Well I’m very sorry to report to my S2 buddies that I let the side down on Saturday at the Promenade Stages Rally. After a full day with 10 special stages in mixed weather conditions I finished 48 seconds behind the S1 Exige:(
Here’s some in car footage of SS2.
[video:youtube]Lotus Exige Promenade Rally - YouTube[/video]
It’s amazing that we actually started the stages when you watch what we had to drive through in the service area.
The good part about the day was my first experience of racing the Exige on proper full wet race tyres. They were amazing, far more grip than you would ever believe. When the rain stopped I swopped back to medium hard slicks (all I had) and the car was awful, loads of understeer in the tight hairpins. With the short 4 mile stages I just couldn’t get any heat into the tyres. I really needed some supersoft slicks.
It was frustrating not to have the pace I wanted. The bottom line is that the car is relatively too heavy and lacking in some power for the 2000cc open class. The escort that passes me in the video is fitted with a Mazda rotary making around 260bhp. :eek: The S1 Exige was 780kg vs my 930kg which is a real handicap. By my calculations he should have been 16% faster than me and beat me by 9 minutes not 48 secs 
Gearing makes a huge difference on this event as well. With so many tight chicanes and hairpins it’s lots of short sprints. Most guys were geared for 95mph in top. I never got out of 4th and frequently found myself off cam. The car was much better at Angelsey with some longer straights and faster corners.
But…non of the other competitors had taken their car on a tour of Scotland this year 
nor were they beating off crowds of spectators taking pictures of the car in the service area.
The highlight of the day was when the Men and Motors film crew came to interview me with the car (they are showing the event in October). I was servicing next to my mate who was leading the 1400cc class by a country mile in his Nova. They didn’t want to speak to him which really narked him…“just 'cause you’ve got a sodding green car!” Unfortuantely this must have distracted him because he forgot to refuel and promptly ran out of juice on the next stage, throwing away his victory, oops:sick:
Nice Wes
Wes - You forgot to mention that your mate in the 1400 was actually in a Nova! and was beating you by a country mile when he forgot to refuel!
Its obvious you need to:
go on a diet (and the car - who needs air con)
get some more ponies under the bonnet
make sure you get the right navigator in the passenger seat!!!
from your Nav who was otherwise engaged on family business 
The ABS on an S2 in mixed conditions should been a MASSIVE advantage! Tut tut.
Ian 
Well done Wes, car looked great on saturday! You’re right the service area was joke. Wasn’t much fun changing the driveshafts on the cossy on grass.
Thanks Graham, good to meet you again on Saturday. I like the sound of your winter project!
Gareth, get rid of the aircon? No chance. It was roasting sat in the queue for the start line in a 3 layer nomex suit and long johns 
I know I should mate but I just can’t bring myself to do it either
Well done Wes
Nice one Wes!
Looking at the vid, I dont think there were many areas you could have made up any more time mate! Great driving!
Those wet tyres are brill eh! Cold semi’s just dont work… I found this out at Silverstone 3 weeks ago in the cold damp greasy track… they never got hot!
Yes, the 930KG is a bummer compared with the 750KG of the S1 Exige! Those ‘K’ series car a quick eh!!!
Mmmmm! Thats why I now have a Yota too!
Hope to see you about mate,
Pete.
How Pesky hasn’t pounced upon this comment yet, I just don’t know!
PMSL
Is that how much your car weighs Pete?
[quote=Azrael]
How Pesky hasn’t pounced upon this comment yet, I just don’t know! [/quote]
Cos the buggar is in France !!!
Rest assured he will …
[quote=jonnyfox]PMSL
Is that how much your car weighs Pete? [/quote]
Nope… less than my cold semi!
I reckon you need about another 12 gears and another 200bhp!!
Wes, how is your car 930kgs? Mine is that (I’ll not say only) with full supercharger set up and super touring pack. Plus thats with half a tank of fuel in it.
I better upgrade to a unimog then
Mine was corner weighted yesterday at 928kg - Exige s with lsd, chargecooler, ac, harness bar, sports pack, touring pack etc. Heavy, but could be worse.