T'was good!
Track is good and was my first time there, no top 5 but the latter half of the lap is very technical and requires big balls, so it kept us entertained for the day. Weather was dry, etiquette was perfect as usual and day's flow was spot on, usual Circuit Days well run event.
A048s were great. Mediums set at 26PSI cold all round, virtually no wear too, I think mine came back with more rubber!
Clutter is 99% perfect, absolutely neutral and if you're smooth it just 4 wheel drifts past the limit and you bring it back on the throttle. Practically telegraphs its intentions.
As the big boys packed up at the end of the day and it was quieter, I messed about a bit and got it out of shape. Back comes round nicely, very easy to save and it is stupidly hard to induce understeer unless you go in like a complete idiot.
Problems:
Dives a bit under hard braking which makes the back squirm and you have to be brave if you're trail braking and trust it'll go where you point it, but then the Pagid RS5s are a huge step up from the standard pads, so kind of to be expected. No fade whatsoever - ace!
Could do with a touch more camber on the front to get the best from the tyres. Nothing a shim kit from the Cup race cars and a geo I had planned to do before won't sort out. Will be done for Oulton.
Worst though, there's little flow to the airbox, so it heat soaks quite badly - was really noticeable after 10-15 minutes or so on track and my terminal speed coming into the bridge on the back straight was dropping all the time. I need to run some ducting to the inlet ASAP. You can also tell it is still very tight, another Cup came past me on the straight, which was no doubt a combination of the heat and newness... so it'll get better with time and effort.
As a whole though, with the brakes sorted and a few minor tweaks it needs nothing. Sure I could throw thousands at suspension and cams etc, but what for? Being a few seconds faster a lap?? Pointless.
It's a really fun out-of-the-box car and it can keep up with some bigger boys toys as it is. I'll spend my modding money on track days and fuel instead!
Oulton on the 30th will be the real test, as I know the track and can compare it to the Golf. Initial thoughts though, changes direction a million times better and is just as much fun for a lot less money and effort.
