Lotus GT1 used the LT5?!

[Prez1967]

Learned something nee yesterday.

Apparently the Lotus used some C4 ZR1 motors is their GT1 homologation cars!

http://tech-racingcars.wikidot.com/lotus-elise-gt1

From Wiki:

? Lotus knew that the Elise's inline-4 engine would not be competitive so it was initially decided that the car would use the 3.5 L V8 engine from the Esprit sports car. However, testing showed that the engine was not as reliable as hoped. After installation of it in the road car, Lotus teams were left to decide whether or not to use the Lotus V8 or opt for a Chevrolet LT5 5.7 L V8 engine from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, a car which Lotus had jointly developed when they had been under the ownership of General Motors. Lotus further developed the LT5 by fitting it with a flat-plane crankshaft, adding two turbochargers and increasing its displacement to 6.0 L for the Elise GT1 Race car. Seven Elise GT1 racing chassis were built, going to factory teams GT1 Lotus Racing (run by Fabien Giroix's First Racing) as well as privateers GBF UK and Martin Veyhle Racing. The factory GT1 Lotus Racing team would be the only ones to opt for the Chevrolet V8 instead of the Lotus twin-turbocharged unit.?

Neat!

[WARP TEN]

I've never seen any of these showing up in auctions--do you know of any sales of these cars? They would be very interesting and I would think would bring good money. --Bob

[Vette Guy]

I've never seen these cars come up for sale, however if you want to hear a flat-plane crank LT5: https://youtu.be/WkbIKBfjGJE

This car is actually a ZR-1, retrofitted to be an Opel Kadett atop the stock ZR-1 chassis. We covered the build of this car in issue 37 of the HotB publication. If you haven't seen it, it the issue is still available on the main website, in the "Member's Only" area.

Regards,
Mark

[WARP TEN]

I've never seen these cars come up for sale, however if you want to hear a flat-plane crank LT5: https://youtu.be/WkbIKBfjGJE

This car is actually a ZR-1, retrofitted to be an Opel Kadett atop the stock ZR-1 chassis. We covered the build of this car in issue 37 of the HotB publication. If you haven't seen it, it the issue is still available on the main website, in the "Member's Only" area.

Regards,
Mark

Thanks Mark--that is always fun to watch. Yes I remember the article in HTB. Fun stuff. The sound of the new '23 C8 Z06 with a flat plane crank is also mesmerizing. But I would still like to see one of the Lotus cars mentioned. I am surprised they have not shown up in auctions that I regularly watch.I guess there are simply not many around. Saw one listed for $645,000. Nice looking car, and if you look closely you can see the familiar ends of the heads in the picture below. --Bob

[grahambehan]

The story is somewhat true, but lotus already had a twin turbo v8 and the FIA regulations on air restrictors were prohibitive. So the LT5 was used in a flat plane crank 6.0
naturally aspirated version.

Graham

[JamesThomas1975]

Now that's cool information. I've always believed Lotus had only smaller engines from Toyota etc. No wonder it's so expensive since they are so rare!