Megane RS250 Road car to Track tool evolution

[JamieRS250]

I bought this over 6 years ago now with the intention of keeping it relatively standard to enjoy trackdays in relative comfort, however its evolved a bit as most of these "projects" do. Bought it after seeing several on a couple of Ring trips not long after they were released, had never even sat or driven one but bought this one from a dealer down in Yorkshire and drove the 4 hours down to collect basically blind. It had 12k on it when I took ownership

It was a fairly basic spec when I picked it up, It's Cup car that was optioned with the Recaros, 19" Steev wheels and DRLs, poverty spec really but for what I wanted it was ideal, bar the horrid wheels. I'd definitely of picked one up that had some more options on it now though.


DSC_0739 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

Changed pads, done a fluid flush and had it out at Knockhill a couple weeks after picking it up, quickly realised why there was so many of them around at the Ring even if they were still fairly new out at that point, fantastic out the box and stayed relatively standard for the next couple years barring tyre and wheel changes, track based pad compounds and some light breathing mods.

DSC_0739 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

IMG_8680 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr
IMG_7507 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

Sourced some Cup 18 wheels and shod them with some RSRs
FB_IMG_13662198093591979 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

3 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

At this point the car spec was very simple, just the usual track mods, Uprated pads, stickier tyres and a slight power increase, was about 290bhp but still stock suspension as the Cup setup is so bloody good, just a little high and lacking camber.

DSC_0924 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

Back to Knockhill for yet another day, this time with a friend who's golf some of you may recognise, granted this was a fairly different car to what the Pinderwagen is now

CAD_4092 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

Next up was my first day at the famous Spa Francorchamps, in which it pissed down all day, like torrential rain and to this day I've yet to do another TD anywhere that required wipers on full, headlights on full and even rear fogs, had a superb day though running on the older compound AD08 and managed to use 4 and a bit tanks of fuel, car just kept going and going.

CAD_4092 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr
DSC_1207 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr


Of course, you can't go to Spa and not pop over to the Ring for some cheeky TF laps

DSC_1208 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

Think I done 5 or 6 laps and in all those laps could probably count on both hands the amount of other cars I seen, midweek early October damp evenings are the time to go for peaceful laps with no idiots haha.
DSC_1208 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr


Was a case of enjoying the car for a while, various drives out on some of the best roads in the UK, living at the bottom of Glen Coe means a lot are on my doorstep and plenty other trackdays at Knockhill and other southern tracks and Ring trips. Still running fairly basic modifications, but had added a decat and larger fmic to help it breath and keep Temps down when pushing on, ran some H&R springs on the stock dampers for a while as well then ended up on some B14s with adjustable topmounts, which were not great I must admit. Poorly damped

Ready to attack by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr
10543563_10154506765610133_8023280795183027834_o by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

10389990_809754199056702_539021981749428319_n by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

DSC_1274 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr
20654515178_ea70a9c6ed_o by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr
IMG_4447_zpsjilbqmut by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr
11898802_1680158818882871_1237503871399302109_n by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr
DSC_2165 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

DSC_2166 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr


It was at this point I decided to ruin, sorry, make it more suited for track use so sold the OEM Recaro seats and fitted some Cobra seats and Schroth harnesses
2016-01-31_07-12-43 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

Not long after fitting the seats I suffered from rod failure, with a ring trip looming I sourced a other engine a d threw on a hybrid turbo and bigger Injectors using man logic then managed to get out to the Ring, car was finished being mapped at 9pm and we left for the chunnel at 5am, very last minute! Car ran faultless for the trip and done 25 laps without issues, which was a relief seeing as the engine was much of an unknown.

20160522-racetracker_1566349_22657 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

20160524-racetracker_1565853_22656 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

IMG_7930 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr


Then decided to waste a bit more money, in the form of a CAE shifter. What a hugely overpriced bit of kit that is. Looks cool though I guess haha

20160809_103510 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

DSC_2260 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr
DSC_2258 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

Then the time came for some proper suspension in the form of some AST 5100s
20170202_224113 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

Had the turrets modified to allow easier adjustment

20170216_182912 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

Fitted my OZs that had been waiting for ages, 18x9 with a 255 up front and 235 rear

20170309_142159 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

DSC_2509 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

Almost upto date now, with suspension, seats and all the other bits now sorted it was finally time for a cage. I had planned on entering SLS last year so had a custom cage built to full MSA spec, just the rear section for now but it's been built to take the front part when I decide to go down that route. Took a bit longer than expected but it's pretty comprehensive and what I wanted, has all the proper footplates welded in and also bolts to the B pillar which helps tie it all in to the shell.

Also sold my 5100s and bought some 2 way comp spec AST 5200s hence the external reservoirs

IMG_20180620_153519 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr


IMG_20180616_161334 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

20180420_150111 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

20180420_150130 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

Then at the end of last year I took the trip down to see the wizard that is Chris at EFI parts in Runcorn.
Wasn't really sure what to expect from my session at EFI today, cars definitely not had the pace the old numbers suggested it should have.

