More than two years after its official introduction, the final production version of the interesting Elemental Rp1 sports car is set to make its dynamic debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Seeing this thing tackling the Hillclimb challenge should give us an idea if the Rp1 is better than its rivals, namely the BAC Mono.

While Elemental Rp1 is not as pretty or futuristic looking as the Mono it has some redeeming features, chief among which a power to weight ratio of 500bhp per ton. The sports car has a sophisticated CarbonAl tub weighing only 65 kg with the same seating position as that found of F1 and World Endurance prototypes. So the center of gravity is also as low as it can be.

Another highlight of the Rp1 is its excellent aerodynamics, boasting a diffuser under the front half of the car in addition to the rear diffuser, generating up to 400kg of downforce at 150 mph. Then we have the track-spec adjustable suspension, switchable traction control, and the choice of engines which include a 180bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost and 320bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder.

The 180bhp version makes 60mph from 0 in 3.2 seconds while the 320bhp version of Elemental Rp1 accomplishes that in 2.8 seconds.