In a serious attempt to the understand the effects modding the Z8 will have I?ve asked Craig Stanton, the 2005 GT Champion (congratulations Craig!) to be our test driver.
On Dec 22nd we ran 175 track miles at Buttonwillow Raceway, configuration 13. I did around 100 or so miles in the drivers seat, and Craig did the rest. The mission was to set a performance baseline for the standard car from which we could understand the effect of upgrades as we make them.
Here are some lap times to give you an overview of the day?s results.
Craig ? DSC on: 2.14
Craig ? DSC off: 2.04
Fastest Elise of the day: 2.06
Fastest GT3 of the day: 2.02 (on MPS Cups)
My laps times averaged about 2.18, so I?m a lot slower than one needs to be to really feel out the car at it?s limits, so you can see why it is so important to have someone with real ability at the wheel.
Here is a quick Q&A with Craig.
AM: How did you think the Z8 handled and performed overall?
CS: I really enjoyed it, it is very, very stable and well mannered platform, with none of the chassis flex that convertibles can exhibit at the track.
AM: What did you like the least about the car?
CS: The clutch delay valve, it really forces you to slow down the changes, and really takes away from the driving pleasure.
AM: What would you most like to see changed in the car?
CS: Handling wise the car needs to be much crisper in the way it transitions, the side to side body roll is too pronounced, exaggerating the impression of the car?s weight and making feel a bit cumbersome and slow.
The adjustable shocks and sway bars you?re fitting should take care of of this, but I?d also suggest getting rid of all the rubber bushings in the suspension and steering mounts, if you could find someone to engineer the correct solid bushings. I wouldn?t make the springs that much harder, I?d prefer set the car by tuning the compression and rebound damping and the sway bar position. Increasing the spring rate may well detract from the daily driving pleasure of the car making it too harsh for the street. The current springs let the car squat nicely when you get on the gas, and give a great set as you power out of a turn.
I?d like a better clutch with a lightened flywheel, and certainly the Quaife will make a big change to the way the DSC works. Currently the DSC interrupts progress much too much, which is a combination of being a brake activating system with an open diff.
The Quaife will give the car far better overall mid-corner under power dynamics. It is a unit with a good racing pedigree, and was used to great effect by Tommy Kendall and the Rousch Team the season they tried every unit in thier car to find 'the one', and the Quaife was it.
Lightening the wheels and brakes will make a difference too, and going to a larger diameter wheel will remove the sidewall roll we were getting.
AM: How did you feel about the run flats, on the flying laps you had them howling somewhere between agony and ecstasy the whole way around the track!
CS: They are really great tires, very forgiving, they talk to you nicely giving good feedback of how their traction coefficient is doing, and they showed no sign of spending a hard day at the track afterwards. Apart from the slight sidewall roll I?d say they are a pretty impressive sport tire.
AM: When we step up to the 20? rims do you have any suggestions for a good all round road and track tire?
CS: No, when the time comes just see what's out there, and try to pick the best.
AM: Thanks for taking the time to help us out on our project, maybe you?ll be wanting a Z8 too by the time we have it dialed in!![]()
Below Craig chases down an Elise, showing just how capable the Z8 is out of the box.