Lotus returns to SWC

[HORNDAWG]

Hyper Sport Engineering has announced the construction of a Lotus Exige S for competition in the 2008 SPEED World Challenge GT Championship. link

L.P.

[Fogelhund]

Good news, I like the Lotus, and hope they do well. I am a bit sceptical, as it couldn't be made competitive in GT3, which isn't far off SWC GT performance. Shame it is too small to race in the ALMS.

[Hugewally]

Reminds me of...

[minimangler]

Fingers crossed it works better than the one they made for British GT, which was indeed a disaster. Potential written all over it (not literally, clearly it is blank green and yellow).

[broadrun96]

Would be nice to see something fill in for the loss of the Caddies, esp something that looks that good. now can it beat the Porsches that I'm sure will be dominant this year. 1 car or 2, sounds like it could be a 2 car effort from the article.

[Hugewally]

The Caddies will be racing in Speed with Pilgrim & Aschenbach, though I don't the name of the team...

[TheNewBob]

Originally Posted by minimangler

Fingers crossed it works better than the one they made for British GT, which was indeed a disaster.

Oh, I dunno, it made for a pretty good stunt display model, they could get that engine smoke to appear on lap two every time!

[Jonerz]

I'm assuming this will be a failed bit much like the Aston's. I mean, the cars are polar opposites but I don't think this car will have enough to take on Vipers, 'Vettes, Caddies or even Porsches (though the difference between each of these cars is minimal). Of course, I have no idea what the specs on this Lotus will be. Fingers crossed this new formula equates to another successful mainstay in WC racing. The image of WC is a little tarnished after Road A last year, they need all the good news they can get.

Chris

[AU N EGL]

I would thing that Lotus Exige S would have been better suited for the Speed World Touring Class, not GT. The ones we did see on track days, ( in stock form) were no were near as quick as a stock viper, 997 or Corvette. But on a course as in St Petersburg, short tight corners, few straights, I think it would hold its own.

[raven1822]

Originally Posted by Hugewally

The Caddies will be racing in Speed with Pilgrim & Aschenbach, though I don't the name of the team...

According to Autoweek both cars will be racing but only Andy has been named as a driver with Lawson driving the GXP in Grand-Am. Has there been more recent news? Nevertheless, having owned a Lotus for sometime now it will indeed be VERY interesting to see how they do. They car is AMAZING but it surely has it's work cut out for the season.

[Hugewally]

Originally Posted by raven1822

According to Autoweek both cars will be racing but only Andy has been named as a driver with Lawson driving the GXP in Grand-Am. Has there been more recent news? Nevertheless, having owned a Lotus for sometime now it will indeed be VERY interesting to see how they do. They car is AMAZING but it surely has it's work cut out for the season.

There was an article in the Sebring paper about them when they were testing at the same time as the Penske Porsches last week.

[raven1822]

So I have been talking to an "insider" concerning the Lotus WC project and he tells me that Hyper Sport does not feel they can get enough power/reliability out of the 1.8L supercharged Toyota lump in the Exige S. As a result they are searching for alternative powerplants. I inquired as to what were they planning on using and at the time he could/wouldn't say. He later came back and stated that Hyper Sport had petitioned the SCCA to allow them to use the 2.3L turbo Mazada I assume from the Mazada Speed 3 but they were denied and rightfully so. That's all I know currently for what's it's worth . . .

[The Badger]

Whatever happened to that Lotus that some Canadian team were supposed to run in the ALMS with Villeneuve a few years back ?

[AU N EGL]

Originally Posted by raven1822

So I have been talking to an "insider" concerning the Lotus WC project and he tells me that Hyper Sport does not feel they can get enough power/reliability out of the 1.8L supercharged Toyota lump in the Exige S. As a result they are searching for alternative powerplants. I inquired as to what were they planning on using and at the time he could/wouldn't say. He later came back and stated that Hyper Sport had petitioned the SCCA to allow them to use the 2.3L turbo Mazada I assume from the Mazada Speed 3 but they were denied and rightfully so. That's all I know currently for what's it's worth . . .

Doesn't that show the Lotus Exige S should be in Speed World TOURING, not GT ?

[raven1822]

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

Doesn't that show the Lotus Exige S should be in Speed World TOURING, not GT ?

I don't think it can be in touring since it does not have a back seat.

[AU N EGL]

Originally Posted by raven1822

I don't think it can be in touring since it does not have a back seat.

Doesn't have much of a front seat either. I am 6'-2", 195 lbs and I dont fit into it.

Either way, for GT it will need 500BHP

[raven1822]

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

Doesn't have much of a front seat either. I am 6'-2", 195 lbs and I dont fit into it.

I'm 6'0" ft. 195lb. and I drive mine to work.

[broadrun96]

Im 6'7 and 275 and have fit fine in both the Elise and Exige, now gettin out was a VERY ungraceful crawl on my hands but fit in the seat fine. Think it would be a lot more successful in TC but the rules clearly state must seat four adults, now how the RSX managed to get four adults in it is beyond me but at least the attempt at seats was there. It looks like boost modification would be allowed to make it competitive but who knows how much it would need to build the engine up to handle the boost levels and the rules seem to make the build-up hard to accomplish without a waiver. Personally think the SCCA should look at allowing them to either be HP limited and in TC or modify the engine to make 500 hp but carefully review the process and parts allowed.

[raven1822]

I wonder if turbo charging would be allowed vs. the supercharger. Now follow me for a minute. The rules allow for the addition of boost to allow for a more competitive car. Remember Petey Cunningham's NSX. Now the Exige S is already an FI car so running boost is not an issue. My Exige is was an '06 model that was naturally aspriated. When the S model was released I did not want to upgrade to the S model so I went with an aftermarket company and had it turbocharged. I am currently running anywhere from 9-11 psi of boost on a stock motor and am getting 285 crank bhp. The company that built my kit builds a fully built motor that puts out 380bhp from the 1.8L lump. With the weight breaks the Lotus could be competitve with that power.

[raven1822]

I've heard they are sticking with the Toyota motor. No real big surprise there.

[AU N EGL]

When the Lotus is aproved the full details will be on the 2008 Vehicle Technical Specifications/Classifications

http://www.world-challenge.com/competitors/vts.php

[raven1822]

From what I am told the only thing left stock is the tub. Body work is identical to the production car but much wider. The Toyota motor is being fortitfied to run lower compression as they decided to bin the blower and run a turbo. 350-500bhp is target. That will not be a problem . . .

[TRuss]

Wrap it up, I'll take it!

[AU N EGL]

Still not approved YET.

SPEED GT

Currently in the Homologation Process

Volvo S60/R

2/21/08

Lotus Exige S (Series 2)

2/20/08

[Justin Moran]

That looks soooo neat! I hope some on this side will race one, making that much power it should be fairly competetive only I heard the CDA is bloody awfull, compared it to a Land Rover!!!!!!