Looks like the Zen car only ran for a few laps in qualifying, and wasn't in the final.

But the Autosportif fastest time was more than 2 seconds quicker than the Roger Clark car.
That's blooming quick. But it's back to the proffesional driver effect.

 

Well said,its good to see the tuners driving their own cars,and the RCM car is running the same engine as last year,good build quality counts.

 

I don't know why more don't employ pro drivers ? Anyone see a trend developing here

 

I drove my own around @ 10.35-10.50 today was a great bit of fun didnt come off and no 1 over took me i went past 6 cars so i was very happy with the day will be doing it again very soon,didnt see zen do many laps as stated hope everthing is ok bring on the next 1

 

We had lots of teathing problems with the Zen car, it happens when you try and fit 6 weeks work into less than 2, after the rule clarification last week meant running last years car became pointless, literally, towards the championship.

Things are very promising looking forward, once the car is sorted it will be very much on the pace/the pace setter.

Phil only managed one sesion where he set a proper time today, and in that session the transponder didnt work so no oficial time was logged. The car was 2nd fastest in that session using our own timing, it was 1 second off the Autosportif cars time. This is with the car having no front/rear aero, no mapping time so ran at low boost, brakes that wernt bedded and were not performing, very basic geometry settings and no damper adjustment work. The next flying lap was red flagged and Phil said he was 2 seconds up at the point he had to abort. The car was 2nd fastest on the back straight as logged by the scrutineer on his speed gun when Phil set his fast lap, posting 148MPH, Autosportif were doing 151MPH.

Things then started to cause us more issues which meant we didnt have the oportunity to do a flying lap, so we had phil do a slow lap just to qualify the car into the final, which is what he did. The final came but we hit a terminal problem on the out lap which meant he had to return to the pits, which is why no time was shown, but we did get the car running out on track in the final.

So all in all, it's a frustrating start to the year, everyone involved worked incredibly hard to get the car there and try and score some points, but it didnt quite work out to the potential.

The plus points are we now have a car that's together for the most part and we now know it's going to be balistic with a bit of testing time under it's belt, it's definately a big step forward over last years car.

Paul, Liz and the team did an amazing job to get the car to Donington at all, i know i am knackered and i didnt do anything like the hours the rest of the team put in. Here's to the rest of the year, it's going to be a close run thing but i can see wins on the cards with this car, they certainly deserve it based on effort and comitment shown this last couple of weeks.

 

Every lap in the final was getting faster, as the track was drying out, Olly Clark was swapping fastest laps with Tappy right until the end.

There is a very high standard of driving out there in the Pro class now, it's certainly going to show the potential of the cars as the year progresses, i can see lap times tumbling like they did last year.

 

Good write up John, was a tough weekend and I was only spectating. Well done to the team for a stunning effort in crazy weather conditions.

Think your prediction about the times dropping is going to come true, now what are next weeks lotto numbers ?

 

The times were incredible on an ever changing track. Club challenge was likewise with 6 cars in the 1.18's round there.

The bar has been well and truly raised.

Paul, the car looks superb and once even close to being finished will be right at the front of the field I am convinced. It was testament to the massive work put in by your team and the days of no sleep that it even made it there at all. You deserve a few days off before re-starting the work for knockhill.

Liz - I hope you warmed up later - you looked frozen

 

Given they have more time to refine the car than they did to build it then I think it can improve. Phil was happy with the car and he says theres room for improval where as he said the blue car was setup about as well as it could be

 

I have only just thawed through! Given that our car was not even 50% finished, I think we can be pleased - Phil was certainly amazed with how well it handled without any aero and ARBs!!!! There was no way we were not going to be there and regardless of what anyone else thinks, ZEN and all of our supporters are 100% proud that we were there, that we ran and we had our fellow competitors scared! Roll on Knockhill!

Liz

 

We'll see a truer result at KH as everyone should have their cars fully built by then, can't wait

 

It was a great day, good to see all cars whatever form or state they were in. Was nice just to get in the pits and chat to the friendly faces that make this series so great to watch and feel a part of. The change in pace of both Pro and Club class compared to last year was very impressive, and I hope those who had issues can resolve them soon too.


One last thing, that chap who kept saying "its not racing, its time attack!" really got on my wick!

 

just how many times a minute did he say that ?

 

Just thank your lucky stars you weren't there on Saturday for the EDC, I was all for taking the expanding foam I'd originally planned to go into the speaker above the garage door and taking it right to the source of the drivel to stop it once and for all

No problem on Sunday, I lost my hearing when the Clark's started up their car...my ears still hurt now

 

Not wanting to be a kill joy - but just did they get away with running the RCM car on what was defined by the regs as a 105db series ? I doubt it would pass 105 db at idle.

Standing on the pit wall it physically hurt when it went past.

 

well, I gotta say your car looks absolutely gorgeous!
...shame you cant get the aero right without a rear spoiler cos I think thats exactly what it'll do: spoil it

it looks aggressive and butch even!....yet quite understated too, somehow

well done...good luck for the remainder of your season!

 

I think it will look even better with the full aero package..

Some wiring to finish, suspension to play with.. and rock and roll

David

 

Think I'll be bringing ear defenders next time, that was pretty loud!

 

Cant wait to see this an Knockhill!

 

colour really suits it and not what i expected.

 

Thats fair enough mate, if it says it should be no louder than 105db then why should they be able to get away with it

 

Like all the front running cars, the RCMS car is a prototype with new systems being tried at each round, no doubt the system was producing more noise than they expected. I am sure Matt will have that re-engineered by Knockhill.

 

It was a shame that the Zen car wasn't running at full chat with everything finished.
Personally I think they did the right thing, better to risk it for points, and get some R+D out of the way than get a 'guarunteed' (is there such a thing?) top 3 finish, but then not be able to carry the points over. A few points would have been available but for all the red flags, but thats racing - unpredictable. Not a huge fan the colour as it is but thats personal preference, perhaps it will be different when the Zen decals are added???
Hope you get it all sorted for KH and see you there

 

Phil - it will look great once finished

 

As Dynamix said it is hard to understand how it could have passed a 105 db limit. It did actually hurt the ears as it went past the pitwall.
The fact it runs a prototype new system does not make it above the rules, does it?

 

good luck, we wish paul liz phil and team "zen" all the best in the coming events. you all looked very tired when we saw you. i know the commitment that goes into preparing a car, and you seemed very determined to get it done. we will be at knockhill showing our support.

 

No it doesnt, so either it met the rules or the organisors didnt enforce that particular rule at this particular event. If you have a problem with it, take it up with the organisors, but it's a bit late now, the event finished 3 days ago.

 

Exactly!

But as you say, i'm sure they will have corrected this oversight before KH.

 

RCMS were as short of time as the rest of us, And I think people really dont appreciate how much time and work has gone into their car..

If you get a moment, take a look at the dry sump setup.. work of art

David

 

Seems they need to spend a bit more time on the exhaust system