Lotus Elise GT1 racing at Sebring

[vetteheadracer]

www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=8006

wonder if it is running the ZR1 motor or the 3 litre twin turbo job?

[ZR1427]

I think its Running the TT version.

[blackzr]

Nope, its got the same spec engine as the one under the bench in my shop. This is one of the customer cars built by Lotus GT1 racing with the flatplane LT5 for a team in Italy.
Be real interesting how it goes.

>> Edited by blackzr on Friday 20th February 07:51

[ZR1427]

I didnt know that?its gonna be worth keeping an eye out for that..Interesting

[malc350]

Guys, let's get this right (I'm a comparative newbie on this forum so don't have a lot of knowledge about some of the cars out there):

Are we talking about a Lotus Elise with an LT5?

If we are: holy warp drive, Batman!!!

[vetteheadracer]

Yep!

The only roadgoing one was in the Supercar class at Goodwood Festival of speed last year and the owner told me all about them. Blackzr can bore you with the details, but basically Lotus decided in about 1996 that there would build a GT1 version of the Elise for racing with a ZR1 motor in the back , this then got changed 'cos of rule changes to a 3.5 litre twin turbo unit.
Blackzr bought the ZR1 motor from the roadgoing one after I put him in touch with the guy as he had the original ZR1 motor sat in his garage and wanted to sell it.

Blackzr got a bit of a bargain...........as you know as you have seen the motor sitting under the bench in his workshop.

What I find hysterical is they managed to homologate the car to run in the ALMS ! No idea what class it will be in, but it would be very funny if it was GTS. I should think Corvette Racing would be just a little pissed to see a ZR1 engined Lotus racing against the factory team!

>> Edited by vetteheadracer on Friday 20th February 12:32

[malc350]

H*ly cr*p Batman! What must that thing go like!? The roadgoing Elise is supposed to have a 0-60 of about 5.5 with a shopping engine out of a Vauxhall or Rover or something else boring.

What I'd like to know is how they make the Elise strong enough? I thought some vettes suffer from small stress related cracks in the body, due to torque and I've read about blown Hemi Cudas and the like twisting putting a twist in the body after a few over enthusiastic quarter miles...

Not to mention I once read a Lotus Elise buyers guide (don't kill me, they looked like a sensible daily sportscar to me once!) which said look out for chassis / alignment problems due to hitting kerbs. I took that to mean it's a really flimsy thing made of rice paper!

[vetteheadracer]

Elise chassis is bonded aluminium no idea what the GT1 uses.

[blackzr]

Full carbon tub with tube roll cage which doubles as front and rear chassis rails. The 6ltr LT5 is mid mounted to a Hewland 6 speed transaxle, the engine produces 635bhp and mid 500's ft/lbs torque on restrictors. All wrapped up in a 950Kg body, fantastic!!