Tuesday 22nd September 2015

Leaders Hillclimb Multi Car Challenge - Type R

Is the fast Civic good enough to catch Imprezas and Evos in the heat of competition?

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There's been some grousing within the Multi Car Hillclimb Challenge lately to do with the weather and a slipping Subaru clutch. Things had to improve and who would have thought Scotland in the autumn would result in the first consistent conditions of the season?

Power delivery should suit hillclimbing

Any other complaints were quashed with the choice of car for the Doune Hillclimb in the shape of a new Honda Civic Type R. With 310hp at 6,500rpm and, just as importantly, 295lb ft of torque at 2,500rpm, the Honda was not going to be plagued by the shortage of low-rev power that afflicted the Toyota GT86.

In previous Type Rs this would have been a concern, but the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine has masses of power everywhere in the rev range. It does trade the manic top-end rush for this broader swell of power, but it's one team-mate David Finlay and I were more than happy with.

So, the Primo PLC sponsored Multi Car Hillclimb Challenge headed to Doune in good spirits. A cold start on Saturday did nothing to dent confidence as the forecast was for sun and our initial practice runs shows the Civic was quick and nimble through Doune's fearsome enclosed lower section.

Doune is tight and very committed

While the first run was a chance to refamiliarise ourselves with the Doune track, the second runs offered more encouragement. I set my best ever Doune time with a 53.62 second run, while David pressed on with a 52.72 second pass.

We were never going to worry Chris Randell in his 550bhp Mitsubishi Evo 8, who went on to set a new class record of 49.26 seconds, but Grant McLellan and his Subaru Impreza were in our sights. Grant's second run was marred by a spin in the Meadow, but the new rubber barrier covers saved him from anything worse than some scrapes and a small dent.

As the sun came out, I was hoping for an even quicker third practice, so, I felt deflated by a 55.06 second run when I thought I'd been quicker and smoother. Consolation came from Mr David and Grant's times that were also curiously behind what had been expected.

A battle of Japanese metal at Doune

On Sunday morning, I arrived early to walk up the hill again to fix lines, braking points and apices in my mind more firmly. It paid dividends with a final practice run of 53.85 seconds on a cool track. Mr David returned a sluggish 54.32 and Grant posted 53.44, so the scene was set for a fight for second in class.

The start line is relatively flat at Doune, so it's charge from there round the first left-hander, through a sweeping right where you don't lift and then into Oak Tree. From there, Garden Gate requires a solid brake before heading up the sweeping left to Junction and another brake just as you burst out into the openness of Meadow.

You need to nibble the verge through Meadow's long right-handers before braking as late as you dare on the 1-in-3 wall that's East Brae. The apex at East Brae is on the crown of the hill, so containing understeer is the aim here, then firing through the Esses and into the final left-hand bend to sprint over the finish line.

If the Evo was out of sight the Impreza was doable

My early morning walk showed I'd been turning in too early, so less braking and more late turning were my goals. And they worked with a first competition run of 52.91 seconds. It felt good and I had that tingle you only get from pushing as hard as you dare. The only problem was Grant and Mr David enjoyed a similar buzz with 52.58 and 52.39 second runs respectively.

So, it was all down the last run. I used my early morning walk's experience and earlier run to good effect all the way before a fluffed gearchange out of the last corner cost me fractions, even with the help of the Honda's gearshift lights. It was pleasing to see a personal best of 52.84, but annoying to know I could have gone quicker.

Grant turned in a rapid 52.39 second time, but Mr David put in a mightily impressive run to finish on 51.85 seconds. He rightly felt almost as chuffed as Alex Summers, who clinched the British Hillclimb Championship in style at Doune with two rounds to spare. Watch the video and you'll hear a rare moment of satisfaction from Mr David.

At the end of the Doune weekend, everyone in our class had recorded a personal best, which shows how hard the racing was. The close competition was great and it helped draw plenty of people over to chat about the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes, whose fine work we are supporting this year. Next stop if Loton Park in the less likely Volkswagen Touareg.

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Previous reports:
Mercedes A45 AMG
Abarth 695 Biposto
BMW i8
Vauxhall Corsa VXR
Ford Fiesta ST
Seat Leon Cupra ST
Audi S8
Toyota GT86
Subaru WRX STI

Watch the video here.

Photos: Rich Danby

[HeMightBeBanned]

Jeez, that bottom section is tight

[andyps]

Well done on the PBs, sounds like it was a great weekend. Interesting to see that the Civic could match an Impreza - was it fun to drive on the hill?

I must take part at Doune some time, it looks like a great challenge!

[Mark A S]

Well done chaps, Doune is one hellava place, cant wait to get there this time next year
Hope to see you both in the off season for some liquid ramblings

[DevestatinDave]

HeMightBeBanned said:

Jeez, that bottom section is tight

This one from last year makes it look even tighter

https://youtu.be/9kufacVXlSc?t=1m29s

[Rumblestripe]

DevestatinDave said:

This one from last year makes it look even tighter

https://youtu.be/9kufacVXlSc?t=1m29s

Oof, that looks tighter than a Scotsman arguing a price with a Yorkshireman!

[alisdairsuttie]

Hi Andy. Yes, the Civic was very good to drive. On the road, I think the R button makes it a little too firm, but for track driving it was ideal for me. David found it a little too firm on some sections, but settled on using it rather than not as overall it was better with the R mode engaged. Traction was superb and the Civic was very stable around the Meadow. All in, a great car and hugely impressive for front-wheel drive.

Doune sure is tight on the lower half of the course, which is what makes it so much fun. Will be great to see your 911 there, Mark, and we'll get something sorted for the off-season.

Now, on to Loton!

[MetA]

Well done, after checking them after first run I wasn't sure the road tyres would hold up to much faster run !