Discussion
We all know the Exige did a lap of the top gear tast track in 1 min 26.9 secs. I didnt see the lap but I was told it was on a very wet track with standing water i.e. the worst conditions for an Exige.
Anyway, what time do you think the exige would get on a dry lap of the top gear test track?
Anyway, what time do you think the exige would get on a dry lap of the top gear test track?
Actually it wasn't that wet - in fact the track had damp patches. I have an mpeg of the lap somewhere from the topgear website - he was seriously motoring. If you wan't to se a really wet lap, see the footage of the original stig with the 111s - looked like a monsoon, the track was a lake. Did a 1:35. I have done a 1:28 something in my car from a standing start in the dry (but was on sticky rubber). You know how rubbish I am. I think the exige must be capable of ~1:25 in perfect conditions.
Hi Gooby, here is a link to the Exige lap on top gear. Hope it works (it is a biggish download, though and hopefully Graham Walsh whose web site this is on, won't mind!!!!). www.graham-walsh.com/audio/lotus/other/Top_Gear_Exige_Stig_hi.wmv
>> Edited by jonscz on Thursday 17th November 19:11
>> Edited by jonscz on Thursday 17th November 19:11
Hi all again, I really hope that posting these links on here is ok (Graham?), but along the same lines, here is a link to the Top Gear Exige feature with the Apache helicopter .... some stunning shots on here.... Enjoy www.graham-walsh.com/audio/lotus/other/Top_Gear_Exige_hi.wmv
I would think that on a dry day with Gavan Kershaw or Hyla Breese behind the wheel they could maybe shave anything up to 2 seconds off that time.
I dont think you will see a feature on the 240R as apart from the blower its not much different to the standard Exige really. Would be great to see what it could do though with a pro driver behind the wheel after the mess VBH made of it on 5th Gear.
I dont think you will see a feature on the 240R as apart from the blower its not much different to the standard Exige really. Would be great to see what it could do though with a pro driver behind the wheel after the mess VBH made of it on 5th Gear.
Those vids are great, thanks for that!
That track was odd, dry in places with big puddles in others. The Stig didnt look like he was going slow!!
If the track was perfectly dry, would it have been quicker? With a drenched and raining circuit, they believe it adds 5 secs to the time. Is a track with standing water in places and a car on slicks going to be quicker?. 5 seconds quicker or less? So far the guesses are about 2 seconds. That puts it in the time of a Noble or Gallardo. Is the exige REALLY that quick?
That track was odd, dry in places with big puddles in others. The Stig didnt look like he was going slow!!
If the track was perfectly dry, would it have been quicker? With a drenched and raining circuit, they believe it adds 5 secs to the time. Is a track with standing water in places and a car on slicks going to be quicker?. 5 seconds quicker or less? So far the guesses are about 2 seconds. That puts it in the time of a Noble or Gallardo. Is the exige REALLY that quick?
Gooby - there are sections of the track where raw grunt helps, but the places where time is lost is in the bends and getting good exit speed out of the bends. The hammerhead left then tight right-hander is really slow for heavy cars. The exige on several slalom courses here and in the US has beaten an enzo on twisty runs where grunt is not a factor, but light and agile is. The stripped down, lightweight race prepped cars - plans has a few - will blast even the enzo on the topgear circuit. There are no long straights to achieve a high top speed anywhere on the circuit. The blast past the tyrewall feels like threading a needle at over 100mph. That is the scary bit on the circuit. On a longer circuit like silverstone or thruxton where the top speeds are high the exige will lose badly. I would like to see a honda engined ohlin's equipped lightened elise / exige on that track on sticky rubber / slicks. I think it could challenge the top times in the right hands.
I agree, any modern stock Lotus is going to lose out at Silverstone or Thruxton because of lack of grunt and a poor power to weight ratio. I think this also applies to the Top Gear test track. I know they've got some twisty bends - some even designed by Lotus themselves, but there are long straights punctuating them and the average speed is very high.
As a Brit, when I think of fast I think of what would do a good lap time around somewhere like Brands Indy, Cadwell or Outlon Park (or Anglesey...). These circuits approximate an English B road. The Exige would be very fast indeed around these tracks, as would any Elise.
Though naturally, modern Lotuses aren't about speed, they're about handling and feedback
As a Brit, when I think of fast I think of what would do a good lap time around somewhere like Brands Indy, Cadwell or Outlon Park (or Anglesey...). These circuits approximate an English B road. The Exige would be very fast indeed around these tracks, as would any Elise.
Though naturally, modern Lotuses aren't about speed, they're about handling and feedback
I agree with all of the comments made but the basic question is, would the exige been quicker on a perfectly dry Top Gear test track and if so how much faster?
The point about different track for different cars is important but just as important (IMHO) is the driver. I know of an advanced police instructor who was down on his luck and stole a 2CV, in the ensuing persuit 12 police cars were written off while chasing him. He was only caught because he gave up.
Different people will explore the limits of thier car in different ways and have a different style.
The point about different track for different cars is important but just as important (IMHO) is the driver. I know of an advanced police instructor who was down on his luck and stole a 2CV, in the ensuing persuit 12 police cars were written off while chasing him. He was only caught because he gave up.
Different people will explore the limits of thier car in different ways and have a different style.
Plans Motorsport is based at the toggear track - they use it all the time. The standard S2 111s gets round in under 1:27. The exige would be quicker - they reckon it can do it in 1:24. Graham at Plans says the track is near to 10 seconds slower in the wet at times - says you need to go round Gambon at "2 mph" in soaking conditions as there is no grip at all. Other parts of the track are better in the wet in terms of grip, but obviously much slower than dry.
Their motorsport car (belonging to a customer)Went round in under 1:20 - they verified that to me (I was at the track this morning) and I had a look at the car - 675 kg S2 with sticky rubber and a 2l scholar engine, suspension etc.
I would be very interested in how the 240 cup would do on that track - has ohlin's suspension etc and more straight line grunt. 2 or 3 seconds I should imagine.
I hope this clarifies things.
Their motorsport car (belonging to a customer)Went round in under 1:20 - they verified that to me (I was at the track this morning) and I had a look at the car - 675 kg S2 with sticky rubber and a 2l scholar engine, suspension etc.
I would be very interested in how the 240 cup would do on that track - has ohlin's suspension etc and more straight line grunt. 2 or 3 seconds I should imagine.
I hope this clarifies things.
This should be the one - needs quicktime and is 58 megs!
www.cpdserver.com/elisetalk/video/topgear_s2.mov
www.cpdserver.com/elisetalk/video/topgear_s2.mov
Do a Walshy day and you will be doing it - just not on public roads..... well not very often. Though I admit he holds the oversteer longer than anyone else I have seen. Wouln't normally have thought the elise was a good drift car.
PS - have you heard that they are now producing tyres that give off coloured smoke - red and green available so far. I will find the link in due course.
PS - have you heard that they are now producing tyres that give off coloured smoke - red and green available so far. I will find the link in due course.
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