Time Attack Racing

[01samuelr]

Is this the new Group B?

Having been on the website and looked at a few videos http://vimeo.com/35193512 and http://vimeo.com/19746534
It just looks amazing, some of the cars are running 850bhp and are built by tuners, time attack makes the btcc look boring.

[Debaser]

Isn't it a time trial rather than racing?

[XitUp]

Technically not racing though.

It's ok, like hill climb for the max power generation

[VR6 Turbo]

must admit I don't know a lot about this time attack stuff. are there classes of car ? what stops Mclaren showing up with a MP4-27?

Vr

[01samuelr]

So rallying isn't racing?

http://www.timeattack.co.uk/2011/area.php?a=2
This link is a brief summary of the rules.
I think that the only problem with a Mclaren entering is that it needs to be modified

[rohrl]

I saw some Time Attack cars at Castle Combe rally day a few years ago, a shortened 2-door Mitsubishi Evo stood out as a serious looking bit of kit. Norris Designs I think.

As good a job as the builders of these cars do the I don't think budgets and depth of engineering experience behind a Time Attack car can be compared with a multi-million pound factory rallying outfit like Ford Motorsport or Ralliart.

The question arises, what would a modern factory rally car built to Group B regs be like? Is there such a thing as an undrivably fast car?

[hyperblue]

Debaser said:

Isn't it a time trial rather than racing?

The tagline gives it away.. "It's not racing... it's Time Attack"

Attracts pretty big crowds to be fair and the club class is accessible for anyone.

Edited by hyperblue on Wednesday 11th April 21:34

[Fire99]

Aye.. It's racing the clock. Fun for some but I prefer the on-track competitiveness.

[hairykrishna]

VR6 Turbo said:

must admit I don't know a lot about this time attack stuff. are there classes of car ? what stops Mclaren showing up with a MP4-27?

Vr

It seems they have to be road cars with a chassis mostly unmodified from when it left the factory. What stops someone turning up in a Radical or Caparo I'm not entirely sure.

[EDLT]

rohrl said:

The question arises, what would a modern factory rally car built to Group B regs be like? Is there such a thing as an undrivably fast car?

There wouldn't be any. Group B required manufacturers to make around 200 road versions, imagine doing that now while having to contend with CO2 averages and the green movement. Even if it wasn't banned, Group B was on its way out to be replaced with Group S - a class of prototype rally cars that needed no homologation specials.

We got a watered down version of Group S in the late 90s-00s era with WRC-spec cars that were little more than silhouettes.

Back on topic: Time Attack seems like a a bit of fun, it could be ruined very easily if mega budget manufacturer teams turn up though.

[Rotary Madness]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiQ6FcyiPag

Sums up what the big boys are like at time attack

[XitUp]

I guess being a time trial stops the contact you see in a lot of racing. This will make it cheaper and more accessible to smaller teams.

01samuelr said:

So rallying isn't racing?

Nope.

[PaulB81]

rohrl said:

The question arises, what would a modern factory rally car built to Group B regs be like? Is there such a thing as an undrivably fast car?

Some of the Pikes Peak cars are probably close to this.

[Mr2Mike]

01samuelr said:

So rallying isn't racing?

Of course it's not. You race against the clock, not other cars. Just like "Time Attack", sprints, hillclimbs, autosolo etc...

[rallycross]

These cars are like the original steel bodied special saloons of the 70's ie Awesome machines, its just a shame they dont race them instead of this pathetic against the clock format.

[The Black Flash]

01samuelr said:

Is this the new Group B?

Having been on the website and looked at a few videos http://vimeo.com/35193512 and http://vimeo.com/19746534
It just looks amazing, some of the cars are running 850bhp and are built by tuners, time attack makes the btcc look boring.

It really doesn't.
Good to look around the cars in the pits, but not great to watch IMO. Probably hugely fun to do though.

[hyperblue]

The Black Flash said:

01samuelr said:

Is this the new Group B?

Having been on the website and looked at a few videos http://vimeo.com/35193512 and http://vimeo.com/19746534
It just looks amazing, some of the cars are running 850bhp and are built by tuners, time attack makes the btcc look boring.

It really doesn't.
Good to look around the cars in the pits, but not great to watch IMO. Probably hugely fun to do though.

Agreed, TA is not that great to watch beyond the initial spectacle of the cars going for it for a few laps. It's a bit confusing for spectators and it's hard to know when someone's done a fast lap if you can't hear the commentary.

The cars themselves are impressive to watch, but the track action isn't the most entertaining, due to the lack of racing. It is nice to be able to walk around the pits to see the cars up close though and most of the teams are up for a chat.

[Daston]

Here is my understanding after having a look into it

These are the classes
Club RWD
Club AWD
Club FWD
Club N/A

Then you have the above but for the Pro's

In the club class you can not run slicks or modify the chassis nor run Nitro. If you do X number of laps that are competative with the Pro class then you will be moved and your car then must meet the Pro requirements (Ie roll cage etc)

Space Framed Chassis are not able to run. I guess this is to stop very light cars with say an fiberglass A4 body stuck on top, not sure if it applies to OEM cars such as TVR, Caterham etc.

[dougc]

Doesn't do it for me. Great machinery and all that but...

Circuits are for racing
Rally stages/hillclimbs are for time trialling.

Otherwise its just like watching a very dull one car race isn't it?

Same goes for drifting I'm afraid.

I guess I just don't 'get' it.

[snowen250]

Think of it as a qualifying session. Without the race following it. Great cars though.