Generic Weekly Hotlap Challenge #137 – Carving-up the Costa Brava

Welcome to the thread for the Weekly Hotlap Challenge #137 – “Carving-up the Costa Brava.” It’s the third round of the four week Mini-series, “Convertibles.” It is summer time, so it’s roof off and hats on.

The Challenge: Hotlap
Car: Lotus Exige S Roadster
Track: Barcelona Moto


This week we’re off to Spain, driving the Lotus Exige S Roadster, so it's factor 50 sunscreen on the pate!
“No budget” Lotus, now owned by Chinese automotive giant Geely, has introduced very few new models in recent years, instead constantly developing the cars it has. The mid-engine, rear wheel drive Lotus Exige was launched nearly 20 years ago in 2000, but really it’s an Elise, which was first conceived in even further back in 1994. The first Exiges, Series 1 cars, were powered by the venerable 1.8 4 cylinder Rover K series engine, with either 177bhp or 190bhp in track-spec.
The Lotus Exige S Roadster is a Series 3 car, introduced in 2013 and now powered by a Toyota 3.5 litre supercharged V6, firing out 345bhp and a chunky 295lbs/ft (400Nm) of torque. The car weighs a mere 1168kg. Nice. According to the very positive press reviews when it was launched the Lotus Exige S Roadster is a mini-supercar.
Here’s what Autocar said, despite the Roadster being more softly set-up than the hard top -
“It’s still chuffing fast when you want, mind. The fastest ever soft-top Lotus, they say…. it’s a great track car – solid brakes, fabulously steering and, although a subtle limited-slip diff would make it more throttle adjustable, still a great balance and with neatly adjustable handling.”

Sunny Circuit de Catalunya, memorable for me due to a huge moment, braking for turn 1 on a Honda Dominator back in the early 1990s. It was the Honda press launch of the CBR900 Fireblade and I had been watching the journos, opposite turn 1, slowing from 200mph, rear wheel skipping, before effortlessly flicking right, then left and away with a howl. I wasn’t allowed a go on the Fireblade. On a very subtle inquiry my client looked at me, laughed and told me they needed all of them pristine for the week long launch! I could have a go round on a Dominator later on though.
Having summoned my inner Carl Fogarty, I ducked onto the empty track from the top of the pit lane. Giving it everything, prone on the Dommie, helmet pressed flat against the tank, shorts and t-shirt flapping madly, I approached the end of the straight at about 85mph.
“Go cautious.” I thought, “no way I’m sitting up and giving it a fistful like those boys on the Fireblade…”
So, what felt like hundreds of meters early from an early braking point, I ve-ery gently feathered the front brake and WOW! It bit like a rabid bulldog. BANG! The giraffe-spec front forks smashed all the way down against the bump stops and instantly the back of the bike was trying to come over the top of my head. My first split second thought was that I was about to loose an espadrille. My second split second thought was that the massive stoppie was turning into a somersault and I was facing a 100 yard slide on tarmac, then into gravel, in light cotton shorts, yellow espadrilles and a navy t-shirt…. I snapped the brake off, I remember wobbling on the front wheel, the back landed and bounced... and I stayed upright and ploughed into the gravel. Being a Dominator, I could easily ride through this as if nothing had happened. I rounded the next few corners to get well out of sight of my client and pulled over under the bridge to be sick. Anyway, there’s a lesson!

It’s tarmac at turn 1 now and the Lotus is far more Fireblade than Dominator. It’s precise and torquey. I think the gear ratios could be shorter but it corners nicely, allowing you to carve lines and carry a longer gear into the turn, then use the torque to pick it up and punch it through. The Lotus is as sharp as a flick knife in Las Ramblas, go and carve-up the Costa Brava!

The tyres are either Street or Semislicks, the recommended pressures are:
Street -
..Front 34psi ..Rear 36psi
Semislicks -
..Front 30psi ..Rear 32psi

How to take part - Hot lap:
To enter, select Hotlap, choose the Lotus Exige S Roadster and the Barcelona Moto circuit. Please setup the session as shown below:
Mode: Hotlap
Time of day: Free
Ambient Temp: 26 Degrees
Setup: Free
Controller: Free
Assists: Free
Stability: Free
To qualify for WHC you must have the ambient temp set to 26 DegC.

Deadline: Sunday 21st July 2019 - 21:00 GMT.

