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Here's a except from a WCLM report in the next issue of the GGLC's newsletter....
Driving the Elise at the WCLM Autocross
I had the honors of taking the first run in the Elise, Clyde as my passenger. A number of Europas, Elans and Esprits had already run. Best time was around a 47 or 48 second run. I pulled to the line and at the drop of the green did a launch with about 3000 rpm. The engine seemed bog a bit, there was no wheel spin.
Barry Spencer had designed the course to try to suit the variety of cars; the first section was open and fast. From the start box there was a short straight that led into a right-left-right box, then into a 2 cone slalom. That opened to a wide straight section to the far end of the course with a big open right hand 180 sweeper. The exit got narrow and straight allowing a driver to get sorted out. That led into a 5-cone slalom followed immediately by a tight 180 hairpin. Then there was a staggered step run to the left into a 90 right, a burst, and another 90 right. Next was a short straight, a 3-cone slalom and “you-better-slow-down” tight right-left into the finish.
Thus the course was open and fast in parts for the Esprit drivers and had tight corners and slaloms for the Elan and Europa guys. Nice fun course that was easy to follow.
Back to the Elise, foot planted I accelerated out of the start box, did a quick twitch to get through the box, up shifted, then around the first cone of the slalom and then a slight lift before apexing on the 2nd cone. Down the straight the engine came on cam (the Toyota VVT-Li engine lights up at 6200), brakes (not hard) and into the sweeper with a hint of understeer that was quickly balanced to neutral with some throttle – NICE!
Around the sweeper we went, finishing with a late apex, foot flat heading toward the 5-cone slalom. I stayed on the power past the first cone then braking for the 2nd and dashed in-and-out through the slalom. The Elise stayed flat, poised and went EXACTLY where I pointed it. The steering was PERFECT.
Past the 5th cone, braked hard (I never felt the ABS) for the tight 180. On this initial run I stayed in 2nd gear, the engine bogged a bit on exit so on later runs I was dropping to 1st gear and getting power oversteer on corner exit. If you overcooked the entry the Elise would push and you’d have to wait for it to hook up and then back on the power, but with the right entry speed you could get into the corner, get on the power early and get a nice dose of power oversteer.
It was then a hard acceleration, a brake tap for the right hander, back on the throttle, another brake tap, around the right and back on the throttle to the 3-cone slalom. Brake into the 2nd cone, flick the steering wheel and accelerate past the 3rd cone and through the right-left in the finish. This last bit was amazing, I watched the other cars tackle this right-left, everyone was off the throttle or braking into it. But, in the Elise I was able to accelerate with my foot flat into and through it to the finish.
My time for that first run, a low 44, some 3-4 seconds faster than all the cars that had run prior! WOW!!! And, more to the point I felt that I had left 2-3 seconds on course! In subsequent runs I was able to get into the low 42s. The top time of the day went to the Elise S190 with a solo driver, softer tires and track suspension, beating the new Elise by 1/10th of a second! This Elise was the base suspension and makes me wonder how much faster the Sport Suspension Pack would be. 2 seconds? More?
Kiyoshi
Driving the Elise at the WCLM Autocross
I had the honors of taking the first run in the Elise, Clyde as my passenger. A number of Europas, Elans and Esprits had already run. Best time was around a 47 or 48 second run. I pulled to the line and at the drop of the green did a launch with about 3000 rpm. The engine seemed bog a bit, there was no wheel spin.
Barry Spencer had designed the course to try to suit the variety of cars; the first section was open and fast. From the start box there was a short straight that led into a right-left-right box, then into a 2 cone slalom. That opened to a wide straight section to the far end of the course with a big open right hand 180 sweeper. The exit got narrow and straight allowing a driver to get sorted out. That led into a 5-cone slalom followed immediately by a tight 180 hairpin. Then there was a staggered step run to the left into a 90 right, a burst, and another 90 right. Next was a short straight, a 3-cone slalom and “you-better-slow-down” tight right-left into the finish.
Thus the course was open and fast in parts for the Esprit drivers and had tight corners and slaloms for the Elan and Europa guys. Nice fun course that was easy to follow.
Back to the Elise, foot planted I accelerated out of the start box, did a quick twitch to get through the box, up shifted, then around the first cone of the slalom and then a slight lift before apexing on the 2nd cone. Down the straight the engine came on cam (the Toyota VVT-Li engine lights up at 6200), brakes (not hard) and into the sweeper with a hint of understeer that was quickly balanced to neutral with some throttle – NICE!
Around the sweeper we went, finishing with a late apex, foot flat heading toward the 5-cone slalom. I stayed on the power past the first cone then braking for the 2nd and dashed in-and-out through the slalom. The Elise stayed flat, poised and went EXACTLY where I pointed it. The steering was PERFECT.
Past the 5th cone, braked hard (I never felt the ABS) for the tight 180. On this initial run I stayed in 2nd gear, the engine bogged a bit on exit so on later runs I was dropping to 1st gear and getting power oversteer on corner exit. If you overcooked the entry the Elise would push and you’d have to wait for it to hook up and then back on the power, but with the right entry speed you could get into the corner, get on the power early and get a nice dose of power oversteer.
It was then a hard acceleration, a brake tap for the right hander, back on the throttle, another brake tap, around the right and back on the throttle to the 3-cone slalom. Brake into the 2nd cone, flick the steering wheel and accelerate past the 3rd cone and through the right-left in the finish. This last bit was amazing, I watched the other cars tackle this right-left, everyone was off the throttle or braking into it. But, in the Elise I was able to accelerate with my foot flat into and through it to the finish.
My time for that first run, a low 44, some 3-4 seconds faster than all the cars that had run prior! WOW!!! And, more to the point I felt that I had left 2-3 seconds on course! In subsequent runs I was able to get into the low 42s. The top time of the day went to the Elise S190 with a solo driver, softer tires and track suspension, beating the new Elise by 1/10th of a second! This Elise was the base suspension and makes me wonder how much faster the Sport Suspension Pack would be. 2 seconds? More?
Kiyoshi