Over 4 hours of tuning by Chris and more dyno pulls than I can remember finally settled on these. Torque was kept sensible to prolong clutch etc but we did get it upto 390lbsft before winding it back in.

Can't recommend Chris enough either, such a nice genuine guy that's very attentive and keeps you updated on what he's doing, not to mention how picky and fussy he is. Don't think I would ever go anywhere else from now on.

Made 324/364 before and 364/362 after and that's on a dyno that's pretty pessimistic.

Top end has seen huge gains, 40bhp and torque holds on longer before dropping. Cars faster by a considerable amount, drives so much nicer, comes on boost a hell of a lot better and just goes right. Turbos pretty much maxxed out now.

Properly happy!

IMG_20180812_184016 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

IMG_20180812_183747 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

Was booked on at Donnington the day after but unfortunately my slave cylinder gave up meaning all I done was the sighting laps and a few after to get some photos of the car on track, gutted was an understatement

IMG_20180813_103515 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

IMG_20180813_082139 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

43985044952_828a5a82b4_o by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

44033739881_f40319bec8_o by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

Recently stuck some oem xenon headlights mainly for the looks and sold the red OZ wheels for some 17x9 Enkei so I can have the car setup for 17s seeing as that's what my trackwheels are.

Some other various recent photos
IMG_20180928_075302 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

IMG_20181213_152640 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

XSP_7861 (2) by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr


FB_IMG_1525163356270 by Jamie Atkinson, on Flickr

And that's where we are at today.

Have a few bits to get done for this year, Alloy radiator to help Temps, uprated arb and some general maintenance but that's about it. Booked on for DN21 so looking forward to that as well.
https://youtu.be/aElNHL6HPiE


Spec list, may be a few things I've forgotten seeing as it's been done over 6 years!


364bhp/362lbsft, EFI mapped
RST Hybrid
630cc injectors
Injen CAI
3" CGR Decat
Midbox Delete
Lightweight SMF
Enkei RP01 with PS4 for road/wet
ATS DTC 17x9 with 255/225 AR1 for track.
DIY Uprated Mounts
Powerflex Black insert for engine mount
Vibratechnic lower Dog Bone
Powerflex Black ARB bushes
Full Super Pro lower arm bush kit
AST 5200 Coilovers with adjustable topmounts
Adjustable shorter Droplinks
Modified Suspension Turrets
Uprated N4/Clio Cup Swivel joints
Braided Hoses
Endless RF
Pagid RST3/RS29 pads
Rear Wiper removed
Custom rear cage
Cobra Evo/Suzuka Pro Fit seats
Schroth 6/4 point Harness
CAE Shifter
Sabelt Wheel
Brake cooling ducts


Got some videos on YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/user/ZSJamie

Also on Instagram which tends to be quite upto date on where I am with it, jatkinson654 if anyone wants a look.

That's all for now

[Ellb123]

Enjoyed reading that, im a big jap car fan but have a soft spot for these, seem like very capable cars and some great photos on there.

How many miles had you done when the engine went, just out of interest?

[JamieRS250]

It had done 75k but I did have issues with water in the cylinders 2 years previous afyer driving though a flood, so that may of weakened the rod. It did do 40k after that before giving up though.

It's now in 140k 😂

[JamieRS250]

Got my new trackwheels back from beigg painted, good choice in colour if I so so

[Oh Behave]

Quite fancy one of these, miss my track prep’d 172 cup. I’ve seen a few on track and they go really well!

[DomesticM]

Great write up.

Just bought myself an RS250 Cup in Extreme Blue. I can't wait for it to warm up so I can finally find out what the car is capable of.

[SiT]

Craking piece of kit, friend of mine used to have one with rtec map and decat and it was a weapon - bet yours is a flyer! You done with mods now or got some other plans in the pipeline?

Si

[JamieRS250]

Done for now, just consumables and use it with some reliability for a while would be nice.


Ill eventually get the front section of the cage built and a couple small bits but it's pretty much done now.



Until I get the itch for a big turbo and 400+ 😂

[Ahbefive]

Is that 360bhp on the standard engine? Impressive if so but I'd imagine a bit of a ticking timebomb.

[AmosMoses]

Awesome car! I have a Clio 197 at the minute and really fancy a megane.

[JamieRS250]

Ahbefive said:

Is that 360bhp on the standard engine? Impressive if so but I'd imagine a bit of a ticking timebomb.

Not really, there's several on the continent on stock engines with over 400 HP on large frame turbos that see heavy track use at places like Spa and the Nordschleife

[PorkRind]

I test drove the Megan's 230 f1 5 or so years ago after I'd done 212k miles in my 172, reliable if you maintain them l loved how the 230 handled and the lsd made it fly and pull so nicely around the corners. Yours certainly looks goes and handles like a beast. Love it.

[M77MWW]

Slow...

[JamieRS250]

So I ended up selling this and bought an E92 M3, Thread inbound