Fensport GT86R Race Project, Part 4 - 2015

 

2015 has already been a busy year with work starting back in January working alongside Cosworth to help develop the FA20 engine. We now have a fully built forged engine with prototype pistons, con rods, headgaskets, ARP bolts and uprated valve springs. Testing will continue throughout the year ahead of public release.

The engine was "run in" in the snow in February and has now completed 1,400 miles. 600 run in and 800 race / test miles.

Also new for 2015 is the stage 4 Avo turbo kit with larger compressor and turbine wheels, carbon airbox, larger intercooler and 770cc fuel injectors. Our power target is around 500bhp.

The gearbox has now also been upgraded to cope with the extra torque and an Xtreme 230mm twin plate clutch is used.

Changes for 2015 include:

Engine:

• Cosworth forged pistons 9.5:1 compression ratio
• Cosworth forged steel connecting rods
• Cosworth multi layer steel headgaskets
• ARP Head Studs
• Kelford uprated valve springs
• Avo Stage 4 Turbo
• Avo Carbon Airbox
• 770cc Fuel Injectors

Gearbox:

• Samsonas 6 speed sequential
• Xtreme Clutch 230mm twin plate

 

8-11th January - Autosport International

The GT86R is on display on the Samsonas Transmission stand

 

29th March - RRG Toyota Sprint Round 1

Round 1 of the RRG Toyota Sprint was held at Snetterton Race Circuit and was a complete disaster for us! Rain like you wouldn't believe and a virtually flooded track was not the debut we wanted. Grip was non existant, we only had "dry" tyres so boost was turned right down and Adrian managed (just) to bring the car home in 6th place.

 

26th April - RRG Toyota Sprint Round 2

After the disaster of round 1 the team were eager to get out on a dry track and Blyton didn't dissapoint! With dry weather and good grip the GT86R was ready to go. The 1st 2 runs showed a fuel surge issue which was quickly fixed and despite a boost control problem limiting power to 420bhp the car was stunning, leading from run 3 and finishing over 3 seconds ahead of the field.

A very happy Adrian!

 

Video from Blyton Park

16th May - Japfest - Castle Combe

On display with Toyo Tires

 

Next job for the team was to install the fabulous Samsonas 6 speed sequential gearbox. The gearbox comes with an adapter plate and the correct spline so is a relatively easy install. We had to remove the standard gearbox mounting bridge from the tunnel and manufacture some new mounts along with a new propshaft to suit. Also the exhaust has to be re made to clear the larger gearbox. The gearbox is rated at 1000Nm of torque, far more than our rear tyres can handle!

 

And the finshed result can be seen here in our "in car" video, where the GT86R claims 1st overall on round 3 of the Toyota Sprint Series at Woodbridge.

Adrian says "This car is really coming together now and is just fantastic to drive, Woodbridge is one of my favourite tracks due to its "rally style" course with lots of surface changes, which makes for a great challenge. The new gearbox is just fantastic, the gear selection is light but positive and has really helped me get the best out of the car"

 

16th Aug 2015, Round 4, TSS, Croft Race Circuit

The team took the long trip north to the fabulous Croft Circuit, a favourite track among the drivers, the circuit is used by the BTCC and is super fast and challenging. Adrian says "I've often struggled at Croft and this time round I really wanted to try and get to grips with the high speed corners and finally get a win at this famous track"

He needn't have worried the race day was fine and dry and the GT86R was just fantastic other than an overboost problem on the 1st run and a driver problem on run 3 (forgot traction off button!) the GT86R performed faultlessly all day pumping in fastest times to claim 1st overall :)

Here is an "in car video" of the fastest run of the day :)

30/08/15 - Javelin Sprint at Cadwell Park

A one off extra event and an ideal test / practise session ahead of the final round of the Toyota Sprint Championship, we headed to Cadwell Park for the first ever time to learn the track and compete with some different cars. Adrian quickly got the hang of the track and was soon pumping in competitive times, 2nd overall by lunchtime he continued to improve his times, setting a 1:29.01 on the final run, still 2nd overall but to a Radical which was in a different class.

 

In car video on Adrian's fastest lap

27/09/15, Round 5, TSS, Blyton Park Eastern Circuit

A great event at Blyton saw our GT86R come home in 2nd overall, a mere 6 hundredths of a second from the no 1 spot which went to John Crabtree in his Celica GT4.  

 

07/11/15, Round 6, TSS, Cadwell Park.

The final! and what a showdown, it was very wet and this time we were ready, with a new spec lsd and wet weather Toyo proxes tyres the GT86R was transformed and Adrian could attack the track despite the challenging conditions, by lunchtime he had a healthy lead of nearly 3s but as it started to dry, the powerful GT4's were catching. Andy Bunney was quickest of them but Adrian managed to hold on to take the win by 0.48 of a second! 

What a season, we count our best 5 scores and for the GT86R that was 4 outright wins and a 2nd giving Adrian the overall title!

 

Here's an in car video of a challenging Cadwell Park :)

Adrian reports -

"Wow what a year, the racing has been so much closer this year, making this championship win, one to remember!

We started off the season at Snetterton very poorly with a 6th overall in appalling wet conditions, we were caught out and had the wrong (dry) tyres. From round 2 on we have been very competitive securing 4 overall wins and a 2nd place.

But the event to remember was Cadwell park the final round, it was another very wet day and very challenging! We had the correct (wet) tyres this time around and a more progressive Kaaz Super Q LSD making the car much more controllable in the slippery conditions. I was able to attack the track as I would in the dry and take the overall win, beating even the 4wd cars!

I can't thank the whole team at Fensport, all our supporters and sponsors enough for helping to build / provide such a fantastic car"