Monday 12th October 2009

'World's Fastest Defender' Shoot-out

239bhp TD5 Hardtop clinches title against mightier V8 muscle

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Bruntingthorpe proving ground was the scene for a battle that pitched 27 Landies head-to-head in a tussle for the title of 'The World's Fastest Land Rover Defender' last month.

239bhp TD5 handles like a Clio racer...

The contest organised by Land Rover Monthly magazine was not a simple drag race, but included straight line acceleration tests and timed sprints around short circuits.

In spite of a significant power disadvantage against some of the V8 entries, the title went to a TD5 Hardtop with a 239bhp diesel engine - thanks in large part to a set of Porsche Cayenne-spec Michelins, according to the vehicle's owner Charlie Fawcett.

"We are obviously very pleased to have won this event as we were up against some much more powerful opposition, including supercharged V8-powered vehicles," he said. "In the end though, the Michelin tyres really made a difference as we were able use every one of our 239bhp to easily win both of the timed circuit sprints, and the overall title.

so here's a Clio to redress the balance

"At times we had so much grip that the car was cornering on two wheels and our driver said it reminded him of his Clio race car in the way it turned into corners." Perfect for the school run, then Charlie.

The winning Defender was tuned by Charlie's own Thirsk-based tuning outfit Twisted Performance, where the 'World's Fastest' gong will presumably have pride of place.

[No 1]

Would be good to have some more information on this. I love Landies and own several (including a Tuscan race engined 110" and a 6 wheeler) and I'd love to see how the different vehicles compared.

Well done to Twisted though. They're getting lots of publicity at the moment having taken the same 90 around the Nurbugring this month, the article for that is in Land Rover Owner

[No 1]

Mars said:

Got any info on the 6-wheeler?

www.redtrail.co.uk - it's a working vehicle rather than a toy.

[No 1]

Yes, it's in this month's LRO, along with Twisted Performance's 90 at the 'ring.

Nothing like free publicity.

[No 1]

Yes, it's in this month's LRO, along with Twisted Performance's 90 at the 'ring.

Nothing like free publicity.

[No 1]

daninsidious said:

Oi Mister, where's the info, spec + pics of that rather barbaric sounding Tuscan powered 110.....want want want

There's not really that much to say. It used to be a carbed 3.5RV8, but the LPG conversion never really worked as it should. After a lot of messing around, the issue was identified as ignition, so the sensible thing to do was to replace the aged mechanical ignition with electronic ignition. So I popped up to Dave Porter's to discuss the options (I also wanted to see what he could do to improve power a bit) and he just happened to have a brand new Tuscan short engine that he was going to fit to his racer before a major accident. It was going to waste and after a little gentle persuasion, I agreed to liberate it from him. So, that's how I ended up with a Tuscan race engine in my Land Rover. Although it's a full blue-printed and cross bolted block, the heads are standard 3.5 and it's got a 3.9 Range Rover cam and the basic EFi injection, so it's way off it's potential, but it is the smoothest running RV8 I've ever heard, and for a Defender is very quick; it'll beat a Boxster away from the lights, but then it loses out when you change to 2nd. Still under 10s to 60 though, which surprises a lot of people when you see it (as it's a nail to look at, painted in NATO green)

Sadly, it failed an MoT nearly 3 years ago, and whilst I've been getting the business up and running, I've not had the time or money to spend on it, so it's sitting in the yard at the moment looking very sorry for itself. I do however have plans to get it back on the road over the winter, so it might be out terrorizing a Porsche near you soon...