Lotus Elise Race 250 – Hethel’s fastest Elise track car

Elise Cup 250 R Front Static

If you need a new race car, Lotus has just introduced the new Elise Race 250, which is eligible for many race series worldwide. Faster than its predecessor, the Elise Cup 220 R, Lotus’ newest introduction comes with all the right goodies for a good time on track.

Firstly, its engine – a mid-mounted 1.8 litre supercharged four-cylinder engine develops 243 hp at 7,200 rpm and 250 Nm of torque between 3,500 rpm and 5,500 rpm. Mated to the engine is a six-speed manual gearbox, which drives the rear wheels.

As Colin Chapman once said, “adding power makes you faster on the straights; subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere.” For the latter, the Lotus Elise Race 250 comes with several solutions to keep the number on the scales low.

Standard items fitted include a lithium-ion battery that saves 10 kg compared to a conventional battery, carbon-fibre seats that are 6 kg lighter than composite seats and ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels (16-inch front and 17-inch rear). The front headlamps are replaced with lightweight composite blanking panels.

If that isn’t enough, Lotus also offers a Carbon Aero Pack that replaces the standard front splitter, rear wing, rear diffuser and side floor-extensions with lightweight carbon components, further reducing the car’s weight by another 10 kg. With the lightweight solution, the race car weighs less than 900 kg (dry weight).

Handling bits on the Lotus include Nitron one-way adjustable dampers, Eibach coaxial coil springs, AP Racing twin-piston front calipers and Brembo single-piston rear calipers and Yokohama AO48 tyres (195/50R16 on the front and 225/45R17 on the rear). The aero package, is capable of generating 155 kg of downforce at the car’s maximum speed 248 km/h.

Other items fitted to meet FIA regulations include a FIA-approved carbon fibre race seat with six-point racing harness, a removable steering wheel, a polycarbonate rear windscreen and A-Frame harness bar, FIA-compliant front roll-cage section, fire extinguisher, battery isolator and front and rear towing eyes.

Put together, the track-only racer will lap the company’s Hethel test track in 1 minute 33.5 seconds, 0.5 seconds quicker than the previous Elise Cup 220 R, and represents the fastest recorded lap time for a Lotus developed race-variant of the Elise.

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Gerard Lye

Originating from the corporate world with a background in finance and economics, Gerard’s strong love for cars led him to take the plunge into the automotive media industry. It was only then did he realise that there are more things to a car than just horsepower count.

 

Comments

  • tishaban on Jul 28, 2016 at 10:56 am

    Looks cool, need to check on how to import this as a track car and get duty exemptions. I wonder if it’s possible to do it as an individual and not as a team.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  • Ahmadjr on Jul 29, 2016 at 12:23 am

    I hope the stig will drive this car

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Jul 29, 2016 at 9:19 pm

    lol gov despo for money

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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