You can run as many laps as you like and update your times as often as you like. It is all about taking part, testing yourself and enjoying Assetto Corsa. All Platforms are welcome.
To submit a time, pause the game and select 'session' from the menu and screenshot this page or take a photo of your screen and post it in this thread - Note all the information from the screen is required including temperature, mode heading and of course the car being used!
Please post video clips and share information in here as well, but without the session screen your time will not be included (placing the session screen in a video clip is acceptable).
Please use the following format to post your times:
Your time, to be shown as x.xx.xxx.
Your platform (PC Xb1 PS4)
The image or screen shot showing your time.
Your thoughts and comment

Please mark updated times with Improvement.

A leader board is collated regularly. Unfortunately editing of posts gets locked on this forum so this post cannot be updated.Specialist Challenges will feature from time to time. These run as monthly mini-series, for example Formula One February or the Anglo-American Challenge These events will be announced in the WHC Thread.

Weekly Hotlap Challenge History
1. Mugello - Praga R1 Posted by John Gordon 3rd Oct, 2016 (Console Lounge P55)
2. Imola - Mercedes SLS GT3
3. Brands Hatch GP - RUF RT12 Posted by GravelTrap 19th Oct 2016 (Console Lounge P54)
4. Magione - Lotus 2 Eleven
5. Silverstone International - Abarth 500 Assetto Corse
6. Zandvoort - Pagani Huayra
7. Nurburgring GP (GT) - Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI
8. Spa - BMW M3 GT2
9. Vallelunga Club - KTM X-Bow R
10. Barcelona - Moto - Shelby Cobra 427 S/C
11. Silverstone 1967 - Lotus 72D
12. Nordschleife - Porsche 911 Carrera S
13. Black Cat County - Ferrari LaFerrari
14. Monza Junior 1966 - Alfa Romeo GTA
15. Redbull Ring GP - Lamborghini Gallardo Sl
16. Zandvoort - Ford Escort RS1600
17. Imola - Mazda Rx-7 Spirit R
18. Brands Hatch GP - Lotus Exige V6 Cup
19. Monza - Ferrari FXX K
20. Barcelona - Moto - Ferrari 488 GT3
21. Mugello - Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV
22. Silverstone GP - Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 2017
23. Nurburgring Sprint GT - Toyota AE86 Tuned
24. Magione - Maserati Levante S
25. Spa - Lotus 98T
26. Vallelunga - Classic - Porsche 935/78 "Moby Dick"
27. Nordschleife Endurance Cup - M235i Racing
28. Silverstone 1967 - Maserati 250F T2 12C
29. Red Bull Ring National - BMW 1M Posted by HavanaB0B, 1st May 2017 (Console Lounge p28)
30. Zandvoort - Lotus Evora GX
31. Barcelona GP - Lotus Exos 125 Stage 1
32. Brands Hatch Indy - Toyota Supra MKIV Time Attack Posted by by Graveltrap 21st May 2017 (Console Lounge p25)
33. Black Cat County Long - Lamborghini Countach
34. Imola - Mercedes Benz 190E Evo II
35. Monza - Chevrolet Corvette C7R
36. Nurburgring Sprint GT - BMW M3 E30
37. Magione - Mercedes SLS AMG
38. Spa - Porsche 917/30 Spyder
39. Silverstone GP - Nissan GT-R Nismo Posted by Hugo Catarino,9th July 2017 (Console Lounge p21)
40. RedBull Ring GP - Alfa Romeo 4c
41. Brands Hatch GP - Audi R8 LMS Ultra
42. Highlands Long - Ford GT40
43. Vallelunga - Lotus GTE Carbon
44. Zandvoort - Porsche 911 Turbo S Posted by Graveltrap 13th Aug 2017 (Console Lounge p19)
45. Nordschleife - Ferrari 312T
46. Mugello - BMW M3 E92
47. Black Cat County - Short - Ford Mustang 2015
48. Imola - Maserati MC12 GT1
49. Silverstone 1967 - Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0
50. Barcelona Moto - McLaren 570S
51. Magione - Mazda Miata NA
52. Spa - Ferrari F40
53. Vallelunga - Corvette C7 Stingray Posted by Moodyryder 23rd Oct 2017 (Console Lounge p14)
54. Brands Hatch GP - Tatuus FA01
