Well, after a great start to the season with a win at Silverstone despite having our lower spec K-Series, we had already made the decision to go Duratec for the next round.
We were perhaps naiive in presuming the swap would be trouble free. Despite the negligible weight difference, our little cars are very sensitive to the difference and it resulted in a car that was a little less stable, and wanted to understeer. By far the biggest issue was remapping our Geartronics paddleshift system. It took us 3 engine builds and 2 DNFs to finally sort it…not a cheap of positive experience!!
But with the issues ironed out, and the set up improved, the car has been a real monster in the second half of the season, especially with the addition of traction control.
The result has been winning in the last 3 rounds of the Lotus Cup UK series and we also won at Brands this weekend gone in the 6 Hour ‘Into the Night’ race. It shows that the handling is fundamentally right that we do not have a wet set up; all we do is change the brake bias.
Anyway, here is a bit of footage from night practice which i quite liked. Turn the volume up and you will hear how quick those gearchanges are!
Epic, what a fantastic car and a great result. Popped in to your garage at Brands earlier in the year and my boys were fascinated by a car like Daddy’s but with the seat in the middle.
Great to see you and the MSC car dueling all season like a modern day Autobytel Love the video at Brands with the proper ballsy move on the MSC car at Druids towards the end…
Yes, it was nice to have a bit of a fight with a similar car, just a shame there aren’t more of them. Lotus don’t like the old cars winning though, so the 2-Elevens are allowed to be GT4 spec next year.
The NSX is stil slowly progressing, just not had the money as its all gone to the Elise! Next year it will be out on track though
I thought the regs changed a year or two ago banning engine swaps (honda etc). I didn’t realise there was still a ‘modified’ class. Nice pics btw, the car looks great
Yes, they were allowed back this season in the ‘Open’ class. As well as our Duratec, there are two other Honda powered cars.
Regs are tighter than before, although i would say even making do with N/A power, all the cars are quicker over the course of a lap than any of the old Modified cars.
Hoping for some people to return next season, it’s not like there is a lack of converted cars out there…just need people to grow a pair and get a second mortgage to join us
Duratec and NA power…even better, I was also under the same impression as Tim. The images are excellent, video too. I only follow from the sofa I’m afraid, weekends are dominated by another sport but I did catch you on Telly at Brands
It is a Hewland EGT gearbox with a custom bell housing to fit. Absolutely amazing box that has never gone wrong (touch wood)! Very much unlike to POS Quaife sequential that is half the price, but we got through 3 or 4 of them…
The speed of it is down to a lot of hard work with the Geartronics paddleshift. It is also exaggerated in that clip because the rev limit was set lower in the clip so it whizzes up the gears…
The TV coverage from my favourite race of the season is now on YouTube; from the back of the grid to 2nd
Loved the first few laps of the Zolder race chasing down the 211s and that S2
Great pass on the Exige to regain the lead too, slip up the outside, force him off line and then get the better exit and blast past him up on inside,…nice
Love the video at Brands with the proper ballsy move on the MSC car at Druids towards the end…
