Super Tourer on the TV...

RickP:Clio51 · 21 Apr 2006, 11:32 (Ref:1590761)

Ok, so it's a shameless plug, but fans of the SuperTouring era might enjoy the Dutch Super Cars coverage from Spa on Motors TV this weekend (4pm and 9pm Saturday, slightly different times in Europe...)
We had a pretty good weekend with the Primera, showing up some serious machinery and hopefully we'll get some decent coverage in the 1 hour programme (although u never know...)
For you stats guys out there... despite running on enduro tyres and it being my first weekend in the car, the Nissan (1999 car dont' forget so a few years old) set a time in the second race that would've put me 3rd on the grid for the WTCC race last year!
SuperTourers: not quite gone and certainly not forgotten!

Sodemo · 21 Apr 2006, 18:09 (Ref:1591073)

What kind of performance do those enduro tyres give you, do they scream in agony at the slightest amount of torture?

The reason I ask is that a 1999 super tourer did have about 320BHP, so I presume once they are de-tuned slightly, and you have the bloaty black things on your rims, do they lap what, about 10 seconds off the pace of a works 1999 car?

luke · 21 Apr 2006, 19:30 (Ref:1591150)

And there was me thinking you meant our member...

avro · 22 Apr 2006, 18:31 (Ref:1592001)

I would be very suprissed if the Nissan was detunned from 320 bhp, most of the cars including this 99 car that ran in the Super Touring Car Challange a couple of years back were on the limit.

I would also expect the cars to be only just off the pace from when they raced in 1999, depends on which circuit.

The 1999 Primera in question is a well sorted and very quick car.

RickP:Clio51 · 23 Apr 2006, 18:08 (Ref:1593002)

The car is probably in slightly better condition than when it won the BTCC... around 320bhp is about right... and the enduro tyres are probably not so far away from what they were running back then, but I'd imagine the WTCC boys are on something a bit more advanced and softer given they're only up for a 20min fight each time...
Having not taken it somewhere that they ran in the same configuration I'd not know how we compare, but I'd have thought given the Dutch excitement about the time we set (2m33.6) that we're pretty dang close to the best pace that Supertourers have been doing at any point on that Spa configuration.
Would certainly be a bit unhappy if we were more than a second or so back!
Hope a few of you caught the coverage, we got a fair go of the TV... particularly nice onboard sequence of a V8 star Passat and all you can see in his mirrors is the Nissan harrying him!

redshoes · 23 Apr 2006, 19:31 (Ref:1593072)

A quick dig through the reference books...

2000 French TCC round @ Spa, which I think was the last time a proper Supertouring field ran at Spa - pole time as 2m 33.781s with a fastest race lap of 2m 34.520s, both by William David in a Pug 406, however that was a wet race.

Go back to 1996, 4 Belgium TCC rounds at Spa, pole times:
1) 2m 30.731s by Thierry Tassin, BMW 318is
2) 2m 32.254s by Marc Duez, BMW 318is
3) 2m 29.062s by Didier de Radigues, Honda Accord
4) 2m 27.579s by Erc van de Poele, Nissan Primera

Also from 1996, Spa 24hrs, so running enduro spec
2m 31.441s by Soper/Kox/Duez, BMW 318is

Depends on tyres, weather and how much money you've got to throw at the car but based on that I would say your 2m 33 was in the ballpark.

Sodemo · 23 Apr 2006, 23:10 (Ref:1593272)

I watched some old Super Tourers racing last year at Silverstone, I cant recall the exact series, but it had a 1998 Vectra, 1997 Primera, 1995 Cavalier and a 1998 Mondeo I believe. But I could tell having been to dozens of BTCC races that these cars weren't revving as highly, or cornering as quick as the works cars did, I assumed the cheaper tyres and slight de-tune on the engine was the cause.

Chris Y · 23 Apr 2006, 23:47 (Ref:1593293)

Don't forget that the profile of Spa has changed slightly in the last couple of years - the re-profiled, slower Bus-stop chicane will have added perhaps a second to the times.

avro · 24 Apr 2006, 08:37 (Ref:1593523)

The race last year at Silverstone was the LMA Euro Saloons.

With regards to the reving, all cars racing were reving upto 8500 rpm and were in places on the limiter, with regards to cornering yes we would be slower on at least three points

1. We are only club racers not paid touring car drivers
2. Most are running second hand tyres
3. We own our own cars and have to pick up the bill if we go off which ain't cheap

We are again at Silverstone on the 14th May in the LMA Euro Saloons, there are to be at least the following Super Tourers racing again.

