Élan Motorsports Technologies Begins Year-Two Production Of Its Popular Élan NP01 Race Car

Élan Motorsports Technologies enters 2016 with 25 Élan NP01 race cars built or sold as kits to National Auto Sport Association (NASA) competitors, reaching this milestone just a year after announcing the all-new closed-cockpit, prototype-style race car and only seven short months after commencing production at Élan’s Braselton, Ga. facility.

Designed for the NASA Prototype series that debuts this year, the Élan NP01 weighs an estimated 1,450 pounds and features a sealed 185-horsepower Mazda 2.0-liter, four-cylinder MZR engine with dry sump lubrication and mated to a six-speed sequential Sadev SL75 transaxle. This combination produces a respectable 7.84 lbs/horsepower power-to-weight ratio and an estimated top track speed of 155 mph.
 
Engineered as a purpose-built race car by an organization with decades of racing experience and success on the world’s top motorsports stages, the Élan NP01 features top-shelf components from respected companies such as Mazda, Toyo Tires, AEM, AiM, Burns Stainless, OZ Wheels, Advanced Clutch Technology, StopTech, Wilwood, Sadev, Hypercoil and Motion Control Systems. An all-new design, the Élan NP01 is engineered to be durable, reasonably priced, and affordable to operate since many components and systems are common, easily sourced, and proven on the racetrack.
 
Robust design and outstanding performance with safety in mind  
Safety is of utmost importance to the Élan engineering team. The Élan NP01’s strong-yet-light TIG and MIG welded 1018 steel tube frame features an integral roll cage structure, and side intrusion protection panels, and a Safecraft 5-lb. electric fire suppression system. While engineered to help provide occupant safety, no safety systems can defy the laws of physics.
 
The Élan NP01 was engineered from the ground up to specifically be a sprint-style racer for the upcoming NASA Prototype series. NASA’s goal is a series where drivers can race at more than 150 NASA-sanctioned events nationwide, culminating with the opportunity to compete for the NASA Championship crown at either the Eastern or Western States Championships in 2016.
 
NASA kicks off the inaugural NASA Prototype series and the Pacific NASA Prototype Championship on March 12-13, 2016 with the Southern California NASA Region race at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, Calif. The Atlantic NASA Prototype Championship begins on June 10-11, 2016 with the Texas & Rocky Mountain Summer Shootout at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Jennings, Okla. For more information about the series, visit NASAProRacing.com and NASAPrototype.com.
 
While designed for sprint races, Élan NP01 owners tested the race car’s long distance abilities in December 2015 in true wheel-to-wheel competition. Two teams lined up for NASA’s signature race at the USAF 25 Hours of Thunderhill presented by Hawk Performance at Thunderhill Raceway Park: the CLP Motorsports NP01 team led by Team Owner and Driver Pat OKeefe with drivers Tyler McQuarrie, Mark Miller, Tom Dwyer, and Jeremy Croiset; and Team 11/10ths NP01 led by Drake Kemper with drivers Jesse Menczer, and Gene Sigal.
 
Team 11/10ths NP01 team exited the race early yet posted a best lap time of 1:55.384. The CLP Motorsports NP01 team started 10th, finished 32nd overall in the grueling 25-hour race, completed 514 laps (1,542 miles), and posted a 1:51.975 best lap time.
 
The race was an ideal avenue to acquire valuable real-world competition data and driver and team
 feedback to help the company optimize the Élan NP01 for year-two production.
 
The Élan NP01 is sold as a ready-to-assemble kit or a fully assembled race car. The 2016 Élan NP01 kit price is $72,500 and includes all components necessary to assemble a running, driving Èlan NP01. The customer only needs to add safety belts, side nets, fluids, foam seat insert, and perform the final race preparation tasks. Élan recommends assembly by an experienced, competent technician familiar with race car design, assembly and operation.
 
Élan Motorsports Technologies offers Élan NP01 assembly – minus safety belts, side nets, fluids, and foam seat insert – for an additional $8,500 (NOTE: Further preparation is required to make it race ready). Élan also offers a range of Élan NP01 options. Learn more at ElanMotorsports.com or by accessing the company’s convenient Èlan NP01 online sales form.
  

Adam Sinclair