Founded in the 1950s by Colin Chapman and Colin Dare, Lotus was one of the most famous brands in motorsport from the early 1960s to the late 1980s.
Lotus quickly established itself as a force in Formula 1, winning seven constructors’ championships and six drivers’ championships, and continued to compete in the American IndyCar series, winning the prestigious Indy 500 in 1965.
Among the most iconic, longest-running and most popular Lotus production models in history is the wedge-shaped Esprit. Produced in four series, this model line gave birth to the ‘Sports 300’, one of the greatest and most underrated mid-engine sports cars ever made.
The Series 1 Esprit, designed by famous Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, debuted at the Paris Motor Show in October 1975. Although sales of the initial model were sluggish, Lotus did not give up on the Esprit and succeeded in improving its shortcomings. Most Esprits were powered by inline fours, but the fourth and final series was equipped with a powerful twin-turbo V8 starting with the 1996 model.
The limited edition road car Sport 300 model, unveiled in October 1992, was an upgraded racing car for the GT class and was recognized as the best Esprit by European customers.
The Sport 300 features subtle changes to the basic Esprit body, including a restyled front bumper with integrated brake cooling ducts, a new rear wing and wheel arch extensions.
The most notable feature is that an expansion function was added to secure space for the large 5-spoke OZ racing wheel. The three-piece wheels wrapped with 16-inch front and 17-inch rear Goodyear GS-G tires also caught the eye. It is equipped with lightweight bucket seats and has boldly removed convenience features such as air conditioning and stereo. Thanks to this, the weight was only 1366kg, which is 80kg lighter than the basic Esprit.
The Sport 300 has a clear motorsports pedigree. Less visible are the revised cross members, engine bay cross braces and a stronger backbone, all of which increase torsional rigidity.
The independent suspension was shared with the standard Esprit, but sturdier bushings, shocks, and springs were added. Suspension modifications increase the front track and make the rear 50mm wider.
Additionally, maneuverability has been improved over the standard Esprit, and stopping power has been improved with the addition of larger ventilated discs backed by four-piston AP racing calipers and Delco ABS.
The engine produces 302 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque through an improved ECU, 5-speed manual, and limited slip differential.
The engine’s power-to-weight ratio was equivalent to that of the Porsche 964 Turbo 3.6, and its performance took only 4.7 seconds from standstill to 97 km/h. This is slightly faster than the 1990 Sports 350, the successor model equipped with a twin-turbo V8 engine.
Considering this performance, the Sports 300 can be said to be a perfect mid-engine sports car even 30 years after its release.
With minimal electronic aids, an incredible suspension set-up and an engine that’s quick yet delivers just the right amount of power to keep you in control in any situation, the Sport 300 is a great car for the passionate driver. Lotus initially planned to produce 50 units, but eventually produced 64 units and sold them all in Europe.
The Drive / Reporter Park Do-hoon auto@thedrive.co.kr
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