[trompazo]

I missed the other thread but I have extensively tracked an Exige S (ASP trim with Hoosier A6s), Elise on A048s, Corvette Z06 (Hoosier A6s, Penskes, and 590whp), Stock Gallardo on Hoosier R6s, Mercedes SLK55 AMG (hoosier A6s), an EVO X on stock rubber and no mods, and a Mini Cooper S JCW on Falken Azenis.

This has always been on a high horsepower track, which I believe VIR is as well.

Bottomline, IMO, is that the reason the Lotuses get such poor lap times is becuase of aerodynamic drag and a lack of power. The Cd is about 0.5 (can't remember the exact number of the top of my head) but it is horrible.

Out of any car I have ever driven the Exige S is the most fun, best handling, most controllable, best steering, most communicative car. But the lap times always suck. It FEELS fast, but lap times don't lie.

IMO, Lotus make really fun track cars, but unless you mod it to make an insane amount of power (350whp) it will not be that fast on high horsepower tracks.

But for autocross, it's a completely differnt story. It has the potential to be a killer car, but is also tricky to learn the limits.