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Student-run Team NMA opened its GT Cup Championship campaign at Donington Park in April, securing four podiums and two wins, including an overall victory. These triumphs represented the culmination of an almost five-year journey, rebuilding and evolving the Lotus Evora GTE that first raced in the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Like many journeys in motorsport, this one had the highest highs and the lowest lows. Here, you will discover how the National Motorsport Academy breathed new life into the Lotus Evora, transforming it from a past Le Mans competitor to a modern-day race winner, capable of outperforming a current-specification GT3 machinery.
Start of the Journey
The no.65 Lotus Evora GTE, purchased by the National Motorsport Academy just over a decade ago, was one of two Evoras to race at Le Mans in 2011, finishing a highly respectable 7th in the GTE-Pro category. If you’re interested in learning more about the Lotus Evora Le Mans Project, Youtuber TyDyeRacing has produced a video documenting its road to Le Mans.
Upon purchasing the car, the National Motorsport Academy raced it in the GT Cup for several seasons, achieving moderate success, including a runner-up finish in the 2016 GTO class. However, due to its homologation for Le Mans, it struggled against modern GT3 cars. The no.65 Evora came with a complete spares package; in 2019 this prompted the team to carry out an upgrade. It envisioned utilising the chassis and suspension components from the spares package to create the NMA-spec Lotus Evora. This allowed the original Le Mans car to be restored to its original JetAlliance blue and white livery and displayed at Central Lotus Nottingham.
While the NMA-spec Evora retained the Lotus name and chassis, it differs significantly in engine and aerodynamics.
Engine Development
The engine was one of the areas that needed significant development. National Motorsport Academy’s director of motorsport, Dr. Kieran Reeves, was the man who led the engine upgrades. His career up to becoming director of Team NMA includes roles such as curriculum manager, senior lecturer, chief race engineer for multiple teams, engine development consultant, external examiner and master technician. Dr. Reeves has also completed a PHD in Integrated Optimisation for Dynamic Modelling, Path Planning, and Energy Management in Hybrid Race Vehicles , so he was well prepared for the project ahead.
At Le Mans, the car utilised a Toyota-derived 3.5L V6,…
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