Clio 172 Cup, track car to race car

[Nobby]

881kg! thats hardly anything. I reckon my engine and gearbox weight nearly that much.

[sonny]

Testing at Spa went well last week. The Clio handles like a dream with the new geometry set up, however its hard work to keep it on track in the damp.

Initial tweaks on track was to disconnect the RARB, soften the rear coilovers by as much as 20 clicks and to put some road tyres on (Toyos TR1s) This made th ecar so much more fun to drive without sacrificing speed and momentum.

We all had such an amazing time everything about the trip was spot on. It was raining both days and the second day even sore hailstones! The rain forced everyone to drive the wet weather line and by the end of it, everyone was hammering around, Good training you may say...in the Army we used to say "if it aint raining it aint training"

The Range Rover did well towing, got a 17mpg and the Clio did around 250 miles on track only using 2 tanks of fuel.

Managed to get a vid too, shows me having some fun with a RS4 at 06:00 onward

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmI2uSjj ... e=youtu.be

Few random pics from the trip

At the Eurotunnel crossing


2 Clios ready for Clio wars


On the train, lighting makes it look like turquoise


And some Spa action pics

[sonny]

So, now Spa testing is out the way, I sent my entry forms off to the TARC race series at Donington Park this Sunday (20th October 5 days away).

I spent the rest of this week doing final car prep to get the car race ready, which only consisted of a few things such as headlights, race numbers, and finishing off the FIA cut off switch.




Ready to race....lets go racing

[HYFR]

Bring on next year!

[HOL]

I took my wife's 182 cup to the ring back in 2006 and had a lot of fun in that. Very capable car.

I wish I'd done what you have, rather than going the Westfield type route for more money and getting soaked when it rained.

Not fun!!

[Revolution]

Good luck Sonny, hope you have a great day.

I was impressed when you took me round Spa last week so Donnington should be a walk in the park ,
plus, apparently, you have an awesome crew chief so its all gravy

Speak soon

Little G

[sonny]

Race report for the TARC series Autumn cup at Donington Park, 2013

What a brilliant first race meeting, this day had everything from wet/dry/damp, bright and dark weather conditions. A perfect introduction to racing at the end of a season, I'm glad to have made the last race (although it being my first). Big thanks to all those that was there and who helped out.

Qualifying session 0900

Qualifying for me did not go to well due to a scrutineers cock up, the car and PPE passed with flying colours however one of the scrutineers forgot to sign the sticker that gets allocated to the car to prove it had been tested, this was picked up on the starting grid moments before the session was started, I was sent back to the scrutineers bay to have it signed. Not having done this before I did not notice it had not been signed. By the time I came back I had to joined the session half way through via the pit lane, this meant that my quail time had been eaten into and I only manage 5 laps of the circuit, having never done Donny before I was relying on that session. I qualified 19th out of 38. Weather conditions had been raining moments before the session, and the track was wet, so I ran Toyos R1Rs and put rear coilovers on softer settings as per Spa settings, however I kept the RARB connected but on the softer setting. This seemed to work fine.

Best Qual Lap 01:46

Race 1

Race 1, having qualified 19th I was put in the middle of the grid surrounded by MR2s, I was happy with where I came. Weather conditions was clear with a damp track but with a dry line, however I decided to keep my R1Rs on as it looked like it was going to rain. However it did not rain so had to race with the R1Rs, mistake on my part, but hey such is life. Race one was under way and after a few laps trying to get into a rhythm and to get used to the circuit I started to sort my lines and braking points out, also the nerves and excitement was getting the better of me too I manage to lost a lot of places due to me braking to early, I made it up by slowly overtaking other cars and getting back up to the grid...I was doing well, until...the last lap where I missed a gear coming into the final chicane, I hit 2nd, this unsettled the car and made me run wide onto the grass, for a moment I thought I had control of the car, so powered down and applied throttle, this was a big mistake as the car lost traction and flicked its rear end and became friends with a tyre wall...I saw the wall coming and managed to scrub as much speed as possible. Damage was superficial, bent bumper and bent cross member and lots of blue paint. I switched of the car and jumped behind the tyre wall fearing the worst had happened, last thing I wanted was to continue racing and spill oil on the track and ruin it for everyone else. So I just waited until I got the all clear to limber back to the pits (it happened at the pit entry so that was handy).

