Hartham Cars - Duratec and RST-V8 Elise

Chassis

· Elise S1 chassis
· Full 4130 Chrome-moly bespoke TIG welded rollcage with full size rear stays
· 4130 Chrome-moly steering column in custom aluminium housing
· Steering column moved 75mm toward car centre (driver’s thigh on car centreline)

Engine

· 2.3 litre Ford I4 Duratec engine (all alloy)
· 274 bhp @ 7500 rpm (and still rising)
· 2nd to 5th gear the engine is always above 194 lbs.ft torque
· 198 lbs.ft torque
· Omega forged pistons
· 12.7:1 compression ration
· Arrow steel rods
· Up-rated valve springs and high strength caps
· Kent ‘280’ cam shafts
· Flowed intake and exhaust ports, matched to exhaust manifold
· Jenvey 51mm taper throttle bodies with 85mm trumpets with matching inlet manifold
· All intake system ported for smooth flow
· Head injector ports blanked off · Two rows of high capacity Pico injectors, one in the TBs and the other set into the trumpets
· Large aluminium airbox with laminar flow panel filter above trumpets
· Ultra-light 4 into 1 exhaust system in 1.2mm thick stainless with stepped headers

Bodywork

· Motorsport bodywork with lightweight front clamshell
· Large carbon rear wing with adjustable wing supports
· Custom ultra-light roof design incorporating Le Mans style roof scoop
· Front splitter
· Many panels fitted with flush Dzus ¼ trun panel fasterners
· Polycarbonate screen and side windows
· Lightened doors with convex race mirrors and cable release mechanism
· Lengthened aluminium diffuser with strakes
· Flush membrane electronic buttons for fire and electrical cut-out
· Flush mount ultra-light Sparco fuel filler cap

Overview

This car was designed and built by Elise suspension specialists Nitron Racing Systems with engineering consultancy from Hartham. The car was developed primarily to show what could be made if building an Elise from the ground up, but also as an endurance racer capable of racing long distance GT style races. Weighing only 670 kg wet and with over 400bhp/tonne, it is most probably the quickest normally aspirated Elise in the world.

The quality of the materials used during the build and type of componentry fitted reflects the nature of this project - to build the best Elise out there. The project has not reached an end though and there is still more weight saving to be found. The chassis set-up is still ongoing, and expect to see about 300 bhp from the engine when finished.

If you would like the ultimate Lotus Elise Duratec engine conversion for road or race, or an alternative engine choice including the RST V8 Elise, please contact Hartham

Oil System

· Pace dry sump system with twin scavenge system
· Remote filter head
· Alloy cooling radiator
· Large remote oil tank with oversize breather
· Alloy oil catch tank with filter
· All oil lines are Aeroquip dash 12 screw fittings using Kevlar ultra-light hose and swept permanent swivel crimped alloy fittings. These are the lightest and most expensive Aeroquip product.

Fuel System

· 38 litre alloy fuel tank
· In tank twin stage pump with internal anti-surge pot
· VDO fuel level sender
· Screw trap plate with screw on fuel fittings
· Alloy fuel anti-surge external collector pot with overflow return to tank
· All fuel lines are Aeroquip dash 6 screw fittings using Kevlar ultra-light hose and swept permanent swivel crimped alloy fittings. These are the lightest and most expensive Aeroquip product.
· External Bosch high pressure 500 hp injection pump – top of the range
· Alloy fuel filter
· Adjustable race pressure regulator
· System runs at 4.5 bar constant pressure
· Schrader fuel pressure take-off points (2)

Drivetrain

· Ultra-light flywheel
· 5.5” twin plate cerametallic Tilton clutch with billet cover
· Tilton hydraulic concentric clutch slave cylinder
· 5 Speed straight cut PG1 gearbox with Quaife ultra-close gearkit fitted
· Quaife LSD
· Motorsport gear cable assembly
· Raised hollow custom gear lever with large nylon gear knob
· GKN high strength special driveshafts (300M) with oversize Tripode joints
· Oversize Motorsport wheel bearings

Suspension

· S2 wishbones, cleaned up, modified and powder coated (provides wider track)
· Nylatron inner wishbone bushes
· Blade adjustable anti-roll bar with rod end linkage system
· Nitron 3-way adjustable coil-over shocks with 750 lb rr & 650 lb fr springs with 150 lb helpers
· Custom billet rear uprights with integral radial calliper mounts and large bearings
· Front uprights modified to take large rear Motorsport wheel bearings
· Billet alloy steering arms with better bump-steer geometry
· Custom Titan steering rack with better bump-steer geometry and 2.2 turns lock to lock

Brakes

· AP Racing 4 pot front callipers (these are not the same as the Lotus Motorsport items)
· AP Racing 295 x 25.4mm cast iron race discs with separate alloy bells
· AP Racing ‘Lotus’ 2 pot rear callipers
· Performance Friction pads
· Pedal mounted dashboard remote adjustable brake balance bar
· AP Racing twin master cylinders
· Kunifer hardline throughout
· Goodridge Stainless braided flexibles with crimped lightweight end fittings

Cockpit

· Custom dash moulding for large quantity of circuit breakers and switches
· Seating position moved toward the centre of the car
· Modified S2 seat for low seating position with separate head rest (padded with F1 impact foam)
· AIM large LCD dash
· Large F1 pedal pad with F1 style accelerator pedal plate

Electrics

· Emerald ECU (cockpit mounted)
· MXL Pro AIM dash
· 8 channel datalogging in addition to main dash logging
· logging set to log: RPM, Speed, Water temp, Oil pressure, Oil temp, Fuel pressure, Fuel level, Lap time (with beacon), gear, with 3 still spare.
· Solid state pressure transducers used (the best!)
· Pits to car radio link
· Gel cockpit mounted battery
· Push button solenoid operated ETA electrical master cut-out switch (FIA type)
· Electrically operated fully plumbed fire extinguisher
· Lightweight custom loom with circuit breakers and separate switches for everything
· LED front and rear lights
· Lightweight main driving lights
· Electric engine water pump