Lotus Elise R VS Cayman S 987 on track

[(steven)]

Which is going to make more sense on track as a package?

The Elise appeals because of the whole light weight thing plus I have got into my head that it will require less messing around with than the Porsche as it’s not a big fat road car which will need loads of mods.

However while the BHP per tonne is similar, I worry that the 189Bhp will feel a bit short of breath at high speeds on the big straights (think Donnington or Bedford).

I’ve come from an E36 M3 which again is similar on the BHP per tonne scale but I wonder if in comparison, the elise is going to feel short of breath when speeds get towards three digits.

[(steven)]

motorhole said:

…..And should be the most track ready regarding what's required to keep the car
!

Yeah that was my thinking too.

brillomaster said:

The 986s isn’t really any faster in a straight line, but the elise is quicker everywhere else.

That’s good to hear!

Since posting last night I have managed to get hold of some in gear times and it looks like the Elise runs out of puff about 120 MPH where the likes of the Porsche or an M3 are going to have the legs on it after that, with the higher BHP offsetting the drag. I need to see some track plots but in my experience you never really crack higher than 130 so potentially it doesn’t matter.

motorhole said:

Shameless plug: I intend to have my E30 330i available for sale end of the month. That's fully road legal and around 240bhp/tonne at 260bhp / 1090kg with fuel and is ready to go out the box. Let me know if that's of interest to you!

I do a love a vintage BMW (E30’s just look so right don’t they) but as much as it pains me to say it, I am going to pass. The reason I got rid of the E36 M3 was it had become like painting the forth bridge and swapping into an even older and even more modified BMW would have me questioning my sanity!