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RACE: National Runoffs: Elan DP-02 news 2009-10-13

Elan DP-02 is the future of C-Sports after taking SCCA Runoffs win. In the hands of Matt Miller Elan's IMSA Lites derived DP-02 chassis won the C Sports Racing title at the 2009 SCCA Runoffs at Road America. The Elan DP-02 single seat prototype ...

Elan DP-02 is the future of C-Sports after taking SCCA Runoffs win.

In the hands of Matt Miller Elan's IMSA Lites derived DP-02 chassis won the C Sports Racing title at the 2009 SCCA Runoffs at Road America.

The Elan DP-02 single seat prototype sports car is accustomed to the winner's circle. Since its inception it has been the premier car in the IMSA Lites Pro Series, the feeder category to the American Le Mans Series.

Perhaps that comes as no surprise as IMSA Lites is a 'spec-series' and the Elan is the sole chassis in the fastest class, Lites 1. However, it does make this win, in the open regulations of the SCCA's CSR category, even more remarkable.

The spec-series derived Elan has broken the back of the more exotic and expensive Ralt and Swift Atlantic derived sports racers. Always considered a well sorted, sophisticated yet straightforward car the DP-02 can now be considered the benchmark in CSR.

Matt Miller (Orland Park, Ill) in his No. 82 HarryMillerAppliances.com sponsored car qualified on the front row of the grid, only .797 seconds off pole, and after leaping to the lead in turn one defended an onslaught of attacks to take the victory.

"We had a really strong motor all weekend and I knew we were going to have a good start," Miller said. "As long as we qualified toward the front, I knew we could get through Turn One near the front. We just needed to maintain a good pace and keep the car on the track, but these guys [Jacek Mucha, Brian and James French] didn't make it easy."

To create the winning CSR car Miller made only a few modifications to the DP-02 from official IMSA spec while utilizing all of the knowledge gained from the DP-02's rapid development and refinement associated with running the car in the highly competitive IMSA Lites series.

Miller's DP-02 was fitted with a Elan Power Products modified 2.0 Litre Mazda MZR engine, replacing the 'stock' 2.3 Litre Lites motor. The only other modifications were the fitment of a Dauntless rear wing and lowered rear-deck bodywork.

Comprent Motor Sports' Kevin Kloepfer, the official representative for the Elan DP-02 was thrilled with the win.

"On the same weekend that Comprent scored two podium finishes with DP-02s in the IMSA Lites category at Petit Le Mans I am delighted to be able to congratulate Matt Miller on taking what is a very significant and ground- breaking win for Elan and the DP-02 chassis.

This weekend proves the car's supreme versatility, solid reliability and outright speed. It demonstrates once again why the DP-02 is the perfect choice for weekend warriors, serious club racers, and budding pro drivers.

I wouldn't be surprised if a few of my IMSA Lites customers attend the Runoffs next year and more people consider doing combined seasons in both categories. With only a simple engine swap you can have a car capable of winning both.

I also must congratulate Nick Evans and Scott Rettich for taking first and second respectively in Formula SCCA enterprise using Elite Racing Transmissions and Comprent prepared actuators. As Elite's distributor we are pleased to have provided them both with the winning formula."

Comprent Motor Sports is the official customer service representative for the Elan DP-02 has over 20 years of experience in professional and SCCA club racing. They are also the official USA distributor of Elite Racing Transmissions, used in SCCA Formula Enterprise, agents for Pi Research data systems and Bald Spot Sports seat kits.

Their knowledge of the DP-02 is second-to-none. Comprent won both the 2008 IMSA Lites Teams' and Drivers' Championships.

From its extensive facilities in Athens Georgia, Comprent offer full race preparation and development services for CSR and Lites campaigns. Their in- house technicians and engineers specialize in fabrication, machining, transmissions, composites, data acquisition, and driver coaching.

Built by Elan Motorsports Technologies the DP-02 is a high-tech purpose- built sports car designed to develop advanced drivers with aspirations of graduating to the next level of professional racing. The single-seat DP-02 features an FIA certified carbon-fibre monocoque chassis built to the same crash standards as European Formula 3, a 6-speed sequential 'no-lift shift' Hewland gearbox and a high downforce tunnel-floor.

Top speed of an Elan DP-02 at most North American circuits approaches 170 mph, while their average speed is generally well over 115 mph resulting in Lap times equally as fast or faster than ALMS GT2 and Star Mazda class cars.

For further information on the Elan DP-02, SCCA CSR class and IMSA Lites visit comprent.net

-credit: elan/csr

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