Fastest ever lap of Goodwood for a Lotus Elan, set during the 81MM Graham Hill Trophy

[@jonathanmiles1251]

Such a tight lap by a great racer at a fantastic event. Best ever lap in an elan at historic Goodwood is a really big achievement - great work Nigel.

[@nigelgreensall]

Thanks Johnathan, it was so much fun driving that elan flat out around Goodwood

[@BenSnee]

That’s an epic lap Nigel, precision is key!

[@ianminter7822]

Intense! Great to watch!

[@gerryjamesedwards1227]

Fantastic drive! I watched the whole race, and your battle with the Porsche and Cobra was epic. Lovely to see the plucky little Lotus living up to it's giant-killer reputation, and sliding all over the shop.

[@tautaudu02]

Insane drive, well done !

[@jgreenjeans]

I'm glad i took my blood pressure meds before watching that

[@58Rev]

Calm and cool from the outside, a superbly driven race and that three abreast out of St Mary's was tremendously exciting. The 904's overtake wasn't a surprise, there were three of you and his skillful pace made it so. Keeping the Lotus on these two looked like it was a thing you did every day and taking second back from the Cobra was masterful. Terrific fun, wonderful racing indeed.

[@gprice8939]

Once upon a time that would have put you at the front of the TT grid, great lap and very refreshing to see the Elan mixing it with the Cobras and Jags just as in period.

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

Well you certainly deserve to have set a new record , what a drive, well done.

[@philipriley7008]

I always look forward to watching Nigel Greensall racing an Elan. He is an exceptional driver. In the right hands, and on the right track, the Elan 26R is a giant killer. Look how well they perform in the Spa 6 hour race

[@nigelgreensall]

Thank you, it is always great racing the Elan 😁

[@Andrew-vx2ls]

Great driving. Nice to see the master at work.

[@iainp407]

Watched the whole race at Madgewick in awe of your cornering speeds, just brilliant…..now who builds your engines, I need one for the Sprint😄

[@nigelgreensall]

Thank you Iain, it is Craig Beck building the engine and Gerry Wainwright preparing the car, both are excellent

[@martinansell2105]

Great driving. Looks like a much tighter line into Madgewick (turn 1) than any other driver, it obviously works very well. Is this the ex Steve Soper car?

[@Machine_Gene]

Very, very well executed! Congratulations on a stellar drive.

[@dylangarsed7254]

210kph in that little elan would feel so quick! Seems to be pretty stable at high speed. Typical of a lotus. Awesome drive! Was a great race to watch!

[@dielaughing73]

Thing hauls ass

[@Andrew-vx2ls]

At the LMC they have been wound upto well over 240 kmh...

[@mopedwilf2006]

Well don't know how much fun it was for you but I'm leaning left and right on the sofa at every corner ! Mrs Peel never drove hers like that ... Oops yes I'm that old . Seriously though how can a modern car compare to the analogue experience? Rev matching, that short throw gearlever and that sound 🤗. Kudos on your driving skills , mm perfect you definitely feel at home in that seat 👍

[@Nemoticon]

This is REAL racing!!!

[@martinmiessler5025]

Das war mit Elan 😊🏁 Gratulation !

[@kevinpeters5589]

Great driving👍🏻

[@jlalbee]

Awesome, awesome, awesome! Great driving and racing. Call me old fashioned, but I'll take this over F1 any day.

[@Michael_Lorenson]

Excellent, thanks

[@jontrackerjack]

Brilliant!

[@ElliottCollect]

Wonderful.

[@DelDredd]

That great old 904 was going some as well, Cobra only pulling away on the long straights.

[@garydunn7014]

Terrific!

[@jimbryan74]

Great watch! Hope all’s well Nigel.

[@nigelgreensall]

Thanks Jim, yes all is fine. What are your plans for the season

[@jimbryan74]

@@nigelgreensall Racing the 996 in the Class 1 Porsche Club Championship Nigel. First round at Donny tomorrow! Walls a bit further away than Goodwood!!

