Lotus Micra Rally Car

Lotus Excel based, light and powerful rear wheel drive 2.5 litre rally car capable of class and overall placing's on tarmac stage rallies - archive results are on on the Lotusbits blog

 

This car cannot run in 2012 unfortunately, see Lotusbits blog and has been replaced by a Sunbeam Lotus, built in a similar manner (Excel based) - see the Lotusbits Sunbeam Lotus build diary on the blog.

Lotus Micra Body and Structure

Dimensions (in mm unless otherwise indicated)
Length 3695mm; width 1660mm; wheelbase 2483mm Track 1479mm

Weight: 1047Kg
Bodywork mods:

Steel doors, gutted and then fitted with Perspex

Engine
Modified Lotus 912 engine stroked to 2498cc, with >270bhp @ 8000rpm
Fuel injected, Jenvey Twin 48 Throttle bodies
Ignition crank trigger, Sagem coil pack
Hinged baffled wet sump
Custom rad and oil cooler

Transmission
Lotus Excel / Toyota W57 - 5 speed syncro box (3.28, 1.89, 1.27, 1, 0.86) weighs 34-35Kg
7.25” twin plate clutch (AP) on steel flywheel
prop –(Lotus Excel)
LSD diff – TRD adjustable LSD
Final Drive Ratios – 3.73, 3.909, 4.1, 4.3 ,4.556, 4.778, 5.1

Wheels, Tyres & Brakes
15” 7J Compomotive MO wheels
Hispec Racing 310mm 2 piece discs with 6 pot calipers – front
Rear. Standard Lotus Excel.
Bias pedal box with sized m/cyls; hydraulic hand brake

Suspension & Steering

Lotus Excel front cross member with standard twin wishbone layout.

Camber adjustment by shortening upper arm – Poly-bushed
Rear suspension: Lotus Excel rear cross member with twin wishbone and Excel hubs and rear vented disks. Adjustable top links fitted
Steering – Standard Lotus Excel PAS 2.7 turn rack

Electrics
Single HP pump on / in a custom designed tank
Rad fan – triggered by engine ECU with manual switched override
HC Geared starter motor
Lights – Std headlights , relay them and also have 2 spot light circuits in case needed
Intercom – 12v powered with suppression (noise cancelling headsets also)
map light
Alternator – standard  75 amp unit
Wiring loom built from scratch

Safety
5 point 3” harnesses, aircraft buckle, cage mounted at rear - Luke
OMP FIA seats (with some head restraint)
Usual extinguishers
Rate reactive foam padding for areas where head might impact, std cage padding elsewhere
Foam filled petrol tank with integral swirl pot (30 litres capacity ample, cover 40-50miles)
Cage - Full FIA spec, CDS triangulated to front and rear suspension points