RC DEVELOPMENTS RETURN TO EXORCISE RELIABILITY DEMONS, AT THEIR LOCAL PROVING GROUND.
Saturday 5th July.
2008 saw the first occasion for Oulton Park to host the UK Time Attack Series, and being RC's local circuit, the team were hoping for good results and a return to their winning ways.
Dogged with reliability issues, the Yellow 850hp+ Evo had yet to finish a race, but with the addition of the latest development of RC Developments Dry Oil Sump Kit on both of the race cars, the crucial element of adequate oil pressure supply was guaranteed and the Yellow Car could potentially be pushed quicker than ever at the Oulton Circuit.
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However, the heavens could not hold out, and a downpour in the morning session would stop the Yellow Car from being driven to its full potential. The Orange Car entered Round 4 in 3rd Place, tied with Steve Guglielmi's Lotus, and with the greatest amount of chance to score more points; RC's Pro-Driver Jamie Stanley was nominated to drive Bob Moore's Orange RC Evo.
That meant that RC Developments Boss Clive Seddon could once again pilot the Yellow Demo Car, with an absence from the cockpit since December, racing at the Tsukuba Circuit in Japan.
Both drivers struggled with absolutely zero traction on the cut R888 Tyres, and as the downpour persisted, it was not looking favourable for the RC Team. Jamie, who has shown incredible pace even in the most dire wet/slippery conditions, was still able to punch out some very credible laptimes in the Orange Car through Warm-Up and Practice Sessions, and did not seem phased by the lack of traction, presumably due to his immense experience racing at Oulton where he is a race instructor. Jamie managed a 1.53.2 in Warm-Up, but would later have to retire the Orange Car to the pits during the Practice Session, where the rain had stopped, but the track was struggling to dry. The unsettling clunking noise from the rear of the car as it was pushed into the RC Pit Garage indicative of a smashed Rear Diff. RC delegated team members to return to Warrington for a replacement Rear Diff to replace it in time for Qualifying.
However, despite his lack of drive time, in a car that had drastically improved in performance since he last drove it, Clive posted the fastest time in Warm-Up (1.44.6) which was the wettest session, increasing his pace to finish 3rd in Practice narrowly behind the Tein Autosportif and Zen Performance Impreza's with a 1.30.9, eventually having to retire the car also with a cracked cam cover, that would require replacing.
The RC Developments team worked solidly throughout lunch on both cars, anticipating the change in weather, as the track continued to dry. Suspension and Tyre Settings were adjusted, and with the efficient swap of the Rear Diff in the Orange Car, and a replacement cam cover for Clive's car, the RC Cars made it out into the Qualifying Session, eager to demonstrate both cars' performance with the slowly reappearing traction on most parts of the circuit.
The improved traction and new settings allowed Jamie to zone in on challenging the top Impreza's, and with a 1.29.3, sailed into the Superbattle Final, 3rd position behind Autosportif and Tein, Clive following the orange car into the final, qualifying in 6th Position with a 1.32.6, and with the sun blazing over the Oulton Circuit, the RC Team were looking forward to the prospect of bringing some more much deserved silverware back home, especially for the Yellow Car.
Both cars were tweaked for the new dry conditions, and refuelled for the Finals, both drivers completely focused on what they had to do. Jamie and Clive battled out against the rest of the field, lead by the immaculate and ultra-quick Roger Clark Motorsport Subaru Impreza. Try as they might, Jamie and Clive could not match the pace of Olly, who stunned the entire crowd, by coming out of mid-table with a final last minute charge managing to post a 1.25.9 right at the end of the session! An incredibly quick laptime, not only were the RC Car's out driven, but the entire pack also, with the Zen Performance Impreza 2 seconds slower! 3rd Position was incredibly close, with Guglielmi, Bennett (in the Autosportif Impreza) and Jamie in the Orange RC Car (finishing with a 1.28.6); separated by only 2/3rd's of a second. Much to Jamie's credit, he drove fantastically, but simply did not have the vehicle pace to match Olly Clark's time. With an apologetic nature towards the RC Crew, Jamie returned to the Pits but was to be commended for his efforts throughout the day, without putting a foot wrong throughout the challenging day.
