RE: Nigel Mansell Opens New Lotus Test Track

[Pat H]

Essex Exile said:

They've missed a trick in not releasing an Essex livery Elise

Don't give the buggers any ideas, they won't need much encouragement.

[TTwiggy]

I'm proud to have driven on the old circuit, but agree that the main straight needed a bit of a makeover! Still, it was a good test of suspension.

[qwick]

jackbarclay said:

Very basic question, I'm sure, but how did these old F1 cars not understeer massively without any kind of front wing?

Larger front tyres in those days?

[wobert]

TTwiggy said:

I'm proud to have driven on the old circuit, but agree that the main straight needed a bit of a makeover! Still, it was a good test of suspension.

Sideways through Windsock @ 120mph in the Carlton was always a pleasure!

Likewise 60 mph into both hairpins in an M100 Elan was always an adventure too.

Best though was a standing start on the main straight in a ZR1 LT5 - 50-70 in 1.8 secs!

[crofty1984]

The Wookie said:

Some of the corners have been mildly reprofiled (the bottom hairpin for example is now a bit tighter on the entry than it was before and there's a kink in the straight with a proper chicane further down, rather than the tyres right at the bottom) but the overall layout is pretty similar. The main difference is that it's now a properly tarmac'd and barrier'd race track, one that you feel happier pushing hard on

Is that you Ollie?

[Sprint Rich]

qwick said:

jackbarclay said:

Very basic question, I'm sure, but how did these old F1 cars not understeer massively without any kind of front wing?

Larger front tyres in those days?

Massive ground effect! The simple wings just got in the way of air into the tunnels. When they did use them it was more as a tool for balancing front to rear than actually creating much downforce

[Randy Winkman]

Lotus 86. No front wing - and not much rear wing, for that matter:

[carl_w]

Zumbruk said:

Hope so. I'm sprinting there on 7th August. Be nice to see what's changed.

Me too. You weren't the TVR driver who got a dressing down from the CoC for spinning on the practice runs, were you?

[PhilJames]

Gizmo! said:

Please:

Either "Current Lotus-sponsored F1 driver Vitaly Petrov and test driver Bruno Senna"

Or "Current Renault F1 driver Vitaly Petrov and test driver Bruno Senna".

I'm not usually so pedantic about such things, but the court case is over and them's the facts.

Technically its not Renault, as the team is now owned by Genii!? Gets confusing! even when you know what's going on it still makes no sense. :/

[fatboy69]

A proper F1 car!!! By that I mean a 3 litre V8 with a proper gearbox, three pedals & a body unadorned with ridiculous aerodynamic apendages.

Only worrying thing is how far forward the driver sits these days with his feet almost level with the front wheels.

Wouldnt be acceptable these days would it?

& doesnt the Essex livery look good?

[Stew2000]

Randy Winkman said:

Lotus 86. No front wing - and not much rear wing, for that matter:

Want road legal.

[The Wookie]

crofty1984 said:

Is that you Ollie?

It is indeed! ETA what a small world!! Can't believe I didn't put 2 and 2 together before!

Edited by The Wookie on Wednesday 22 June 23:45

[Fire99]

It took me a fair way down the page to realise we were talking about Group Lotus and not Team Lotus, especially when you have Classic Team Lotus which is independent of either..

With all the F1 cars around, it does look like Bahar hasn't given up the F1 battle.

[Loose_Cannon]

TTwiggy said:

I'm proud to have driven on the old circuit, but agree that the main straight needed a bit of a makeover! Still, it was a good test of suspension.

I always thought that was the point of the test track, yes it was ste in places and full of holes, but more like a real road for that reason.

[carl_w]

Loose_Cannon said:

I always thought that was the point of the test track, yes it was ste in places and full of holes, but more like a real road for that reason.

Yes, I don't get it either. That was the point of having the roundabout at the end as well. (Lotus) Renault F1 aren't even based in Norfolk, (Malaysia F1) Team Lotus are. So what's the track going to be used for -- testing (Group) Lotus road cars? Why does it need to be FIA-standard then, unless (Malaysia F1) Team Lotus are planning to use it, which seems unlikely given that they ended up in litigation with (Group) Lotus.

[Stew2000]

The website says Lotus Cup UK coming soon... so maybe they plan to use their own circuit.

[wobert]

carl_w said:

es, I don't get it either. That was the point of having the roundabout at the end as well. (Lotus) Renault F1 aren't even based in Norfolk, (Malaysia F1) Team Lotus are. So what's the track going to be used for -- testing (Group) Lotus road cars? Why does it need to be FIA-standard then, unless (Malaysia F1) Team Lotus are planning to use it, which seems unlikely given that they ended up in litigation with (Group) Lotus.

The "old" Team Lotus used to do shakedown testing there in the early to mid '90s - I had the privilege of sitting on the armco as Herbert blasted past whilst on my eveing tea break, when working split day shifts on on engine project.

Regarding the use of the broken track surface to hone the suspension refinement, just drive a few of the roads close to the factory and you will see why Lotus are top of their gaome in ride & handling.

Before it was reconfigured, the road from Wymondham to Hethel was also used as a "unofficial" test track (from a ride and handling point of view, not performance testing!)as it had numerous camber changes and questionable surfaces.

[Stew2000]

Just saw this on the Lotus website..