Now engined by Honda with the 1000 RSC endurance engine, the ELF E (for endurance) debuted at the 1981 Bol d’Or and, with substantial ELF backing, competed in every round of the World Endurance Championship until the end of 1983.

Though the ELF E was very fast, often qualifying on pole and leading early laps, the chassis was unreliable. Refined to the purest form of de Cortanze’s ideas, it finished third in the final 1000cc TTl/Endurance race at Mugello.

In 1983, then captured six world-speed records at Italy’s Nardo test track in 1986 in ELF R (for record) form, fitted with special streamlining.