55. Highlands - Lotus 3 eleven
56. Nurburgring GP (GT) - Toyota Celica ST185 4WD Turbo
57. Monza 1966 Full Course - Ferrari 312/67
58. Nordschleife - Porsche 962 C Short Tail
59. Zandvoort- Nissan 370Z Nismo
60. Silverstone GP - McLaren F1
61. Vallelunga Classic - Ferrari 250GTO
62. Imola - Lotus 98T
63. Highlands Drift - P4/5 Competizione
64. Mugello - Lamborghini Aventador SV
65. Spa - Porsche 911R
66. Black Cat County - Lotus 2-Eleven GT4
67. Barcelona GP - Ferrari SF70H
68. Nordschleife Endurance & Highlands - Porsche 917k
69. Zandvoort - Lotus Exige Scura Posted by Hugo Catarino 25th Feb 2o18 (Console Lounge p7)
70. RedBull Ring National - Maserati Alfieri
71. Laguna Seca - Audi Sport quattro S1 E2
72. Brands Hatch - Mclaren P1
73. Imola - Porsche 911 RSR
74. Nurburgring GP - Ferrari F2004
75. Barcelona Moto - Lamborghini Huracan Performante
76. Silverstone 1967 - Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
77. Magione - BMW 1M Stage 3
78. Highlands Long - Mazda 787b
79. Black Cat County - Toyota GT86
80. Spa - Toyota TS040 Hybrid
81. Vallelunga Classic - Nissan Skyline R34 V-Spec
82. Mugello - Ferrari 458 GT2
83. Silverstone International - RUF R12 R AWD
84. Highlands Long - Audi R18 e-tron quattro 2014
85. Monza - Pagani Zonda R
86. Nordschleife - Lotus 3-eleven
87. Zandvoort - Maserati GranTurismo MC GT4
88. Redbull Ring GP - Mercedes Sauber C9
89. Brands Hatch - Lotus 25
90. Highlands Short - Abarth 595 SS
91. Nurburgring GP (GT) - Audi TT Cup
92. Monza 1966 - Road Course - Porsche 908 LH
93. Vallelunga - BMW M3 E30 Gr.A 92
94. Laguna Seca - Alfa Romeo Mito QV
95. Nordschleife - RUF Yellowbird & Ferrari F40
96. Barcelona GP - BMW Z4 GT3
97. Highlands Drift - Ferrari 458 Italia
98. Spa - Lotus Type 49
99. Zandvoort - Porsche 911 GT1-98
100. Silverstone - Nissan GT-R GT3; Brands Hatch - Lotus Exige V6; Vallelunga - free car
101. Mugello - Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
102. Silverstone National - Mazda MX5 Cup or Abarth 500 Assetto Corse
103. Highlands Short – Ford Escort RS1600 Posted by Totall Wrytoff 11th Nov 2018 (Console Lounge p2)
104. Black Cat Short – Porsche 917/30
105. Monza 66 Junior Course – Ferrari F40 S3
106. Magione – Toyota Supra MkIV
107. Brands Hatch Indy 5 lap - Porsche 911 GT3 RS
107. Nurburgring Sprint - Porsche 911 GT3 RS
108. Nordschleife - Abarth 595SS
108 Laguna Seca 5 lap - McLaren F1 GTR
109. Brands Hatch - Ferrari FXX K
110. Highlands – Lamborghini Muira P400 SV
111. Imola - Scuderia Glickenhaus SCG 003C
112. Vallelunga Club – Lotus Exos T125
113. Highlands Drift - Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport
114. Barcelona Moto - Maserati 250F 6 cylinder
115. Silverstone GP – Ferrari F138
116. Laguna Seca – Lotus 72D
117. Red Bull Ring GP - Ferrari SF15-T
118. Spa Francochamps – Maserati Quattroporte GTS
119. Zandvoort – Toyota AE86
120. Silverstone National – BMW M3 E92 Step 1
121. Silverstone 1967 – Ford GT40
122. Nurburgring GP - Porsche 919 Hybrid 2016
123. Highlands Drift Circuit – Porsche 718 RS 60 Spyder
124. Nordshleife Endurance – Porsche 962C Long Tail
125. Red Bull Ring National - Audi R8 V10 Plus
126. Imola – Ferrari 330 P4
127. Monza 1966 Road Course - Pagani Huayra BC
128. Mugello – Ferrari GTO
129. Vallelunga – Lamborghini Sesto Elemento
130. Black Cat County – Shelby Cobra 427S/C
131. Laguna Seca – Lotus Evora GTC
132. Brands Hatch GP – McLaren MP4 12C
133. Highlands Long – Chevrolet Corvette C7R
134. Monza GP – Lamborghinis Gallardo SL S3/ Countach S1
135. Magione – Mazda MX-5 ND
136. Nordschleife Endurance Cup – Ferrari F2004
137. Barcelona Moto – Lotus Exige S Roadster

 

2.05.313
Xbox

Starting the show. It was a long time. Have no idea if I am slow or really slow.. Having fun anyway.