Clive, who confessed he was shocked at how much quicker the Yellow Car had become through development in 2008, followed Jamie on the leader board, finishing in 6th with a 1.29.5, 3 seconds quicker than P7 - Simon Norris in his Evo 9.
With no RC driver on the podium once again, the only consolations for RC Developments were receiving the MLR's Quickest Evo Cup won by Jamie, and the fact that both of the Evo's had returned with excellent reliability, especially the Yellow Car, which scored its first set of points for the 2008 Season.
Further development of both cars is currently planned to increase their pace, ahead of the penultimate round at Brands Hatch, August 10th.
Both drivers struggled with absolutely zero traction on the cut R888 Tyres, and as the downpour persisted, it was not looking favourable for the RC Team. Jamie, who has shown incredible pace even in the most dire wet/slippery conditions, was still able to punch out some very credible laptimes in the Orange Car through Warm-Up and Practice Sessions, and did not seem phased by the lack of traction, presumably due to his immense experience racing at Oulton where he is a race instructor. Jamie managed a 1.53.2 in Warm-Up, but would later have to retire the Orange Car to the pits during the Practice Session, where the rain had stopped, but the track was struggling to dry. The unsettling clunking noise from the rear of the car as it was pushed into the RC Pit Garage indicative of a smashed Rear Diff. RC delegated team members to return to Warrington for a replacement Rear Diff to replace it in time for Qualifying.
However, despite his lack of drive time, in a car that had drastically improved in performance since he last drove it, Clive posted the fastest time in Warm-Up (1.44.6) which was the wettest session, increasing his pace to finish 3rd in Practice narrowly behind the Tein Autosportif and Zen Performance Impreza's with a 1.30.9, eventually having to retire the car also with a cracked cam cover, that would require replacing.
The RC Developments team worked solidly throughout lunch on both cars, anticipating the change in weather, as the track continued to dry. Suspension and Tyre Settings were adjusted, and with the efficient swap of the Rear Diff in the Orange Car, and a replacement cam cover for Clive's car, the RC Cars made it out into the Qualifying Session, eager to demonstrate both cars' performance with the slowly reappearing traction on most parts of the circuit.
The improved traction and new settings allowed Jamie to zone in on challenging the top Impreza's, and with a 1.29.3, sailed into the Superbattle Final, 3rd position behind Autosportif and Tein, Clive following the orange car into the final, qualifying in 6th Position with a 1.32.6, and with the sun blazing over the Oulton Circuit, the RC Team were looking forward to the prospect of bringing some more much deserved silverware back home, especially for the Yellow Car.
Both cars were tweaked for the new dry conditions, and refuelled for the Finals, both drivers completely focused on what they had to do. Jamie and Clive battled out against the rest of the field, lead by the immaculate and ultra-quick Roger Clark Motorsport Subaru Impreza. Try as they might, Jamie and Clive could not match the pace of Olly, who stunned the entire crowd, by coming out of mid-table with a final last minute charge managing to post a 1.25.9 right at the end of the session! An incredibly quick laptime, not only were the RC Car's out driven, but the entire pack also, with the Zen Performance Impreza 2 seconds slower! 3rd Position was incredibly close, with Guglielmi, Bennett (in the Autosportif Impreza) and Jamie in the Orange RC Car (finishing with a 1.28.6); separated by only 2/3rd's of a second. Much to Jamie's credit, he drove fantastically, but simply did not have the vehicle pace to match Olly Clark's time. With an apologetic nature towards the RC Crew, Jamie returned to the Pits but was to be commended for his efforts throughout the day, without putting a foot wrong throughout the challenging day.
Clive, who confessed he was shocked at how much quicker the Yellow Car had become through development in 2008, followed Jamie on the leader board, finishing in 6th with a 1.29.5, 3 seconds quicker than P7 - Simon Norris in his Evo 9.
With no RC driver on the podium once again, the only consolations for RC Developments were receiving the MLR's Quickest Evo Cup won by Jamie, and the fact that both of the Evo's had returned with excellent reliability, especially the Yellow Car, which scored its first set of points for the 2008 Season.
Further development of both cars is currently planned to increase their pace, ahead of the penultimate round at Brands Hatch, August 10th.
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