lotus designed? Corvette zr-1 v8 + Esprit competition car

[jjjoseph1234]

Does anyone know if the 1989-'95 zr-1 spec engine was ever used in an esprit for a homologated racing car? I have a feeling it was to do with the GT1. Or possibly a GTR1? C&SC August 2006 said Lotus only did the 4 valve heads but I'm pretty certain they converted the whole block to aluminium alloy. I think World's Greatest Marques published by WH Smith says Lotus decided to create an entirely new engine where only the capacity was equivelent. I think the engine ended up being heavier wet weight than the iron GM small block because it was designed with such a high oil capacity.
Would it fit a standard non v8 esprit?
Others on this forum have talked of ford small blocks and Lexus V8s

[knightly]

this might have been the engine they used in the Elise GT1 racer, they originally used the Esprit twin turbo V8 in the back of the elist GT1, but the rules changed and did not favour turbo engines whatsoever, so they dumped the turbo esprit engine, and used a normally aspirated V8 motor, which I think is the one you describe, it was all circa 1997 / 98 If I remember correctly.