Meet the Evora Sports Racer, essentially a new trim level for the Evora range, available with the 3.5L V6 engine, either normally aspirated or supercharged. External details feature a contrasting gloss black splitter, rear diffuser, sides sills, a palette of four colours to choose from and lightweight (gloss black) 19”/20” forged alloy wheels.
The interior comes fully loaded with kit such as Bluetooth connectivity, a 7inch touchscreen with Sat-Nav come DVD player-Stereo System, air-con, cruise control and even a reversing camera among a list of gadgets. The Sports Racer also includes the Evora’s’ brain.
The Dynamic Performance Management setting (DPM), a four-mode traction control switch that increases throttle response, manages the brakes and even has understeer recognition. These options alone would cost around £10k but in reality, add around £3k to the overall cost.
“…this type of car is not about the levels of equipment. Strip away the fuss about options and value for money and what you have is a performance car comparable to Ferrari (not Porsche) in terms of ride and handling and that’s where the real value lies”.
The rear-wheel drive Evora S Sports Racer isn’t as track defined as the Exige S it’s heavier by 300kg and this can be felt when braking into high speed corners, the nose will pitch forward and the car will understeer very slightly but so good is the steering feedback that all you have to do is guide it back onto the racing line and the Sports Racer responds instantly.
Yet it’s so docile and easy to drift while also remaining focused and fast when the need arises. The ride is elegant and the handling remains intuitively delightful because it inspires confidence and allows you to push further and harder lap after lap.
Braking from the main straight and into the following tight right-hand chicane I took rather too much speed on entry, the tyre wall beckoned, as I braked I prepared to brace myself for impact. But DPM intervened at the last moment.
The DPM system took charge of the brakes, somehow kicked the rear out, reduced the revs, thus the speed and allowed me to take the corner safely, it happened faster than the blink of an eye. The Sports Racer answers critics who say the Evora is too expensive and offers little equipment.
But these critics are totally wrong and really don’t get it because for this type of car its not about the levels of equipment. Strip away the fuss about options and value for money and what you have is a performance car comparable to Ferrari (not Porsche) in terms of ride and handling and that’s where the real value lies.