1996 Nissan Primera
1997 Nissan Primera
1999 Nissan Primera
1994 Vauxhall Cavalier
1997 Opel Vectra
1996 Honda Accord
1997 Honda Accord
2000 Ford Mondeo

RickP:Clio51 · 24 Apr 2006, 14:23 (Ref:1593792)

I'm told that the new configuration is around 1.5 secs slower for the bus-stop, the tyres are at least a couple of seconds off since we were on enduro dunlops (for the first time when the car was optimised for a softer Michelin) and I had at least 40 litres of fuel on board at the time as the race had 50mins left to run...
Given we were also a touch detuned to get the engine reliable for that length of race.... and it was my first time in a Super Tourer...
Also when considering the lap times for the French round, keep in mind the car is prob only about 5 secs off in complete wet conditions... I think both qualifying and the race that weekend saw a definite dry line.

Consider me pretty content!

Thanks for all the stats Reds!

Just wait until we get on the twists of Zolder and then Brands GP...

redshoes · 24 Apr 2006, 15:43 (Ref:1593835)

Did wonder about circuit changes after I posted that. Had a feelling the bus-stop section had changed but couldn't remember when.

Last time on Brands GP was BTCC in 2000. Menu took pole in the Mondeo in 1m 27.655s, Colin Blair did 1m 32.007s in the Nissan. Plus/minus the changes at Dingle Dell of course.

Pity the Euro Saloons at Silverstone clash with BTCC at Oulton. I was hoping to catch a bit more of that this year. With luck I'll be able to get to Mallory at the end of May.

jonboyG · 25 Apr 2006, 13:46 (Ref:1594663)

That's fantastic news about the laptimes Rick. Sadly I can't get motors TV here in Kentucky, but if it shows up on the torrent sites I'll be sure to check it out.

**FIRE** · 25 Apr 2006, 14:50 (Ref:1594693)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonboyG

That's fantastic news about the laptimes Rick. Sadly I can't get motors TV here in Kentucky, but if it shows up on the torrent sites I'll be sure to check it out.

See http://video.supercarchallenge.nl for DSC video's.

On the right in the middle is a link to a video "Belcar First Race Spa". This video is a summary of last season. The 1st round at Spa will probably added in coming weeks.

Wilbo · 25 Apr 2006, 21:36 (Ref:1594943)

Thanks for the laptimes round Brands Redshoes. I had a good look on the web but couldn't find anything for the GP.

O' the reason for my interest is that I am running in another Primera on the GP circuit

(I love it!) in the DSC so nice to know we have some good competition, abliet our car is 2 years older (Reid 1997 RML), plus it will be the first race for me in the car, exuses, exuses!

redshoes · 25 Apr 2006, 22:03 (Ref:1594965)

Jim Pocklington's car by any chance?

See you at Brands. If last year's Silverstone race is anything to go by Brands should be a cracker.

Wilbo · 25 Apr 2006, 22:13 (Ref:1594973)

Yes that's right. Jims a great guy with a very ethusiastic team.

I tested the car a week or two back, it was astonishing, so different to my SP/S2000 BMW. I can't wait for Brands as it should really suit the STW's and with our Dutch friends having to acquaint themselves with the track I would hope that both the boys in the 99 car and ourselves can maybe produce a few surprises!

(here's to hoping!)

RickP:Clio51 · 27 Apr 2006, 07:26 (Ref:1595980)

Must admit Wilbo, I'm pretty optimistic for Brands as well.... in fact down right excited would prob be nearer the mark.
Looking forward to having another Nissan out there with us!

The video on the supercarchallenge.nl website is 48 mins long, the first half is a review of the last few races of last season, the second half of it is us doing our stuff... so no excuses JonBoy! Super Tourers apexing Eau Rouge at 200kph... marvellous stuff!

Wilbo · 30 Apr 2006, 18:14 (Ref:1598232)

I watched the DSC coverage on Motors TV the other week, very good, I think I can safely say you were both well on it!

I think the video on the web site will be the same as the TV footage (not a bad thing!) so I will watch again and again and again!

RickP:Clio51 · 30 Apr 2006, 19:08 (Ref:1598255)

the guy in the 570bhp Passat V8 Star was pretty sick of me being in his mirrors I think... ;-)
Roll on Zolder!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Nissan Super Tourer in the DSC	RickP:Clio51	Touring Car Racing	41	26 Jun 2006 18:21
Super Tourer Saloons	garry	National & Club Racing	2	10 Aug 2004 11:52
Most underrated driver in the Super Tourer era	Radisichrox	Touring Car Racing	11	4 Aug 2001 20:52