Postion DNF, Best lap 01.29

Video Race 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arhdox8Pu8g



Base camp repairs (pre race 2)

So back at the paddock I got the car on axle stand, whipped off the bumper and wheels and gave the car a quick inspections. a few bashes with a hammer, some cable ties, but of sandpaper to clean the headlight of its blue paint and the car appeared to be race worthy again, BONUS. However I had knocked the gear box when I hit the rumble strip..result no reverse gear...all other gears appeared to be fine. Race 2, 15 minutes away.... right, wheels back on, kit up and ready to go. Thanks all for helping me out on this one...

Race 2

Back on the grid just in time, however I am now at the back due my very first 'DNF' (Did not finish), this was shared with 5 others who DNF either. Red lights on, holding revs at 4k, red lights out,,,drop the clutch and BANG...the gearbox jumped out of gear......so had to pull off in second....I ended up doing the first lap in 3 and 4th gear, after a few laps all gear was managed to be selected....hmmmm not sure what happened there, must be the selector arm..(still need to investigate), Condition for race 2 was perfect, dry and clear, I was running my Advans so everything was perfect..apart from the gearbox, this had me being worried so I was trying to preserve the box and be gentle with it. after all I wanted I did not want another DNF! Unfortunately in true GoPro fashion the bats ran out so I had no footage of this race. I finished mid grid
I had one near death experience, when a MR2 spun in front of me on the fast right hander "Redgate". I had to make a sever collision avoidance and swerve into the gravel trap, took me a while to get back on track and lost 10 places, however its better than having two crumbled cars! Unfortunately this was not caught on video but do have pics.

Finish 25th Best Lap time 01.31


Race 3

It rained again, so on went the R1Rs again and coilovers set back on as per testing, this was almost a night race so lights was mandatory and had to be on...I have never done a track day at night so this would be a first. All I can say, this was truly amazing. I did actually well and this was my best effort, clawing my way back up the grid. The tyres performed well. I was battling MR2s most of the races, the other clios was gone for dust and was actually lapped by Tony in Race 2, so in these races you end up racing the ppl around you who start on the grid with...for those that dont know.

Finish 18th Best Lap 01.38 (wet)

Summary

WOW, is one word I will describe my first race experience. I thought I was a fast driver, having done lots of track days and car control courses etc etc, but those Clio boys Tony, James and Dinger are in a diff league it made me realise a few things, maybe I was expecting to be faster, maybe I was kidding myself...first race. So well done guys.

One thing I will say, you mess up on these 15 minute races and your done....there is not enough time to claw your way back up the pack, also gutted about the cock up at the track as I feel it set the position for the rest of the day.

So whats happening now, I am def committing myself the the TARC 2014 French Trophy series, and must say I cant see myself doing a track day now, other than a tester at Brands my local circuit. The car will have its box dropped and inspected by Matt at Codered.

To do list,
Metal sump guard lol
GoPro hard wired in
Better brake pads (yep I was on DS2500)
5th bonnet pin
Own transponder hard wired in

Again big thanks to all who came along

Special thanks to Tony for giving me the nudge

Few pics from the day












MR2 close call...









Roll on 2014 season.

[Ian_C]

Wow superb Sonny! Forgive me, I'd not fully grasped that you were going to compete a seasons racing series in the Clio! Good to see a 205 leading the pack down Craner..... :p

[sonny]

Yes mate its why I sold the RS4 to do what I have always dreamed of doing...never would have thought i would ever be on a grid....

Yes that 205 was rapid. Look up times on TSL (BRCSS series TARC)

[Timster]

Awseome mate. Well done and a brilliant effort getting there this year.

[Revolution]

Hi Sonny

Looks like an epic day was had .

I am glad you got through with just that minor scrape
and that you will be doing the full season next year, if
I/we can help in any way just give a shout.

Good luck next year

Little Glen

[bam_bam]

I think that an awesome result! You're livin' the dream, mate. I look forward to hearing more next year.

[scaghead]

I think that an awesome result! You're livin' the dream, mate. I look forward to hearing more next year.

Plus 1...well done fella..

[sonny]

Thanks guys for the comments.

Yes it was a nice feeling to be driving the car how it was intended, its also a good feeling that the scrutinisers was happy with my work and to get good comments from other racers.

I need to drop the box out and get it open for an inspection, im also thinking about adding a higher ratio 5th gear, making it a 4 and a half gear. Also need to remove the steering lock :/

[Ian_C]

Yeah there was a horrible clunk as the car hit that inside kerb on the very last corner. Managed to get reverse back yet?

I can now see why you were going fifth to third most laps. You are much less likely to get first going for third than you are getting second going for fourth.

I'm guessing you mean a *shorter* ratio 5th gear, bringing it closer to fourth so there is less of a step between fourth and fifth?