New Knockhill "Time Attack lite" series for trackdayers

[Digital]

Knockhill have announced a new event this year in the vein of the How Fast competition run at Bedford last year, effectively a trackday with a timed element: http://club.knockhill.com/superlap-scotland.php

As someone already competing in the hillclimb and sprint championships I'll be interested to see how successful this turns out to be. Possibly a more attractive step up from trackdays for some? With the exception of the transponder, it sounds like everything you require is what you'd need for the sprint/hillclimb series anyway, i.e. competition licence and full race gear

Any of the regular SE trackdayers fancy this?

[Scottish Scrutineer]

I've been asked to be Chief Scrutineer for this series, I'm already involved in the KMSC car races. It does look like a good progression from track days to formal MSA permit sprints. Flying laps, rather than standing starts, and only 2 cars out at one time should reduce the wear & year or panel damage risks as well. I understand transponders can be hired for a reasonable fee.


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[Mikie711]

Looks interesting.

[tut]

Any idea how the classes will be formed Renny?

tut

[Mikie711]

Class are set by power to weight ratio.

From the draft regs

CLASSES
CLASS A-401bhp / tonne and above
CLASS B-301-400bhp / tonne
CLASS C-201-300bhp/ tonne
CLASS D-up to 200bhp / tonne

Drivers will nominate which class they fall into based on their power output (at the wheels) and the weight of their car, including driver. Rolling roads have been contacted throughout Scotland and are willing to provide a power run and corner weight package at a discounted price of only £50 to produce a certificate of output. Organisers reserve the right to request a driver goes to their nearest rolling road to certify a competitors car's power and weight ratio and /or move a competitor between classes if deemed required. A list of facilities will be posted soon.

They must have figured tut would be interested as in the section about protective gear it says

PROTECTIVE GEAR
All entrants must wear an MSA valid and approved helmet, race suit and gloves. Race boots are optional as are race underwear.

[David]

This looks really interesting and I can see me and Gordon getting sucked into it. Just a more few bits of kit required and it looks like three great weekends

[alicrozier]

That looks like a good initiative.

Interesting it's car plus driver and 'at the wheels' bhp. I think under that calculation the 2-11 (with me in it) would be around 270 bhp /tonne. Looks like your R400 could be pretty ideal David, would you sneak under the 300 bhp/tonne limit?


edited to add:

All cars must comply with the MSA Technical Regulations section S11 for road cars and S12 for modified cars.

What does that mean Renny? All cars must comply with road car regs? or are there seperate modified car classes?

[JohnStewart]

I'm looking forward to these events, as most of you are probably aware I'm a big fan of the current Time Attack series as well as the hillclimbs and sprints

My understanding of the classes is that there are only the 4 classes, and it's all done by power to weight ratio. ie if you modify your car to strip out all the interior you'll improve your power to weight ratio and likely elevate you to the next category up.

What isn't so clear is whether any cars with swapped engines will be permitted (e.g. Honda powered Elises, Willie's LS1 powered TVR, or Andy Forrests' Impreza which is fitted with a Subaru SVX 6 cylinder engine). It would be a big shame if these were excluded, as they would be very competitive given they were mostly built to do track days and would be a big crowd puller.

I can see cars like David's R400 and the 2-11s being very competitive!

John

[BigD]

This sounds pretty good, I really enjoyed my time in Time Attack in 2008. It was pretty expensive and hard to do it on a budget so in my opinion the power to weight classes is THE fairest way to split the classes. My old Evo would fall into class C just like the 211 at around 285bhp/ton. Although maybe uncompetitive given the power at the wheels would make it nearer 216bhp/ton now that I think about it.

It would mean that you don't have to tune for big power to get a result unlike Time Attack.

[David]

The last rolling raod I did gave 185 bhp at the wheels and all up with fuel it may reach 585kg which puts it over the 300BHP/ton. I've just read the S11 regs and the R400 would fit in the lower echelons road car class B.

Only other comment would be that the lighter cars (like a Caterham) have a much higher proportion of drag to power ratio compared to the heavier and higher BHP cars. So power to weight ratio is not the leveller it might seem. But KH is quite tight and slow, so maybe not a show stopper.

[BigD]

The last rolling raod I did gave 185 bhp at the wheels and all up with fuel it may reach 585kg which puts it over the 300BHP/ton. I've just read the S11 regs and the R400 would fit in the lower echelons road car class B.

Only other comment would be that the lighter cars (like a Caterham) have a much higher proportion of drag to power ratio compared to the heavier and higher BHP cars. So power to weight ratio is not the leveller it might seem. But KH is quite tight and slow, so maybe not a show stopper.

Evo's are shaped like bricks. But I see your point.

[Mikie711]

Ali, S11 is the same regs that govern sprints and hillclimbs for roadgoing series and specialist production cars. In a nut shell you have to have the original engine gearbox for the model and you can't change the silhouette of the car, no giant wings . Further all standard trim and equipment must be present and work, heaters, ac etc.
S12 is a lot more open but the car still has to have the original engine block and be in the same engine capacity class as original so engine swap cars are out, no honda elises unfortunately. Reg 12.6.1 applies in case anyone is interested.

All the MSA regs are online. S11 and 12 can be found here for anyone that wants a look see

[Dominic]

Hmmm interesting!

[Scottish Scrutineer]

Mikie beat me to it

edited to add:

All cars must comply with the MSA Technical Regulations section S11 for road cars and S12 for modified cars.

What does that mean Renny? All cars must comply with road car regs? or are there seperate modified car classes?

The events are only open to "Production Cars". If not competing in road legal condition (taxed, MOT'd etc), they will be in the Modified classes and require cage, MSA Log Book, harness etc

My understanding of the classes is that there are only the 4 classes, and it's all done by power to weight ratio. ie if you modify your car to strip out all the interior you'll improve your power to weight ratio and likely elevate you to the next category up.

What isn't so clear is whether any cars with swapped engines will be permitted (e.g. Honda powered Elises, Willie's LS1 powered TVR, or Andy Forrests' Impreza which is fitted with a Subaru SVX 6 cylinder engine). It would be a big shame if these were excluded, as they would be very competitive given they were mostly built to do track days and would be a big crowd puller.

If you strip the interior, other than carpets/mats, you will move into "Modified" class and need logbook etc S11.4.6. Engines must be as fitted to original model or specified option S11.5.1/S12.6.1



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[Scottish Scrutineer]

Just to add, S10.5.4 allows electric vehicles, and FIA approved footwear is not compulsory, so Tut could use his mobility scooter if it meets a few other regs.


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