Www.tc.umn.edu/~enge0214/esprit_gt2

[f1karting]

gotta love it...J

[Paul C]

gotta love it...J

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You mean this: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~enge0214/esprit_gt2

[Esprit2]

That's the Esprit GT2 Alex Zanardi had raced in the UK (and Europe?). Cates-Bundy Racing bought it from Lotus and campaigned it in the USA after the X180R race program ended.

Check out the rear views and you will see a diffuser sticking out below the car. That's not just a dressed up closure for the engine bay. The car was equipped with a full length ground effects under tray designed and wind tunnel tested by Team Lotus' F1 aerodynamists (things were winding down then and they needed something to do).

On the fast straights you could see the GT2 suck itself down to the road. About 2/3 of the way along the main straight you could hear bits start dragging on the pavement. I don't believe the rules allowed things like side skirts, etc... so you'd just have to say the edges were getting a little close to the pavement. Yet Doc Bundy was complaining that due to the rough pavement (it was a street circuit) they had to raise the ride height, so they weren't getting the full affect. It was costing them cornering grip.

Of the cars that were it's main competition in that race (Panoz LM Esperante Batmobile, Calloway Corvette and Mosler) the Esprit GT2 was clearly fastest through the box-chicane at the end of the main straight. It wasn't the most powerful car in the field, and I don't think it was the fastest... but it was the quickest.

Due to the nature of the street circuit (straights and square corners) the tires took a beating. Unfortunately, Doc blistered the tires and had to back off a bit, settling for second place behind the Mosler.

Regards,

Tim Engel

Lotus Owners Oftha North

Edited November 6, 2004 by Esprit2