New Zealand’s Rodin Cars Takes Its F1 Spec-Based FZED Single-Seater To Donington Park

Small New Zealand car manufacturer Rodin Cars recently brought its single-seat FZED to Donington Park to celebrate the launch of its newly-established client facility in the UK.

The Rodin FZED was unveiled two years ago and is based on the Lotus T125, an F1-spec racer that Lotus unveiled in 2011 with the intent of selling it to customers, but eventually only a handful were ever built.

Power comes from a 3.8-liter Cosworth GPV8 engine that pumps out 675 hp at 9,600 rpm and 361 lb-ft (490 Nm) of torque at 7,600 rpm. The car also weighs just 1,342 lbs (609 kg) and has a far superior power-to-weight ratio than the Bugatti Chiron and even a sports bike like the Yamaha R1. It can hit 99 mph (160 km/h) in just 5 seconds and sprint through to 186 mph (300 km/h).

Read More: Rodin FZED Is A Kiwi Single-Seater Based On A Lotus F1-Spec Racer

Driving the FZED at Donington Park was Red Bull Junior driver Liam Lawson.

“It was great to be back in the Rodin FZED,” Lawson said. “I’d forgotten just how fast the car is but straight away I felt comfortable and realized how manageable the car is to drive close to the limit. I didn’t want to stop and nearly did more laps than I was allowed.”

The event was an important one for Rodin Cars as it was the first time the FZED had been driven on track in the Northern Hemisphere, with most of its development having been performed at circuits in New Zealand.