The latest race car from Lotus, the new Elise Race 250 distils the famous company’s engineering expertise into one hardcore, track-orientated package.
Eligible for many race series around the world, this new Elise has been developed to meet the high demands of the track, with a raft of performance-orientated features as standard.
With the new car lapping the company’s Hethel test track in 1 minute 33.5 seconds, the Elise Race 250 is 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.
It packs a supercharged, 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine with a 6-speed manual gearbox, that boasts 243hp at 7200rpm and an impressive 250Nm of torque between 3500rpm and 5500rpm.
Every aspect of the Lotus Elise Race 250 has been optimised to help slash lap times. It comes in a full aero package, including front splitter, rear diffuser, floor extensions and a rear wing. As a result, the car’s design generates substantial downforce, equal to 66kg at 160 km/h and 155 kg at maximum speed of 248 km/h.
The cabin of the Elise Race 250 is fitted with an A-Frame harness bar and an FIA compliant front roll-cage section, fire extinguisher, battery isolator and front and rear towing eyes. The front headlamps are replaced with lightweight composite blanking panels.
At the core of the new car lies the company’s aluminium vehicle chassis technology. Employing strong and stiff lightweight extrusions joined by epoxy adhesive, it’s both immensely strong and torsionally stiff yet, the chassis for the Elise Race 250 tips the scales at just 68 kgs.
Specifically developed by Lotus’ famous Motorsport division, the car has benefited through the company’s Lightweight Laboratory and includes as standard, a Lithium Ion battery saving 10kg compared to a standard battery, carbon fibre race seats (6kg lighter than the equivalent composite seats) and ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels.
Buyers can also cut its weight further, by opting for the Carbon Aero Pack which replaces the standard front splitter, rear wing, rear diffuser and side floor-extensions with lightweight carbon components. These lightweight options reduces mass by a further 10 kg and as a result the Elise Race 250 weighs less than 900 kg (dry).
The Elise Race 250 features an adjustable front anti-roll bar, Nitron one-way adjustable dampers and Eibach coaxial coil springs and double wishbone suspension providing optimum body and roll control, but not at the expense of composure or turn in and without sacrificing high-speed stability. AP Racing twin-piston front calipers, and Brembo single-piston rear calipers work in conjunction with the ABS system with ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels (16-inch, front and 17-inch rear) with Yokohama AO48 tyres (195/50/16 on the front and 225/45/17 on the rear).
The arrival the new Elise Race 250 coincides with the 50th celebrations for the founding of the factory in Hethel, Norfolk, when in 1966, founder Colin Chapman moved Lotus to the purpose-built facility. It is priced at 53,500 pounds in the UK (including VAT at 20%).
