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This Ex Italian Touring Car, from the early 90's built by Alfa Corse, arrived last year,
initially its handling left a lot to be desired, but after a fair amount
of work, we managed to get it to go well and acheived excellent results. Now it is undergoing a complete re-build to make it 100% reliable and a championship contending car. Over the next few months you can follow it's progress up to it's first race............ |
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This was how the car had been repaired before |
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First the Roll cage is completeley removed, It was felt to be below standard for safety and strength. A damaged section in the floor was cut out and a new section welded in. |
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A new drivers footwell was then welded in place and a new cage was
fabricated and welded in place. note floor bracing under plates to brace lower wishbone mountings |
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Final front plate being made just holes to cut and weld in for final time |
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Floors finished now making seat mountings pedal box etc |
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Extra bars were added to the rear to stiffen and strengthen the rear end and to compensate for the removal of the boot floor. Special thanks to Chris Ludlow for the cage installation. |
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Once the cage was installed, the shell was ready for preparation for painting |
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Both front inner wing are replaced |
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New inner wheel arch and chassis leg fitted to very poor repair at some time in the cars previous life |
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First the interior was prepared, and given a coat of battleship grey. |
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Then the exterior body colour is added, and the project can progress to the mechanical side, looks like someone has started to add rear suspension components. More of that later.................. |
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Standard Fascia Installed, Steering column with standard switchgear, most of the other switchgear and all the wiring will be new and custom built. Seat Installed and most of the suspension and brakes. Quicklift jacks and fire extinguisher pipework & cables. |
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Most of the instrumentation is installed, fusebox, brake lines all run
inside. Extensive use of cable ties, the best invention since insulation
tape!!. Note removable steering wheel, doesn't need to be removable, but it does give the driver something to chuck at the mechanic in the garage when something fell off that shouldn't have. (An idea stolen from F1, although if it cost £20,000 it probably wouldn't get chucked.
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All door frames cut away and
lightened |
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Front wing "mock up" to check for clearances and fit, ready for moulds to be made then new carbon fibre wings to be manufactured. |
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New carbon wings |
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Fitting of new carbon wings and bumper making mountings etc |
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New engine in final stages of build |
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All steel 1800 race engine
Note how easy it is to work on with the removable front panel. All the suspension is now re-fitted after being re-manufactured to our own design. Brakes have been overhauled and re-fitted. |
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New engine fitted final with front panel etc now fitted |
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Custom fuel tank fitted with
2 lift pumps and motorsport high pressure pump |
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Modified rear axle with adjustment in toe
and camber and rose jointed |
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Car on rolling road having engine mapped showing some 250 BHP @ 9400 RPMS |
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Car on rolling road |
| Finished
and at it's first outing
(note the large crowd reflected in the superb paintwork, lets hope we don't damage it!) scroll down for race report
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| First Outing at Snetterton
The car is looking a bit bare, we are looking for sponsorship for next
season I managed to qualify fourth with a failed fuel pump, managed to replace it before the first race, thanks to Lee Penn, Tim Lewis & Other mates for their help. had a good start in the first race up to third but spun at the end of the back straight, probably cold tyres, rejoined at the back of the field, had a great race and worked my way back up to finish fourth. Tim Lewis won the race. Ian in the Green 3.8 GTV came third. In the second race I started third as Tim Lewis failed to make the grid with a gearbox problem, I had a good start but spun again on the second bend, (must invest in some tyre warmers, or a large hair dryer!!). Only lost a few places, rejoined in third and soon came up behind Ian in the 3.8 GTV who spun out soon after. This put me in second place behind Andy Page. I was soon challenging for first place & thought of having a dive up the inside, Then visions of a great pile of black and green twisted steel & kevlar loomed & decided to concentrate on fighting off Ian's GTV which was soon back breathing down my neck. I then got it wrong in the Esses, and Ian went past. I finished third but was still delighted with the result because the car is so competitive. It was a great weekend for AHMotorsports with Lee Penn getting 2 wins and a Pole with our engine Tim Lewis with a win & Ian with a 2nd & 3rd. Tim Lewis has now won Class B with our engine for 3 years in a row, a great performance from him. |
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Photo courtesy of Steve Jones |
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