[@nigelgreensall]

I was there testing a Cobra yesterday and could see all the Porsches also testing, good luck and send me some updates over the weekend

[@jimbryan74]

Was greasy as hell yesterday. Must have been fun in the cobra!! We were parked opposite a black Griffiths with your name on the side also- wondered whether you were there!

[@johncarlo2630]

Now this is racing, I only wish someone at F1 would take notice

[@At.mos.fEarProduktionz]

Looks like he had good instincts to brake later than the other drivers. Gave him a good advantage on those medium and fast turns. Not sure what the other cars tires situation was but he has good late braking skills, shifting and control of the car 😎👍🏽

[@dielaughing73]

That's always the advantage of a lightweight car. Even in my NC MX5 (which is a good bit heavier) I'm running up the back of cars that just passed me on the straight. Bigger cars have to brake WAY earlier

[@Parnelli1963]

Epic battle of the brands.

[@crazyoilfieldmechanic3195]

Fantastic performance. What is the racing weight of this particular car and what is the horsepower? I never knew of the Lotus Elan until watching this little car. Amazing how well a truly excellent driver for this car can wring such a performance out of it 👍

[@Andrew-vx2ls]

The homologated weight is 580kg. A typical SAE bhp is 180 bhp for a Lotus Twin Cam. Although the Cobra was most probably a repro (with the Daytona space frame roll cage) costing a fraction more than an Elan, the Porsches pricing is about 1 million GBP more than the others put together...

[@crazyoilfieldmechanic3195]

​@@Andrew-vx2lssome claim with the modern cylinder head and camshafts of today that particular twin cam engine can make 200 reliable horsepower, above 4000 rpm and that a racing weight of 900 pounds is possible. I am not particularly interested in the value of the cars but I believe the owners should regularly be appreciated throughout the event for sharing their cars with all of us. I favor the Cobras and GT40'S above anything else, as well as Bill Shepards Amazing 59 T Bird. However a Cobra is only as good as it's driver as that quirky transverse leafspring front suspension of the 289 years makes the car a handful to drive. It also takes the right engine builder to get the horsepower of the original and even a bit extra out of a 289 the way Carol Shelby did. I look forward to Goodwood videos every year but never get to see the 427 SC Cobras or 427 GT40'S either. Enjoyable to learn about the little Elan this year though. It deserves it's day in the sun with it's amazing driver.

[@Andrew-vx2ls]

@@crazyoilfieldmechanic3195 I stated 180 bhp as a SAE as this is a dyno figure (without alternator) and with a wet sump. 200 bhp is possible with a dry sump. The LTC is an 8 valve and it cannot equal say a Cosworth 16V BDA. [I own a warmed up Elan]. The racing weight is 580 kg (Cf. FIA papers #128), but it could be dropped to say 560kg on an Elan. In this case, this fellow is a very good driver [a well known instructor in GB]. A s you correctly state, the Cobra's front suspension has no place on any car!

[@crazyoilfieldmechanic3195]

@@Andrew-vx2ls I expect that particular Elan is very well prepared but as we agreed the man driving is the reason that car performs so very well. Did you ever race your Elan ? I was a competitor in the Carrera Panamericana several times many years ago and was very privileged to see many rare cars participating. A 2 door 55 Bentley coupe, a gull wing Mercedes as well as a roadster of the same year and an A C Ace, all original with the little 4 cylinder engine. As I looked the Ace over I was stunned to see the transverse leaf front suspension !! I was more acquainted with the 427 SC Cobras and they were produced with a much different round tube frame with coil over A arm front suspension and independent rear suspension as well so I was equally shocked to realize that all the 289 Cobras had that transverse leaf front suspension. The little Ace obviously wasn't very competitive but it did well in it's class against Morgans and MGs. But the Alfas ran off and left it.

[@Andrew-vx2ls]

@@crazyoilfieldmechanic3195 All in due course...

[@kramnam4716]

Great drive the cobra was crapping himself

[@skanti-sp2qz]

Would have been quicker if the other cars didnt keep getting in the way on the corners. Well done.

[@gp1683]

Cobra driver slammed the door several times...quite unsporting

[@jamesdick9153]

Good skills matey, my ticker would not handle that muck sloppy slidey