Budget 4 hour endurance race car
Discussion
Evening all, didn't quite know what section to put this in, but as it's going to be raced hard for a few hours hard!
I've entered a 4 hour budget endurance race in October, its at Driftland in Fife so a small track so there's going to be lots of 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear action. Most likely lots of bashing and dirty deeds, too.
The rules are simple:
Sub 1400CC Naturally aspirated
Front wheel drive
Factory standard, not stripped out or fancy exhausts etc
Now, we're looking cheap as chips. Ideally below £400. The car will most likely be going to the scrappy afterwards, or being used for future races if it survives.
I think the current main contenders are Fiat Puntos, an Ep2 civic & lupo sport (though the latter are rare to find standard).
Cooling and gearing are my main concerns. I loved my two 1.4 ZRs when I was young but really tall gears and head gasket issues do scare me.
Is there any obvious contenders that we should be looking at?
I've entered a 4 hour budget endurance race in October, its at Driftland in Fife so a small track so there's going to be lots of 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear action. Most likely lots of bashing and dirty deeds, too.
The rules are simple:
Sub 1400CC Naturally aspirated
Front wheel drive
Factory standard, not stripped out or fancy exhausts etc
Now, we're looking cheap as chips. Ideally below £400. The car will most likely be going to the scrappy afterwards, or being used for future races if it survives.
I think the current main contenders are Fiat Puntos, an Ep2 civic & lupo sport (though the latter are rare to find standard).
Cooling and gearing are my main concerns. I loved my two 1.4 ZRs when I was young but really tall gears and head gasket issues do scare me.
Is there any obvious contenders that we should be looking at?
Poppiecock said:
The first car that sprung to mind was the MkII Punto Sporting - 1.2 16v with 6 speed box. 85bhp and not a lot of weight.
Or maybe a K11 Micra 1.3S? - if you can find one.
Annoyingly just found a good punto sporting for a little more than budget but its down in Liverpool & we're up in Aberdeen. Changes the budget fair bitOr maybe a K11 Micra 1.3S? - if you can find one.
I think I’d go with a rover metro for the following reasons:
840-60kg as standard. Would make for a lvery light and nimble car which is cheaper than tuning and will be easy on components. Perfect for a small track as well.
They did a cup race series, and plenty people tracking heavier vvc converted cars, so you just copy what they did
Parts are peanuts
You’ve experience with k engined rovers so could stick a 1.4k in if you fancied.
It would look cool AF with a full computervision paint job
840-60kg as standard. Would make for a lvery light and nimble car which is cheaper than tuning and will be easy on components. Perfect for a small track as well.
They did a cup race series, and plenty people tracking heavier vvc converted cars, so you just copy what they did
Parts are peanuts
You’ve experience with k engined rovers so could stick a 1.4k in if you fancied.
It would look cool AF with a full computervision paint job
Krikkit said:
Saxo or 106 is also worth considering too- plenty around and easy to get some cheap spares for easy to race.
Good call, but the 1.4i versions are 10bhp down on the Punto 16v. That's quite significant when you're talking about 75-85 bhp.A bit of a wildcard could be a Seicento Sporting - only 55bhp, but very light and nimble. You'd just have to put up with everyone shouting 'buswanker' at you!
Not sure how many are around but the 1.25 Mk5 Fiesta would be a good shout. Engines will take all the abuse you can throw at them, 85bhp, very revvy and the car itself is light so makes the most of what power it has got. Chassis is pretty decent as standard for what it is also.
And back when I had one as a first car, easily pulled on a friends 1.2 Punto at the time.
And back when I had one as a first car, easily pulled on a friends 1.2 Punto at the time.
Poppiecock said:
Krikkit said:
Saxo or 106 is also worth considering too- plenty around and easy to get some cheap spares for easy to race.
Good call, but the 1.4i versions are 10bhp down on the Punto 16v. That's quite significant when you're talking about 75-85 bhp.A bit of a wildcard could be a Seicento Sporting - only 55bhp, but very light and nimble. You'd just have to put up with everyone shouting 'buswanker' at you!
DanielSan said:
Not sure how many are around but the 1.25 Mk5 Fiesta would be a good shout. Engines will take all the abuse you can throw at them, 85bhp, very revvy and the car itself is light so makes the most of what power it has got. Chassis is pretty decent as standard for what it is also.
And back when I had one as a first car, easily pulled on a friends 1.2 Punto at the time.
The 1.25 is 75bhp but the 1.4 version is 88bhp. worth a look.And back when I had one as a first car, easily pulled on a friends 1.2 Punto at the time.
You can also get a 1400 ford puma, again 88bhp zetec engine, reliable, cheap and easy enough to work on. There are plenty of others that would be much quicker i can think of butyou'll almost certainly not find them for your budget. Pug 205 xs/gt, ax gt/gti, metro gta/gti, swift gti, corolla/charade 1.3 12v, swift gti. Maybe a toyota starlet 1.3 would be worth a look too?
andrewcliffe said:
How are they calculating capacity?
Its probably not in the spirit of the event, but Mazda RX8 - so 230hp...
Some people class them as a 1.3 becasue they have two rotors with a swept volume of 654cc each.
I'm not sure a 400 quid RX8 would last a 4 minute race nevermind a 4 hour oneIts probably not in the spirit of the event, but Mazda RX8 - so 230hp...
Some people class them as a 1.3 becasue they have two rotors with a swept volume of 654cc each.
Sadly FWD only so rotaries are out the question!
Quite a good few suggestions, biggest problem is finding ones relatively close by. Metro is a good shout but only thing being smaller is more susceptible to damage from shunts. It's not a full on demo derby but it gets somewhat spicy!
The puma is a good call. Will keep an eye out for them. We did look at the C1's but they are holding their value up here due to the popularity of the C1 cup.
Current list seems to be revolving around Punto, Civic/Jazz, MG ZR & Fiestas. Few Ka's and 106's have done well but have suffered with body damage latterly in the race.
I'll keep you all posted, I'm tempted to find an old corolla just so I can do a castrol livery!
Quite a good few suggestions, biggest problem is finding ones relatively close by. Metro is a good shout but only thing being smaller is more susceptible to damage from shunts. It's not a full on demo derby but it gets somewhat spicy!
The puma is a good call. Will keep an eye out for them. We did look at the C1's but they are holding their value up here due to the popularity of the C1 cup.
Current list seems to be revolving around Punto, Civic/Jazz, MG ZR & Fiestas. Few Ka's and 106's have done well but have suffered with body damage latterly in the race.
I'll keep you all posted, I'm tempted to find an old corolla just so I can do a castrol livery!
Ah if you were near London I’d have offered a ‘54 1.4 fiesta for all of £100 still has a little test left.
They could also be a good option, cheap and handle very well
Other is a MG ZR - 105bhp from the 1.4 and fairly light - can't think of much better (n/a) BHP given the CC limit
They could also be a good option, cheap and handle very well
Other is a MG ZR - 105bhp from the 1.4 and fairly light - can't think of much better (n/a) BHP given the CC limit
Edited by kiethton on Tuesday 27th August 17:47
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff