Monday 3rd August 2015

Opel Omega DTM hillclimb: Time For Tea?

A fast Vauxhall Monday on PH crowned by the one you've probably never heard of

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This is what happens when too long is spent in the 'Up next' section of YouTube. Following the news of the Opel Astra TCR (plus having a fast Vauxhall in Carpool), it seemed like the right time to celebrate racing Vauxhalls and Opels with a video. The BTCC would have been good - the 2000s were very successful - but the DTM is, well, better so that's where the search started.

And where else but a Calibra? It looked fantastic as a touring car, and it would mean a video featuring Alfa 155s and early C-Classes. Cool. But then Omega DTM videos came up... An Omega? In DTM? It happened!

So here's is the beginning of PH learning more about a forgotten motorsport hero. There's a separate blog later in the week but, for now, here's an ex-DTM Omega (or Carlton if you'd prefer) thrashing up one of those brilliant Euro hillclimbs very quickly indeed. The DTM Omegas were straight-sixes but, unlike the Lotus Carlton/Omega, not turbocharged. Unsullied by the two blowers, the noise is sublime; a sharp, vicious howl that's rather at odds with the fairly ordinary four-door shape. It's mega.

Enjoy the vid for now, and watch this space for more on the DTM Omega in due course!
 

[N.B. Apologies for the image quality, the video is from 1994 and Omega DTM pics are hard to come across!]

 

[Turbobanana]

Don't forget the UK-based Thundersaloon raced by John Cleland and Pete Stevens in the late 80's and early 90's: powered by a Holden V8, if memory serves.

It's racing again - I saw it at Siverstone a couple of months back. Still sounded just as good as I remember it.

[RobinBanks]

That's cool.

Vauxhall/Opel really used to put some good money into motorsports...

[LotusOmega375D]

Turbobanana said:

Don't forget the UK-based Thundersaloon raced by John Cleland and Pete Stevens in the late 80's and early 90's: powered by a Holden V8, if memory serves.

It's racing again - I saw it at Siverstone a couple of months back. Still sounded just as good as I remember it.

That was at Mallory for a Thundersaloon revival event in 2011. Coldest August bank holiday I can remember!

[neil-935ql]

At the risk of getting slated that was a tad boring ! Where was the sideways action ? Give me a good mk2 escort any day ! Nice sounding engine though , got to be some better you tube than that

[Woodrow123]

neil-935ql said:

At the risk of getting slated that was a tad boring ! Where was the sideways action ? Give me a good mk2 escort any day ! Nice sounding engine though , got to be some better you tube than that

Et voila...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns4iJZUuV6k

(sorry, don't know how to embed)

[neil-935ql]

Woodrow123 said:

Et voila...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns4iJZUuV6k

(sorry, don't know how to embed)

Much more like it ! What a car , what a driver

[jimmy156]

article said:

[N.B. Apologies for the image quality, the video is from 1994 and Omega DTM pics are hard to come across!]

Google said:

[s m]

Road versions have one of the coolest spoilers on any car

[G7EGT]

Wow that's the noise race cars should make and look like

[B'stard Child]

The Evo 500 had an engine code C30XEI and was 26bhp up on the std 204 bhp

Whist it looked the same as the C30SE used in the Carlton GSi300024V and Senator 3.0 24V it was quite different internally

Lighter forged slipper pistons, longer forged rods, lighter crankshaft (6 Kgs saved), different cams and inlet manifold castings as well as straighter inlet tracts provided a much better foundation for the DTM cars to develop a much higher bhp close to 400 and they rev'd to nearly 9000 rpm.

These days they are rarer than the LC and also came in a no choice colour of "Black or Black"

[rastapasta]

The Commodore sponsor alone makes it Iconic.

[PHMatt]

"The DTM Omegas were straight-sixes but, unlike the Lotus Carlton/Omega, not turbocharged. "


So basically, it's a GSI3000 rather than a Lotus.

[jamespink]

From a very exciting era of motorsport. For such a big car it looks remarkably well tied down on a pretty tight hillclimb course. Brilliant!

[B'stard Child]

PHMatt said:

"The DTM Omegas were straight-sixes but, unlike the Lotus Carlton/Omega, not turbocharged. "


So basically, it's a GSI3000 rather than a Lotus.

All the Lotus Carlton/Omega started off as GSI3000 24V's

Some elements of the Evo were much better done than the Lotus variants

Those arches on the Evo aren't bolt on plastic kits but pressed steel and part of the wings/rear quarters

The rest of the aero is probably better done as well with an adjustable splitter on the front

[tobinen]

For some sideways action, there must be a clip of a Holden Commodore (an Omega/Carlton in all but name with a V8) at Bathurst or somewhere in Oz?

[Matt Bird]

neil-935ql said:

Much more like it ! What a car , what a driver

Keep up chaps!

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/general-pistonhead...

[RoverP6B]

Now that is a proper noise!

[Woodrow123]

tobinen said:

For some sideways action, there must be a clip of a Holden Commodore (an Omega/Carlton in all but name with a V8) at Bathurst or somewhere in Oz?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwWNyQUQf18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWOq94g2HB0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bbZplBfzBw

Take your pick...