Looks like the Le Mans field will be a bit more crowded starting in 2012, as Lotus plans to return to the famous endurance race with a new prototype car. According to Autocar, details about the company’s planned LMP2 race car are still hard to come by, but it will feature a closed cockpit and will be on the track late next year.

The Le Mans car, designed by Paolo Catone, is only part of Lotus’s racing plans: they also reportedly plan a return to GT2 racing (possibly using a car based on the Elite), along with entering cars in the GP2 and GP3 championships through 2014 and continuing their current involvement in IndyCar and GT4 racing. For our part, we’re happy to see Lotus jumping into the racing world instead of tip-toeing in. [via Autocar]

Pictured: Lotus Evora Cup/GT4 race car