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*** Round 15 *** The Final Round : Circuito de la Sierra, 5pm, Dry Track.***
The Elise is much better on tight technical circuits, but on power circuits that brutally powerful 4 cylinder 2.3 Engine in the SLK will dominate.
12 sectors, a Full lap... So 16¾ miles for the Elise to cement its lead or for the Supercharged German to brutally surpress the plucky English.
As always, Ryk will be driving without any Traction control or antilock brakes or any display of mercurial talent with stock tyres with his trusty D-Pad. No curb hopping, grass mowing or armco kissing.
This is a wide track with some very lengthy flat out sections that play right into the hands of the SLK. But the Lotus is addicted to high apex speeds and should brutalise the small but heavy German in the technical sections.
*************************Sector Time ~(°:°)~ Sector Time
*** Round 15 *** Sector 1 *** 48.1 - Elise ~(°:°)~ 48.3 - SLK
Slight lead for the Lotus posting a time of 48.1 seconds over the Mercedes' 48.3 seconds, Not a huge margin though.
(0.2 lead for the Elise) Elise 10(138) - SLK 9(134)
*** Round 16 *** Sector 2 *** 44.4 - Elise ~(°:°)~ 45.9 - SLK
Elise stretches that lead dancing through the tight 2nd sector of the Blue section extending its lead by 1.5seconds
(1.7 lead for the Elise) Elise 10(148) - SLK 9(143)
*** Round 17 *** Sector 3 *** 62.5 - Elise ~(°:°)~ 62.3 - SLK
The German fightback. Only a couple of tenths but it ends the Old First Section 1.5 seconds down on the Elise
(1.5 lead for the Elise) Elise 9(157) - SLK 10(153)
*** Round 18 *** Sector 4 *** 66.5 - Elise ~(°:°)~ 64.5 - SLK
Power rules the start of Second Section (Yellow) and the SLK takes the lead after taking two whole seconds out of the Lotus
(0.5 lead for the SLK) Elise 9(166) - SLK 10(163)
*** Round 19 *** Sector 5 *** 59.4 - Elise ~(°:°)~ 60.8 - SLK
English counter offensive that see the lead change hands again.
(0.9 lead for the Elise) Elise 10(176) - SLK 9(172)
*** Round 20 *** Sector 6 *** 70.4 - Elise ~(°:°)~ 69.6 - SLK
This is punch for punch now the Benz has closed the gap toa tenth of a second.
(0.1 lead for the Elise) Elise 9(185) - SLK 10(182)
*** Round 21 *** Sector 7 *** 92.0 - Elise ~(°:°)~ 90.9 - SLK
Start of the 3rd Green Section and the Mercedes takes the lead and pulls a second ahead of the Lotus
(1.0 lead for the SLK) Elise 9(194) - SLK 10(192)
*** Round 22 *** Sector 8 *** 48.8 - Elise ~(°:°)~ 51.2 - SLK
Distaster from the SLK or perfection from the Elise? 2.4 seconds faster from the Lotus letting it leapfrog into the lead
(1.4 lead for the Elise) Elise 10(204) - SLK 9(201)
*** Round 23 *** Sector 9 *** 38.2 - Elise ~(°:°)~ 38.0 - SLK
The Mercedes tries to claw back the gap. At the end of the old third section the german car is over a second behind
(1.2 lead for the Elise) Elise 9(213) - SLK 10(211)
*** Round 24 *** Sector 10 *** 39.1 - Elise ~(°:°)~ 38.7 - SLK
The Final Pink Section begins and the Mercedes again closing the gap almost a half a second faster in this sector.
(0.8 lead for the Elise) Elise 9(222) - SLK 10(221)
*** Round 25 *** Sector 11 *** 67.9 - Elise ~(°:°)~ 66.7 - SLK
The Mercedes is on fire catching and passing the Lotus on the fast penulitmate section.
(0.4 lead for the SLK) Elise 9(231) - SLK 10(231)
*** Round 26 *** Sector 12 *** 48.1 - Elise ~(°:°)~ 48.8 - SLK
They think it's all over. But the Little Lotus is cornering like it is on rails, the SLK just can't take carry the same corner speed. The Lotus takes the lead and the overall win!
(0.3 lead for the Elise over the line!) Elise 10(241) - SLK 9(240)
*** Round 27 *** Circuito de la Sierra - Full Lap ***
Actually the Elise was only 0.223 faster... after 16-17 miles...amazing. The Elise is an enigma as it is harder to drive, but once you hit that sweet spot and find the cars balance it transofrms to being effortless to pilot. The Lower top speeds and shorter braking distances coupled to faster cornering speeds make the lap easier in my eyes. The SLK was heading into some heavy brakes zones much faster and it had to scrub off much more speed (Much bigger risk of a lock up for me) and then when it got to the corners it tended to struggle to turn in fully and also get the power down on corner exit due to the 2nd/3rd gear transition. I had to work much harder in the SLK to avoid putting the car off track.
11m26.047 - Elise
11m26.270 - SLK
Elise 10(251) - SLK 9(249)
I had a scream driving both of these cars. And another day, same track and the SLK could easily have edged a win. But if I am honest even if the SLK had overhauled the Elise, I'd prefer to drive the Lotus again over the Mercedes if they were the last two cars in the Rental Hire carpark...
As I am a forgetful I didn't know that the Elise had edged to overall time until I typed it up here! - And I miscounted too giving the Elise two more points early in this race... wow even closer than I thought and the SLK won seven sectors to the Elise's five
The SLK lost here, but it was good fun. A couple of gripes, The Gearbox needed a bit of work 2nd was too short which left me in 3rd gear in a power weakspot for the supercharged engine. Weight is the other one, But you get a folding roof, a schoolboy bully look to it. On its own merits, it is a pocket rocket, but lined up next to the Elise The SLK is just a tubby kid with a 'roided up engine. The Elise was everything I want out of a car in a corner... Dark Green paint, Rear wheel drive, Comfort tyres - Happy Days!
Ryk Recommends the Lotus Elise
For some reason the endless rounds here reminded me of the pub game "Dwyle flunking" a traditional & ancient Drinking game. (Dates from way back in the 1960's)
No wonder the world hates the English! (I'm off to the pub now! Here y'go t'gither!)