This is the Elise Race 250 and Lotus is claiming that it is its most accomplished and fastest racecar to date.
The Elise Race 250 is basically a bought-to-race track car that will be eligible for race series around the world. It will be available with a broad range of track-specific options, allowing teams to build the Elise that caters to their needs.
From a visual point of view, the Elise Race 250 has an obvious aero-package consisting of a front splitter, rear diffuser, floor extensions and a rear wing, all of which are capable of developing 66 kg of downforce at 160 km/h and 155 kg at its top speed of 248 km/h.
Lotus has sacrificed plenty to get the bare chassis to weigh in at just 68 kg. For instance, the front headlamps have been replaced with lightweight composite blanking panels.
It will be powered by a Toyota sourced 1,8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine which produces 180 kW and 250 N.m of torque. To manage this, it will be fitted with an adjustable front anti-roll bar, Nitron one-way adjustable dampers, Eibach coaxial coil springs and double wishbone suspension.
AP Racing twin-piston front calipers and Brembo single-piston rear calipers as well as ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels mated to Yokohama AO48 tyres (195/50/16 on the front and 225/45/17 on the rear) will provide the stopping power and grip required for the track. Extra safety is delivered by the FIA-approved carbon-fibre race-seat with six-point racing harness, an A-Frame harness bar, an FIA-compliant front roll-cage, a fire extinguisher and a battery isolator.
With all of these additions, the Elise Race 250 is the quickest car on the Lotus Hethel test track with a time of 1 min 35,5 sec (0,5 seconds faster than the Elise Cup 220 R). But it’s also worth noting that the V8-powered 1996 Lotus Esprit GT1 and 1997 Lotus Elise GT1 were not tested on this course.
Excluding VAT, the Lotus Elise Race 250 will be priced at £44 583 (around R835 500 in our currency).
