I’m still revelling in the experience, the grip, the surefootedness, the sublime balance of the car, sensations you just can’t begin to get on the road. But it’s a dilemma perhaps others with the Exige S1 find themselves in. I can think of worse dilemmas mind you!
The car is so capable on track, I am not and only just tentatively learning to explore the dynamics of this wonderful piece of engineering. But I now feel like track is the home of this car but no way is it going to be tracked often it’s just too nice to be subjected to that. That said the car feels like it runs much much better now after a good clean out of the pipes. So it’s clearly good for the little thing to exercise it well occasionally.
But those sensations, the chassis loading up as the Yokos cling on progressively moving if pushed to small slip angles. That is just not replicable anywhere else.
I used to track mine and it was a delight in the dry as it has more grip than power. I also found it very good in the wet, where I am total coward, and I found my self doing an abnormal amount of overtaking at Oulton Park. I stopped tracking when prices started going silly and now spares are close to impossible. On a safe track (Donington) in the dry with a well run track day I will, and probably take it out again this year.
I hear you, the track day I attended was really well run with a well known good track etiquette from all drivers so a pleasure to drive and plenty space on track as an open pitlane session. I might do another one at some point but that was an absolute pleasure to experience
Yvonne and Gary, head down from Aberdeen most years, and I’m heading up to Scotland to see family on the way home to Ipswich so likely only a 1000 miles round trip
Dilemma, most certainly. I reluctantly retired mine from the track at the beginning of last year. Car just got too rare and valuable in these parts for me to drive it how i wanted and it should be driven. Now it only comes out on sunny Sundays. Ended up getting a dedicated S1 Elise for th e track instead which doesn’t completely replace the Exige’s sensations but goes close.
If you came to Anglesey you’ll see a few of us now have R300 Caterhams, not just for the above reason which applies to a few of us but because they are such an event. They also retain there value which is a bonus.
…and you can get spares and I, for one, don’t care that much about mine. If it gets damaged it happens and it gets fixed. By preference I would use my Exige but the stress out weighs the pleasure for regular use. I only have an Caterham Academy which is quite fast enough for me, actually it’s faster than my S1. An r300 would scare me, I believe I borrowed yours in the pouring rain at Anglesey… it was scary and they are great fun and the way to go.
As you say, it’s an immense car and a good track day really shakes these cars down.
I assume you were at the recent SIDC day. Couldn’t make it, but you’re right about it being one of the safest track days out there. LoT days are the same so you should look at those if you want to venture further afield.
I’m almost glad I got out when I did as this dilemma was already playing in my head. Now with the prices solidifying and the spares issue, I would be concerned about using it in the way I intended. However, you will struggle to match the feeling in another Lotus. There in lies the dilemma.
Indeed it was the SIDC day, brilliantly run as always and the emphasis on good track etiquette makes for an enjoyable outing. That said I think I only went out for four short sessions after the initial three sighting laps. Really enjoyed the day and chatting to other folks, a great mix of cars and people. I was treating the Exige gently but just tickling the handling capabilities enough to be in awe.
The longer I own this car the more I appreciate just how special it is. That rawness is I’m sure difficult to replicate. And the look of the thing, Lotus really did get it absolutely spot on with the proportions and shape. And then there’s the sound. For a four pot such character, brimming with urgency and potency. My brother described it as a mini Ferrari when following me on the NC500 last year. Those sounds, wow.
