Triple Event Advice

[agshaar2@hotmail.com]

Hi all

I will be participating in a friendly event (Speed Trip 10) next Thursday at the Bahrain International circuit. It has three segments, Auto Cross, Drag race, and a timed 2 lap of the GP track from a standing start. I need some advice, Im the only guy carrying the 211 flag in the middle east and hope you guys and the car can make me look like I know what Im doing.

Ive done a couple of open track days with the 211 on the GP track but have never done a standing start with the 211 and I don't have Auto Cross experience in General.

I've just installed the Track Wing (used the middle setting) and front Splitter but kept the suspension settings as they are from the factory. Should i use the track recommended setting in the manual?

I also heard since lotus offically had a dealership in the Middle East (Saudi Arabia) they are sending a driver from the UK to showcase and launch the Exige cup 260.

Hope i get to meet him and ask if he has any advice or driving tips. I've been placed in the same category as the Porsche GT3s based on Power to Weight ratios.

Any help is much appreciated

Mohammed

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does your car have launch control? might help with the standing starts (if its allowed to be used).

The track settings in the manual are very good so not a bad place to start.

[patrick.oneill@premierusa.com]

Here is how you setup the Launch Control

This was the first and only time I have used it and it worked very well

[agshaar2@hotmail.com]

Any recommendations on launch RPM?

I have just been told that the cup260 will be participating, driven by a guy from lotus UK all i know is his initials are MF.

Nick do you anything about this?

Any recommendations on tire pressure for the Autocross?

Thanks

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7000 in the dry, 4000 in the wet

[Nick Adams]

Hi Mohammed, good to hear you are competing with the car so soon. As the guys have suggested around 7000rpm should be about right for launch on warm dry tarmac, but try and get a few practice starts in on a similar surface to get it just right. Start with slightly lower revs, say 6500 and see how she is, if she bogs down then use more revs, if the tyres light up and she hangs around for a bit before going use less. A perfect start should involve only a small amount of wheel spin. Remember to set the traction control to around 12 or 1 o'clock on the dial as you don't want the tc cutting in straight after a perfect launch....

Go for the track settings if the course is smooth and clean, otherwise stick with the standard settings as the car will cope with poor surfaces better with these. To be honest, the car is pretty good as it comes and I would generally advise leaving it alone unless you are very experienced and know enough about vehicle dynamics to be able to effect an improvement.

If the Autocross is lots of slow corners then use a fair bit of rear wing but watch out for understeer; if possible change your driving style to a less aggressive turn in to counter the understeer rather than take off some of the wing.

Obviously, for the drag race take as much wing angle off as you can, in fact take the wing off if they'll let you.

The factory driver is my friend Mark Fullalove, late of the BTCC and various one make championships. He's a really good bloke and he is looking forward to meeting you and helping you with your car set-up.

Have fun and let us know how you get on, Nick

[agshaar2@hotmail.com]

Thanks all for all the advice.

I would not call my self an experienced driver so i guess ill stick with stock settings? i've had some experience with this particular track with my Noble M400 which is completely different driving style to the 211 so i need to get used to the lotus. I'm looking forward to meeting Mark and learning from him.

To my understanding there is no regulation on taking the wing off on the drag so ill take the wing off.

Do I need to adjust tire pressure for the drag and autocross events? I would assume i need to add pressure since the tires will be fairly cooler vs a track event? Any thoughts on this?

[agshaar2@hotmail.com]

Thanks all for all your help. Event went well, besides a tire problem i had, i was running at the recommended cold pressure which turned out too high for that track. I met the guys from lotus UK, very nice guys. The lotus test driver (Mark Fullalove) participated in a stock exige 240 and came out 2nd in his class beaten by a race prepped Honda Integra with slicks from Japan.

The class i was in was won in by a 997 GT2 followed by a 997 GT2 and a modified Nissan GTR. Great event overall i had loads of fun just being there.

the 211 got a 12.34s drag run (includes reaction time) launch control worked amazingly the car just took off like a sling shot.

There was a x bow that could only manage 13.7s and was around 20 second a lap slower than the 211 on the GP track. The event ended with a Radical race which was a blast to watch man can those cars fly on track.

Thanks again to all who replied and to the lotus guys on the track for showing up all the way here in the middle east.

[Nick Adams]

Hi Mohammed, congratulations on your debut in the 2-Eleven. Mark tells me you were running well, glad you had a good time. Thank for flying the flag for us out there, keep up the good work!

Nick