Running race areo kit on the road...
Discussion
Most of you who know me, understand that my car spends most of it's life on track, but I do have to get to and from them... as well as the odd Boloc's run here and there. I'm happy with the power levels I have from the 240R really now I've done a wide variety of circuits.
So the plan is to get the car faster around the corners, therefore I think I'm going to fit the factory GT3 areo kit to the car (front splitter, rear diffuser and rear wing) which produce upto 5 times more downforce than the standard issue Exige parts. This will mean that I need bigger brakes (more downforce means I can lean on the brakes much harder into corners)so AP's all round? And an LSD would be very useful for getting the power down out of slow tight corners (I can see why Cup cars have one fitted as standard. Westover Lotus are keen to help with the project which is what looks to make it a real possibility.
So anyone know where the law stands on front splitters and rear wings? A real splitter at the front would be a fine sharpe edge and the rear wing is one 2" narrower than the car and again has agressive end plates.
So the plan is to get the car faster around the corners, therefore I think I'm going to fit the factory GT3 areo kit to the car (front splitter, rear diffuser and rear wing) which produce upto 5 times more downforce than the standard issue Exige parts. This will mean that I need bigger brakes (more downforce means I can lean on the brakes much harder into corners)so AP's all round? And an LSD would be very useful for getting the power down out of slow tight corners (I can see why Cup cars have one fitted as standard. Westover Lotus are keen to help with the project which is what looks to make it a real possibility.
So anyone know where the law stands on front splitters and rear wings? A real splitter at the front would be a fine sharpe edge and the rear wing is one 2" narrower than the car and again has agressive end plates.
so they claim 40Kg dont they for the std car and you think the GT3 kit generates 200kg? ..or 25% of the weight of the car !?
mmm...right - guess then you will be needing some 700lb springs on the front and 800lb on the back, then you need to get the car down to like 80mm ride height for it to work....errr...then it becomes pretty much unusable on the road !
mmm...right - guess then you will be needing some 700lb springs on the front and 800lb on the back, then you need to get the car down to like 80mm ride height for it to work....errr...then it becomes pretty much unusable on the road !
speedyellow said:
Yup the numbers are real, and it is UPTO, you can adjust things as you need. And much cheaper way of increasing speed than chucking money at the engine!
considering they have still not come close to finnishing the GT3 cars yet, I think you are being sold a line to put it mildly...
if you want to go faster, start loosing weight.
interstingly, in testing so far, the new Exige GT3 is slower than the old Motorsport they used to run, but there is still a lot of work and testing to be done.
Doubling the downforce would be a good compromise which having talked to a few people in the know is acheiveable, this would add significant improvement to cornering speeds and braking points. I agree if you wanted to be able to use all of the downforce available it would mean running the car too low for road use and would mean spring rates that wouldn't work on the road at all. It's all about compromises really and I think now Lotus have done the ground work with the GT3 it would be fun to see how it can be adapted to a track day car.
Fitting the rear wing does mean going through to the rear subframe, but not a big problem.
Really all I'm looking for is an alterntive route to a better lap times and a fun learning expercise along the way. I've done the mega power with 911 GT2's and like the reliability the current factory Toyota should offer in it's current state of tune (I've looked into more power and the costs and risks don't justify the price).
Still the biggest concern is how the police might react, but as Ultimta's, GT3RS's and radical's make it on the road?
Fitting the rear wing does mean going through to the rear subframe, but not a big problem.
Really all I'm looking for is an alterntive route to a better lap times and a fun learning expercise along the way. I've done the mega power with 911 GT2's and like the reliability the current factory Toyota should offer in it's current state of tune (I've looked into more power and the costs and risks don't justify the price).
Still the biggest concern is how the police might react, but as Ultimta's, GT3RS's and radical's make it on the road?
Speedy
Just a few suggestions to assist since part of the answer relates to some road use:
1 - have a peek at s.100 Road Vehicles (Construction) Regs 1986.
2 - might also be worth having a chat with Lotus Sport if they've had these items passed any regs for road use
3 - disclose to Insurers before you spend your wedge (since they're the ones providing the indemnity policy whilst it's being used on public roads)in case they say "no"
4 - Post up piccies
Good luck ...
Just a few suggestions to assist since part of the answer relates to some road use:
1 - have a peek at s.100 Road Vehicles (Construction) Regs 1986.
2 - might also be worth having a chat with Lotus Sport if they've had these items passed any regs for road use
3 - disclose to Insurers before you spend your wedge (since they're the ones providing the indemnity policy whilst it's being used on public roads)in case they say "no"
4 - Post up piccies
Good luck ...
Just check the regs and double checked all the dimensions I've got, and sadly the rear wing cannot legally be run on the road as it's 2" wider not narrower than the car and this is outside road use (picking up passers by off the pavement wouldn't be good!)...
So back to square one... will have to work on alternatives I guess... but not going to give up!
So back to square one... will have to work on alternatives I guess... but not going to give up!
why don't you get one of those funky spoilers that go on top of the bonnet... just like on that countach driven by the girles in cannonball run!... job done...
... i can never understand all that stuff about wings being too wide for the road etc... chitty chitty bang bang was road legal!
:0)
btw... ems has just driven her first elise... talk about a baptism of fire!... take one toxic frog with ultra-snappy 52mm TB and no verniers, add two cushions so she can reach the pedals and a nice stiff short-shift... bobs your uncle... one piss scared female!
did quite well though.... very funny look on her face when i told her i wanted her to redline it in 2nd and 3rd on a stretch of dual-carriageway...
don't think i'll be able to keep her out of the car now.... :-)
... i can never understand all that stuff about wings being too wide for the road etc... chitty chitty bang bang was road legal!
:0)
btw... ems has just driven her first elise... talk about a baptism of fire!... take one toxic frog with ultra-snappy 52mm TB and no verniers, add two cushions so she can reach the pedals and a nice stiff short-shift... bobs your uncle... one piss scared female!
did quite well though.... very funny look on her face when i told her i wanted her to redline it in 2nd and 3rd on a stretch of dual-carriageway...
don't think i'll be able to keep her out of the car now.... :-)
Nah, I've done the faster cars and just love the Lotus and am very happy to play about with it, it's part of the fun of owning a track car for me. The Lotus out of the box is the best car by far I've owned so far(Porsche GT2/GT3, Ferrari 360CS and Nobile GTO3R) with some simple mods it can be more fun for me.
I know everyone doesn't undertand and I don't expect them to, but to me getting a bit more grip out of the car seems like a good next step to look into.
Anyway, original question answered now, so thanks for everyones help.
I know everyone doesn't undertand and I don't expect them to, but to me getting a bit more grip out of the car seems like a good next step to look into.
Anyway, original question answered now, so thanks for everyones help.
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