage.