TunerGP Donington this weekend
Discussion
tony d said:
I was there driving my Audi powered Lotus Elise (Blue NO.11) had a good day overtaking everything on trak.
Ahh yes, the one with a 'powered by audi' sticker? How much bhp is that? How did it go against all the Honda powered Elises/Exiges?
Was it the super quick one that did 0-60 in around 3.8/3.9 secs on the drag strip?
Russell
Westfield XTR track day special...shame really as it was supposed to be 'tuned road cars' with tax discs, road legal tyres, can make it over a speed bump etc 
full results here
www.theresults.co.uk/car_tuner_grand_prix.htm
full results here
www.theresults.co.uk/car_tuner_grand_prix.htm
bogie said:
Westfield XTR track day special...shame really as it was supposed to be 'tuned road cars'
Yeah I hate those cars, totally pointless, noone would ever drive them on the road. At least a s/c exige, 500bhp Impreza, 700bhp 911 or Carbon Fibre Caterham are all vaguely realistic for road use. Those pointless Radical/XTR/whatever things are stupid if you ask me. But I've never seen one up close.. maybe you might just use one on the road? And what about a Mosler or a 911 GT1 or CLK-GTR (Le Mans cars for the road)? Somehow even they don't seem so silly.
All,
I posted this below on the SELOC forum as regards to the XTR4. It'll explain why we had an XTR4 and why it deserved the victory on all accounts. But just to answer one question I drove the car to the event, speed bumps and all. The Lotus' were on trailers...
"I take my Nomex lined hat off to John and the guys at the VX220 forum for making the Milltek Tuner GP an excellent event - it was awesome. Great cars, excellent track action and even some top totty too. But I must clear up a few issues regarding Westfield's XTR4 entry.
Just so you know I was the 'muppet' driving the car on the day and the person responsible for entering the event. I wanted to get involved with the Tuner GP to help promote it, especially after spending the weekend at the German version with John and the Thorney Motorsport/Milltek guys at the start of this year. I've only read stories before and never actually attended so I was happy to cover the 'only' Brit entrant, aka: John.
That feature served two purposes. Firstly I got a very good idea of what to expect from the Milltek Tuner GP once at home (in the UK) and secondly it was the perfect article to help promote it. I thought it was going to work and wanted as many people to attend for the benefit of every company that supported the Tuner GP.
Track & Race Cars had an entry for a manufacturer of our choice. I wanted to bring along the Westfield Sport2000S which was fitting with the event, it was basically a Sport2000 which Westfield tuned. Sadly another show at Brands Hatch meant the Sport2000S was out of the question. An XTR4 was the next choice.
I know it looks like a LMP but the car I drove from Dudley-to-Broughton-Astley-to-Donington-Park-to-victory-to-Bruntingthorpe-to-Dudley was in fact a 'road car'. Someone suggested however that the XTR4 I drove was in fact a race car. It's true. The car has been raced once this year in a double header at Donington Park on June 25th and 26th. It was driven by a works driver on an inch wider wheels fitted with brand new Yoko A048s and new brakes.
But this was also the car we drove to Le Mans a week previous to its maiden outing (June 14-21st) and the same 2004 demonstrator that Westfield has handed to Journos for the last year and a bit for not only track tests but also road reports as well. As a Journo myself I know only too well the wear and tear we put cars through, especially when we're faced with a track or an airfield to play on. Westfield also are aware and pre-warned me that the brakes won't handle long track stints due to the extreme usage it's been put through (which it didn't, but more on that in a minute).
Westfield knew nothing of the Tuner GP when I called them four days before Saturday 15 September - so the car I was to drive was sitting on an old set of Avon CR500 rubber, old Dot-4 brake fluid and 8" wide road wheels. Just so you all know as well the car was using an Audi 1.8T pushing out a 'Westfield tuned' 250bhp and weighing in at 612kg (without fuel). For all those trying to work out the power-to-weight ratio it's roughly 408bhp-per-ton. (I may be wrong but didn't the second place Exige have about 437bhp-per-ton?)
The ride height and suspension settings were set for comfortable road use hence the sessions I completed in the morning and early afternoon were great fun for me and the spectators but useless setting any serious track times. So my snapper, Andrew Brown, and I removed the panels and starting to play with the combined bump and rebound adjuster on the bottom of the shaft (no four-way adjustable here, just basic Nitron coilovers).
I was having trouble keeping the car pointing in a straight line, especially as the rubber just wasn't working, so we ended up running a full hard front end with a full soft rear. It worked. One thing I wasn't so sure on was the tyre pressures because they were measured roughly by using a portable mini compressor connected to Andrew's jeep. I think we ran 25psi in the rear with 22psi in the front, however those type of gauges aren't very accurate so I can't be 100% sure on it?
After a few attempts I still wasn't that much better off in the afternoon, sure it felt better but the laptimes weren't coming down. I was in the 1m18sec area and some four tenths off the fastest lap. To be fair I was very happy with the time. A low 1m18sec run would have been good enough to have me at the sharp end of the grid at the last round at Donington Park, even with the Avon rubber, rubbish brake fluid and narrow rims.
Which takes me onto...
DVAndrews & SteveB: I don't know either of you but your two comments aren't justified in relation to my driving ability. But for a moment lets imagine they are. My laptime of 1m17.17seconds was 1.2seconds faster than Westfield's works driver (who finished second at Donington Park and set his fastest lap of 1m18.33 seconds) in the same car but with new rubber, wider wheels etc.
I wanted to set the best lap as much as the guy driving the Skoda Fabia VRS TDi - so I drove out of my skin to do so. My hands were tied behind my back when it came to the setup, there was nothing left to setup or change - I had no spares, mechanics, different tyres or new pads at my disposal - it was just a case of trial and error. I also couldn't do too many flat out runs in one session because the brake fluid was boiling over.
Excuses, excuses but it doesn't change the fact that I was more than happy with my time. You say the XTR4 should have been a 'lot' faster? Should it? If so from your experience with the Westfield XTR4 what time should it be capable of? Don't get me wrong, I agree it could go faster and it will with the race gear fitted but this was a road legal event. Every car entered could have gone three seconds quicker just by fitting slicks.
The pace of every Lotus was staggering - I've already displayed my interest in running features on all the cars and shock the hand of the driver who pushed me right to the end of the event (much respect). It was a fantastic fight, the commentator probably hasn't had as much excitement with the way club racing is recently.
It was no walk in the park, if I had won by four seconds then you would have every right to rant and shout. But I didn't. I was lucky to finish on top. If you knew me you would also know that if I thought for one minute it was a walk over I would have asked John to remove me from the finishing order and hand over the trophy and prize fund to Link Up. Bull? I have before in the past - with such things like karting events that the magazine has been invited to.
I just want to touch on this race car thingy and get one thing clear. The XTR4 was made for "the Track Day fanatics, who are demanding affordable easy to drive stylish cars with reliable power" (www.westfield-sportscars.co.uk/xtr4.htm). The racing came after and by one of Westfield's customers. I'm sure that may be a similar story with the Exige? Just because the Lotus' that ran were everyday runners doesn't make it any less a racing car. I do understand the reason for towing a car to the Tuner GP (just in case!) but I did drive the car to and from the event people. Anybody that was at the recent 'PistonHeads.com VMax' day would have seen the car also do a top speed run of 155mph the following day...
So in my honest opinion Westfield's 'tuned' XTR4 deserved it's win. Which is a massive compliment to every car entered into the Tuner GP. The prize TRC won already has allocated charities it will be distributed to as did the cash we earn't at a fund raising event we put on at Brands Hatch only recently. For those thinking I was 'pot hunting' (SimonS) all three will be on full display at Westfield's factory (www.westfield-sportscars.co.uk/map.htm).
I didn't want this reply to sound like a defence case but I have just as much right to post as every other forum member does. I also don't want to portray a horrible image of what was an exciting and highly enjoyable event so I hope those reading this that didn't attend don't get put off for next year - it was packed with hold your breath adrenaline rush moments from the GP action (which was won in the last five minutes) to the Quarter Mile race-off (again won with just minutes to spare).
After reading this, for those that may still hold some kind of grudge against either me, TRC or the XTR4 then by all means please just email me (kwood@unity-media.com or call 01732 748000). You'll obviously get excellent coverage in the report we're running on the Tuner GP in the December 2005 issue but I'd be happy to arrange a FOC day at Brunters around the TRC track to settle the argument you have amongst yourselves (it would make a great cover feature...). Superb coverage in the mag for every tuner involved and we'll also run our timing gear on all the cars so you can trace back and highlight area's where certain conversions are quicker than others.
If those who had a problem have still got the hump remember this. As much as some of you dislike it the final minutes of the Tuner GP just wouldn't have been the same without me or the XTR4... Oh, and there's always next year.
Keith Wood
Editor, Track & Race Cars Magazine"
I posted this below on the SELOC forum as regards to the XTR4. It'll explain why we had an XTR4 and why it deserved the victory on all accounts. But just to answer one question I drove the car to the event, speed bumps and all. The Lotus' were on trailers...
"I take my Nomex lined hat off to John and the guys at the VX220 forum for making the Milltek Tuner GP an excellent event - it was awesome. Great cars, excellent track action and even some top totty too. But I must clear up a few issues regarding Westfield's XTR4 entry.
Just so you know I was the 'muppet' driving the car on the day and the person responsible for entering the event. I wanted to get involved with the Tuner GP to help promote it, especially after spending the weekend at the German version with John and the Thorney Motorsport/Milltek guys at the start of this year. I've only read stories before and never actually attended so I was happy to cover the 'only' Brit entrant, aka: John.
That feature served two purposes. Firstly I got a very good idea of what to expect from the Milltek Tuner GP once at home (in the UK) and secondly it was the perfect article to help promote it. I thought it was going to work and wanted as many people to attend for the benefit of every company that supported the Tuner GP.
Track & Race Cars had an entry for a manufacturer of our choice. I wanted to bring along the Westfield Sport2000S which was fitting with the event, it was basically a Sport2000 which Westfield tuned. Sadly another show at Brands Hatch meant the Sport2000S was out of the question. An XTR4 was the next choice.
I know it looks like a LMP but the car I drove from Dudley-to-Broughton-Astley-to-Donington-Park-to-victory-to-Bruntingthorpe-to-Dudley was in fact a 'road car'. Someone suggested however that the XTR4 I drove was in fact a race car. It's true. The car has been raced once this year in a double header at Donington Park on June 25th and 26th. It was driven by a works driver on an inch wider wheels fitted with brand new Yoko A048s and new brakes.
But this was also the car we drove to Le Mans a week previous to its maiden outing (June 14-21st) and the same 2004 demonstrator that Westfield has handed to Journos for the last year and a bit for not only track tests but also road reports as well. As a Journo myself I know only too well the wear and tear we put cars through, especially when we're faced with a track or an airfield to play on. Westfield also are aware and pre-warned me that the brakes won't handle long track stints due to the extreme usage it's been put through (which it didn't, but more on that in a minute).
Westfield knew nothing of the Tuner GP when I called them four days before Saturday 15 September - so the car I was to drive was sitting on an old set of Avon CR500 rubber, old Dot-4 brake fluid and 8" wide road wheels. Just so you all know as well the car was using an Audi 1.8T pushing out a 'Westfield tuned' 250bhp and weighing in at 612kg (without fuel). For all those trying to work out the power-to-weight ratio it's roughly 408bhp-per-ton. (I may be wrong but didn't the second place Exige have about 437bhp-per-ton?)
The ride height and suspension settings were set for comfortable road use hence the sessions I completed in the morning and early afternoon were great fun for me and the spectators but useless setting any serious track times. So my snapper, Andrew Brown, and I removed the panels and starting to play with the combined bump and rebound adjuster on the bottom of the shaft (no four-way adjustable here, just basic Nitron coilovers).
I was having trouble keeping the car pointing in a straight line, especially as the rubber just wasn't working, so we ended up running a full hard front end with a full soft rear. It worked. One thing I wasn't so sure on was the tyre pressures because they were measured roughly by using a portable mini compressor connected to Andrew's jeep. I think we ran 25psi in the rear with 22psi in the front, however those type of gauges aren't very accurate so I can't be 100% sure on it?
After a few attempts I still wasn't that much better off in the afternoon, sure it felt better but the laptimes weren't coming down. I was in the 1m18sec area and some four tenths off the fastest lap. To be fair I was very happy with the time. A low 1m18sec run would have been good enough to have me at the sharp end of the grid at the last round at Donington Park, even with the Avon rubber, rubbish brake fluid and narrow rims.
Which takes me onto...
DVAndrews & SteveB: I don't know either of you but your two comments aren't justified in relation to my driving ability. But for a moment lets imagine they are. My laptime of 1m17.17seconds was 1.2seconds faster than Westfield's works driver (who finished second at Donington Park and set his fastest lap of 1m18.33 seconds) in the same car but with new rubber, wider wheels etc.
I wanted to set the best lap as much as the guy driving the Skoda Fabia VRS TDi - so I drove out of my skin to do so. My hands were tied behind my back when it came to the setup, there was nothing left to setup or change - I had no spares, mechanics, different tyres or new pads at my disposal - it was just a case of trial and error. I also couldn't do too many flat out runs in one session because the brake fluid was boiling over.
Excuses, excuses but it doesn't change the fact that I was more than happy with my time. You say the XTR4 should have been a 'lot' faster? Should it? If so from your experience with the Westfield XTR4 what time should it be capable of? Don't get me wrong, I agree it could go faster and it will with the race gear fitted but this was a road legal event. Every car entered could have gone three seconds quicker just by fitting slicks.
The pace of every Lotus was staggering - I've already displayed my interest in running features on all the cars and shock the hand of the driver who pushed me right to the end of the event (much respect). It was a fantastic fight, the commentator probably hasn't had as much excitement with the way club racing is recently.
It was no walk in the park, if I had won by four seconds then you would have every right to rant and shout. But I didn't. I was lucky to finish on top. If you knew me you would also know that if I thought for one minute it was a walk over I would have asked John to remove me from the finishing order and hand over the trophy and prize fund to Link Up. Bull? I have before in the past - with such things like karting events that the magazine has been invited to.
I just want to touch on this race car thingy and get one thing clear. The XTR4 was made for "the Track Day fanatics, who are demanding affordable easy to drive stylish cars with reliable power" (www.westfield-sportscars.co.uk/xtr4.htm). The racing came after and by one of Westfield's customers. I'm sure that may be a similar story with the Exige? Just because the Lotus' that ran were everyday runners doesn't make it any less a racing car. I do understand the reason for towing a car to the Tuner GP (just in case!) but I did drive the car to and from the event people. Anybody that was at the recent 'PistonHeads.com VMax' day would have seen the car also do a top speed run of 155mph the following day...
So in my honest opinion Westfield's 'tuned' XTR4 deserved it's win. Which is a massive compliment to every car entered into the Tuner GP. The prize TRC won already has allocated charities it will be distributed to as did the cash we earn't at a fund raising event we put on at Brands Hatch only recently. For those thinking I was 'pot hunting' (SimonS) all three will be on full display at Westfield's factory (www.westfield-sportscars.co.uk/map.htm).
I didn't want this reply to sound like a defence case but I have just as much right to post as every other forum member does. I also don't want to portray a horrible image of what was an exciting and highly enjoyable event so I hope those reading this that didn't attend don't get put off for next year - it was packed with hold your breath adrenaline rush moments from the GP action (which was won in the last five minutes) to the Quarter Mile race-off (again won with just minutes to spare).
After reading this, for those that may still hold some kind of grudge against either me, TRC or the XTR4 then by all means please just email me (kwood@unity-media.com or call 01732 748000). You'll obviously get excellent coverage in the report we're running on the Tuner GP in the December 2005 issue but I'd be happy to arrange a FOC day at Brunters around the TRC track to settle the argument you have amongst yourselves (it would make a great cover feature...). Superb coverage in the mag for every tuner involved and we'll also run our timing gear on all the cars so you can trace back and highlight area's where certain conversions are quicker than others.
If those who had a problem have still got the hump remember this. As much as some of you dislike it the final minutes of the Tuner GP just wouldn't have been the same without me or the XTR4... Oh, and there's always next year.
Keith Wood
Editor, Track & Race Cars Magazine"
Keith - thanks for the explanation and write up. I guess its just a lack of clarity on the rules/classes thats caused this...especially after all the Elise tuners agreed they would enter customers cars, rather than any of their own 'demo' cars etc so that they would be on a level playing field.
Im sure the event will be an even bigger sucess next year, and I suspect a class for 'door-less' track day specials etc will make things more fair....otherwise we will have V8 Radicals wiping the floor with everything
Im sure the event will be an even bigger sucess next year, and I suspect a class for 'door-less' track day specials etc will make things more fair....otherwise we will have V8 Radicals wiping the floor with everything
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