RE: Citroen AX at the 'ring: Time For Tea?

RE: Citroen AX at the 'ring: Time For Tea?

Thursday 30th January 2014

Citroen AX at the 'ring: Time For Tea?

9:55 BTG in a 52hp diesel Citroen AX - this you have to see...



You want to lap the Nurburgring in less than 10 minutes. What car do you choose to give yourself a challenge and keep things interesting? A 52hp, 1.4-litre diesel Citroen AX, of course...

Now, an AX GT or GTI we could understand, but a naturally aspirated diesel? Surely not.

It seems one Youtube user was determined to break the 10-minute barrier though - and finally, after seven years, 118 laps, nine engines and five gearboxes, at 8:37am on August 17 2013, said AX enthusiast nailed his goal with a 9min 55sec Bridge to Gantry lap.

Apart from some sticky Yokohama AO48s, a small increase in fuel pressure, a strut bar (apparently because of the "mileage of the body") and an aluminium intake from the top-spec 1.5D engine to avoid said turret brace, the AX was mechanically stock.

Even with fully independent suspension at the rear and tipping the scales at just 720kg - thanks to a completely stripped out interior - it's quite an achievement. From the montage at the end of the video it seems driver and AX built up quite a bond, with the owner even sleeping in it in his quest to bag "the perfect lap."

Check out the vid for commitment.

Author
Discussion

lindrup119

Original Poster:

1,228 posts

142 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
Why is his face blurred?

CampDavid

9,145 posts

197 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
lindrup119 said:
Why is his face blurred?
No recording on the ring without jumping through hoops

Krikkit

26,494 posts

180 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
lindrup119 said:
Why is his face blurred?
I hear there's a cream for that now.

Impressive stuff, I'd like to find out a little more about the IRS rear, doesn't look turreted in the interior shots!

MonkeySpanker

319 posts

136 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
"Where's your Messiah now"

MrMoonyMan

2,582 posts

210 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
Hero!

dibblecorse

6,869 posts

191 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
What a legend, i owned an AX GT and to do that in a 52bhp Diesel is immense, hats off, way more impressive then all these supercar laps with semi celebrity driver ....

Maybe we should get Monkey in the car, see how he does ?

radical78

398 posts

143 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
superb drive hit the apex caried speed kept momentum look out vettel

stevesingo

4,848 posts

221 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
Bravo!

bonesX

902 posts

179 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
He's having far too much fun there smile

scubadude

2,618 posts

196 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
Certainly Committed in the corners, Respect.

Also benchmarks Mr Clarkson's efforts in that Diesel Jag, track knowledge and fearless turn-in make up for a lack of suitability in the vehicle.

I suspect there are plenty of folk with track tuned cars, caged out and wearing helmets that wouldn't give it the full attack like that :-)

Dave Hedgehog

14,541 posts

203 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
serious commitment and lack of use of the brakes

excellent stuff, better than i could ever do


suspect hes been practicing on his local estates with the old bill wink

pti

1,684 posts

143 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
Great effort, great video.

Some quick hands in there.

leedsutd1

770 posts

185 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
I had a 3 year old Escort 1,6 diesel non turbo 1n 1990 , that was very slow, I swapped it for a same year XR3ithe new owner called me a couple of days later to ask if something was wrong with the engine it was that slow up hills !!

Krikkit

26,494 posts

180 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
doogz said:
Krikkit said:
I hear there's a cream for that now.

Impressive stuff, I'd like to find out a little more about the IRS rear, doesn't look turreted in the interior shots!
You don't need coil springs to be independent.

Do the non GT/GTi AX's have rear ARBs?

Suppose technically the rear suspension on them is independant, the trailing arms are free to rotate around the beam independently, only constrained by their own torsion bar, and the ARB end plates if any are fitted.
Good point, I suppose you could say it's independent really. I'm used to thinking of the TB as non-indy though, without mods anyway!

I notice, however, that in the vid commentary he says the only mods are the front tyres, strut brace, fuel pressure and xenon lights, nothing about suspension mods! PH error perhaps?

simoid

19,772 posts

157 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
CampDavid said:
lindrup119 said:
Why is his face blurred?
No recording on the ring without jumping through hoops
He's now indistinguishable from all the other white AX diesels that were there hehe

Was watching Jezza's 200bhp 9:59 Jag run earlier on too!

Lord Pikey

3,257 posts

214 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
My mum had one of these when i was just learning to drive. I remember after i passed my test taking it upto London for some reason and being absolutely terrified when i went above 65 on the M25 as it felt like it was about to fall apart.

Id kinda like another one as it cost peanuts to run


eybic

9,212 posts

173 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
What a great video, proper commitment thumbup

andybu

292 posts

207 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
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That is proper pedalling....respect to the man.. More bravery than I could muster in something as flimsy as an AX.

dinkel

26,863 posts

257 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
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What a team effort. Kudos.

dinkel

26,863 posts

257 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
What you see: driving the 'Ring in something else than a Pagani or Corvette takes serious effort. The guys is working hard!