GW 200 CUP (clubsport->racecar->v2)

[LiamP]

Taking advantage of the lighter evenings I got to work on the aerocatches, really happy how these turned out. Best part was getting them to slide in from the top so the underside doesn’t look a state. If all goes to plan I will be on to the tailgate this weekend.

 

[LiamP]

Rear catches on, tailgate gutted, loom stripped further and some plastic removed taking the cup down to its lightest so far (~1125kg dry)







Had Goodwood yesterday, good news is the car felt great, could really feel the difference with the new wheel and was going around the quickest I have ever been by the second session. Bad news is that 12 laps into the morning and the clutch started playing up





Came in to bleed before testing on the road, was obvious at this point that bleeding helped but then slowly got worse. Went and saw Garry (Clio Man) to pressure bleed and try and save the afternoon, this made things much better on the road but as soon as I started changing at higher revs it just doesn’t want to get out or in to gear. Similar to last time no evidence of a leak or air and the box itself feels good pointing to clutch disengagement. Alex got in contact and he is confident that it isn’t the slave (has been changed twice already) so the only thing left to change is the clutch master, he has one on the shelf so is going to send (legend) Praying that this fixes things as I am not keen to have the box out again…

Potential full race car conversion in the planning stage but will save that for another post...

 

[AG_Cup]

What sort of lap times are you getting at Goodwood now and you would recommend changing the OEM wheel?

 

[LiamP]

What sort of lap times are you getting at Goodwood now and you would recommend changing the OEM wheel?

Dropping into the 1:31’s, with the right driver I think there is a sub 1:30 in the car.

I much prefer it on the track, certainly heavier which I prefer, always found it was easy to grip the wheel too tight on the original.

 

[LiamP]

New clutch master fitted and about 2 gallons of 660 flushed though but sadly no change in my problems. Pedal feels good, zero leaks out the master/line/connector or bottom of the housing and similar to the first time it seems the clutch is just not fully disengaging. Alex is booking me in for round 4 where the slave and clutch will be changed, once this has been done there is nothing else to change…


Part number above if anyone else has trouble finding it, clutch master cylinder.

As mentioned and what was probably inevitable from day 1 of purchase I am going to go full race car. In hindsight buying something already track/race ready or even a cup racer would have made a lot more sense but I have loved every second of getting this far (even with the issues) so really liking forward to moving forward.

Looking to race in a championship in 2023 in either the 750MC or CMMC hot hatch, both are extremely competitive so my focus will be on getting as close to the class limits as possible. I believe the car has the specs to be competitive it just needs me to catch up!

Specs: ~1090kg / 205BHP (<175 BHP/T)

• Custom 6 point cage (matter replica)
• 6 point harness
• T7 lightweight heater
• Poly windows 4mm (5 piece)
• Plumbed in fire extinguisher
• Electrical cut-off
• Custom stalk delete (volantech)
• Custom loom (single box for fuse/relays etc)
• GoPro / Garmin camera and GPS setup

Booked into gdfautofab next week for a weld in 6 point cage, will be a matter replica including the dash bar and a focus on reducing weight. I have had my work cutout trying to get it ready but I am almost there having:

• Plastic stripped
• Sound deadening removed
• Glue removed (very painful)
• Half cage removed
• Loom stripped further
• All brackets removed
• Heater matrix removed
• T7 lightweight heater dry fitted

Timing should work out as I have some time off in June to focus on rebuilding it once the cage is complete. Got some absurd quotes for prepping and spraying so it looks like I will be doing it myself which I am sure I will regret!

 

[burrellbloke]

You are an out and out racer - I really like your attitude.

Are you going to have to undo some of your updates to comply with the regs -like remove your current suspension and Gripper?

 

[LiamP]

You are an out and out racer - I really like your attitude.

Are you going to have to undo some of your updates to comply with the regs -like remove your current suspension and Gripper?

Not sure about that, just love the iterative/improvement you get with this hobby.

Hot hatch series tend to be very free with modifications so I wouldn’t need to remove anything, it’s the Clio Sport championship that has the spec KTec parts you must use.

 

[LiamP]

Day two on the cage build and it’s starting to take shape, Chris @gdfautofab is doing an amazing job, no idea how he has got it so close to the shell

Note the removal of the heavy dash bar already and some lighter 40mm bars on order for the optional parts.

 

[Alistair]

Very much so looking forward to this build to a race car!

 

[jwillo]

Looking forward to this!

 

[LiamP]

Day 4 and the front is now fully mocked up, double door bars made of two single tubes for strength bent at a point to minimise elbow interference.



Jig used for steering column support and now fully welded onto front bar, dash fits on top very nicely with only a small amount of cutting at the back. Column support positioned as I had it with spacers with captive nuts for further adjustment if required.








Getting very exciting / real now.

 

[LiamP]

Day 8 and she is now (almost) complete!





Really impressed with how it’s looking, wasn’t expecting the details under the dash with fuses/passenger all secured with tabs and new earths. Chris has also welded in fresh brackets for 6 point harness attachment on driver and passenger as well as a new battery earth closer to the battery. Harness bar close to the seat as recommended and removing the hassle of long straps.





Rear turrets have been reinforced with the rear stays coming straight down onto them which should make the rear nice and stiff (beam probably needs to catch up)




The cage is so close to the shell that gussets haven’t been needed and it has been welded in numerous places.





Should collect on Monday, not contracting next month so looking to make a lot of progress in getting this back on the road, current plan:

- Fully strip inside, full loom / pedals / column etc.
- Remove final brackets and clean up certain areas
- Sand / clean interior (not looking forward to this)
- Etch prime bare metal
- Primer / final coat, undecided on colour but dark metallic grey is likely
- New front windscreen (didn’t survive removal)
- Rear poly
- Rebuild interior / heater / tidy up loom

If I can get that far by the end of June I will be happy, bar has been set very high on the quality of this so keen to try and keep it up.

 

[Alistair]

Looking good

 

[EthanMenace]

Looks very nice

Are you painting the cage and interior the same colour?

 

[LiamP]

Looks very nice

Are you painting the cage and interior the same colour?

I think so, keep changing my mind but painting just one colour on my drive is going to be a mission, as cool as two colours would be..

 

[Beany]

I think so, keep changing my mind but painting just one colour on my drive is going to be a mission, as cool as two colours would be..

Be fun having to mask the cage & bodywork with them being so close together… be easier with one colour

 

[EthanMenace]

I think so, keep changing my mind but painting just one colour on my drive is going to be a mission, as cool as two colours would be..

Yeah that makes sense, I’m sure it’ll look great either way

 

[AG_Cup]

A dark grey interior will look great against the white exterior.

 

[LiamP]

Be fun having to mask the cage & bodywork with them being so close together… be easier with one colour

Yeah 100%, probably twice as long for me.

A dark grey interior will look great against the white exterior.

Yeah want a touring car look, white might be cooler in the summer but not sure I could handle the constant cleaning. Already getting carried away with livery ideas for the exterior…

Looks like Alex can fit me in to fix the clutch on the 21st and a potential evening at Brands booked for a shakedown so I have a deadline!

 

[Beany]

white interior would look nice but Inc the cage that’s seriously would be too white.

have you got white wheels too

luckily you’ve got the option to go with any colour seen as pretty much anything will go! Look at @R20BTG Iain’s looks pretty decent