 

2.04.449
PS4

Did a few laps, just beat ET's first time, shut down and found the image hadn't saved.
Got cross, fired everything back up and did this. Many missed apices though and I've still got the yips at turn 1
I think there's going to be a one minute something this week. Probably on Tuesday....

 

Improvement
2.04.684

I think toes gonna fly all over this week..
Have to go to bed for now. In trouble

 

Made me laugh with the Dominator story.

You're in good company though. Mat Oxley once wrote an article in Motorsport Magazine about Catalunya.

He got a chance to try an NSR 500 with carbon brakes back in the '90s.Took it easy out of the pits then opened it up a bit coming off turn 9.

Braked at the bottom of the hill. It threw him up out of the seat over the bars but he managed to hang on for dear life, although he didn't know how.

This is a man who won at the TT. He said it was one of his scariest moments on a motorcycle.

---

Shorts & T-shirt? Good job you stayed shiny side up.

If you come off you get all those tiny bits of tar and stones in the skinless wounds. I don't know what happens in Spain to remove them but I know what the NHS do.

They wax it.

Hold your breath now....

 

Looking like a good challenge, hopefully I can put a time in that is less than it takes for the leader to jump out an make me a coffee by the time I cross the finish line unlike last week

Incidentally the Lotus 130 should be unveiled soon. A new lotus!! I got a glimpse of it at goodwood..


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I crashed a CG125 when I was 15 and they used tweezers to get the bits of my jeans out of my knee... luckily no waxing was involved I remember the Doc/nurse holding up a few fibres he had picked out and saying "that's a big one" ... not what I needed to hear at the time!

 

2.04.161 - X1X



Edited post with an Improvement instead of posting again.

 

Improvement

2.03.512 - X1X





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I urge you all to spend just under 6mins watching the @TiborSolyom lap from last week, posted on p5 of WHC136.
It is a joy to watch, the driving is exquisite.
We've never seen Tibor at work before and we've been missing something special. He makes that manic, hectic run around the Nordshleife look totally effortless.
How very, very smooth is that? It is very, very smooth indeed!!
Thanks for posting Tibor, well done!
Edit - usefully, the link has come across in the quote, so you just have to expand the above, click and enjoy

 

2.07 first laps, this car is really good. now aspertsham - and targa florio

 

2:04.728
PC

 

Current standings:

1- 2.03.512 Lewisxbone XB1
2- 2.04.449 Totall Wrytoff PS4
3- 2.04.684 Emmanuel Tubbiolo PS4
4- 2.04.728 Biner PC

 

Improvement

2.03.209 - X1X






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2.06.381 PS4

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Real ChaosChris xb1 posting 2.09.202

I set myself a target of 2.10 after seeing the other times so smashed that. Got about another sec in me I think if I hook it all together...


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Improvement 2.08.042
Tried watching Alain’s but they seem to have more grip? I understeer off on the sharp right after the bridge and the sharp left after that. Any tips anyone?




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What do you mean by "Alain's," @Chaos_Chris?
For tips...
Presumably you've got the tyres pressures right.
For understeer, my assumption is that you are either not slowing enough for the front tyres to bite, or getting onto the power too early, you'll need to wait a few milliseconds more for the car to rotate...
I think you mean turns 4 and 5.
For turn 4, the Repsol corner, I brake hard about 10-20m before the bridge, down into 3rd and off the brakes, (start to very gently turn the wheel just before you come off the brakes,) ...off the brakes about 5m after the bridge, turning in hard towards a late-ish apex, picking up the throttle as the inside kerb approaches to roll round, but not touch the kerb, roll round a bit more and then blast.
Try braking and turning in earlier, as you close towards the apex you can use the understeer to push you onto a wider line.
That's my tip, but I'm no expert.

 

from saturday we are two weeks in the netherlands - @BrainsBush : Texel again
dunno if i find / want to find the time to do some laps this week.
everyone a good time and some world records for the aliens

 

Alians race . Not Alain!!


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