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#435 DEFINING CAR CULTURE

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ED START
Issue 435 August 2021

Part of the Fast Car Entertainment Family If you’re a true car nut - and, let’s face it, we all are, you’re reading this
mag for starters - then you’ll no doubt get a marvellously moist feeling
www.fastcar.co.uk
when you think about forced induction. Be it through a shrieking turbo or a
Fast Car Magazine
Kelsey Media whining supercharger, cramming a shedload of extra air into your engine’s
The Granary,
Downs Court, cylinders is the easiest way to boost your car’s bhp – and add a whole new

Yalding Hill, Yalding, dimension to its sonic symphony to boot. But it’s not just the preserve of
Maidstone, Kent,
ME18 6AL the petrolhead, as motor manufacturers have recently re-embraced the
EDITORIAL
noble art of forced induction too, adding turbos to anything and everything
Editor: Dan Sherwood
Email: [email protected] with the view that the humble blower can not only increase performance,

Art Editor: Graham Morecroft but also efficiency, allowing smaller engines to be used that still pack a big
Email: [email protected]
punch. And while we’re less concerned with mpg figures, what we can all
Web Editor: Matthew Bell
Email: [email protected] relate to is the tyre-shredding gains, which is why we’ve dedicated this issue
Contributors: Daniel Bevis, Ollie Wildsmith, Matt Woods,
Paddy McGrath, Graham Leigh, Steve Hall, Tom Clarke to the house of boost!
ADVERTISEMENT SALES & PRODUCTION
Kicking things off in style is Simon Cottingham’s carbon clad Mitsubishi
Director: David Lerpiniere
[email protected] Evo IX. Featuring not just a huge turbo, but a supercharger too, its lag-free

Tel: 01732 445326 790bhp is enough to radically re-arrange your face! Check it out on page 12.
Sales manager: Russell Bedford
[email protected] Elsewhere in the issue is a host of other forced induction fancies including

Tel: 01732 445328 a Fiesta ST with a supercharged Honda K20, a 400bhp Golf R with a spicy
Ad Production: Talk Media: 01732 445325
Wasabi green wrap and Meguiar’s own turbo terror that is Tom Clarke’s
MANAGEMENT
Chief Executive: Steve Wright Volvo Amazon. In fact, the only car in the issue that’s not ‘on the charge’
Chief Operating Officer: Phil Weeden
Subscription Marketing Director: Gill Lambert (geddit?), is the slammed Porsche Boxster on page 38. But what it lacks
Retail Director: Steve Brown
Print Production Manager: Georgina Harris in boost, it makes up for with juice, as it packs a full USA-spec Pro Hopper
Print Production Controllers: Kelly Orriss and Hayley Brown
Subs Marketing Executives: Dave Sage and Claire Aspinall hydraulic system that can really make the car dance!
Affiliate Marketing: Kate Chamberlain
But you can’t talk about bigger boost, without addressing the issue of
SUBSCRIPTIONS
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UK annual subscription price: £77.87 of uprating your car’s cooling systems to ensure peak performance and
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3rd Floor, 161 Marsh Wall, London, Words Dan Sherwood Photography Various FC TECH: 13 REASONS FOR TURBO FAILURE
E14 9AP
FEATURE OF THE MONTH ARE YOU KILLING
Tel: 0330 3906555 Are you killing your turbo? YOUR TURBO?
Distribution in Northern Ireland and the Republic Of Ireland
Turbos are great, aren’t they? Strap one to your We speak to top forced induction experts to find out 13 reasons
Newspread: Tel: +353 23 886 3850 engine and you can instantly double the horsepower. why turbos fail and how you can prevent it
PRINTING But it’s not all fun and games, as turbos come with
their own set of requirements to keep them happy, Turbos are the magical power adders that put huge smiles are extremely tough pieces of hardware that endure some of
William Gibbons & Sons Ltd and you will ignore these at your peril. So, in order to on our faces, but treat them badly and they’ll throw a hissy the harshest conditions your engine dishes out. Looked after
Kelsey Media 2021 © all rights reserved. Kelsey Media is a trading name of ensure your metallic snail remains in its happy place, fit of diva-like proportions. However, is it all the turbo’s fault? properly, they can last the lifetime of your car, even when
Kelsey Publishing Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden except we’ve highlighted 13 ways you could be killing your Or are there other factors at work that are leading to their tuned, but they’re not indestructible and they rely on other
with permission in writing from the publishers. Note to contributors: articles turbo and how to avoid them. See page 53 for more! untimely demise? Speaking to a host of top turbocharging parts of your engine being in tip top condition too, so read on
submitted for consideration by the editor must be the original work of the experts it appears that, far from being the prissy prima to see the top 13 reasons you could be killing your turbo and
author and not previously published. Where photographs are included, which Next Issue 436 donnas that many people mistake them for, turbochargers what you can do to prevent it.
are not the property of the contributor, permission to reproduce them must on sale 13 •08•2021
How to prevent it
have been obtained from the owner of the copyright. The editor cannot Similar to before, a good quality oil and filter,
guarantee a personal response to all letters and emails received. The views changed well before the prescribed intervals is
essential, although adding an inline turbo pre-
expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor or the filter could also help catch any errant particles
Publisher. Kelsey Publishing Ltd accepts no liability for products and services hell bent on waging war on your turbo.

offered by third parties. 1 OIL STARVATION reading directly from the oil feed union to the 3 IMPACT DAMAGE
Kelsey Media takes your personal data very seriously. For more information of turbo – as any drop in pressure can destroy a
Without question the most common cause turbo very quickly. The air filter isn’t just there to protect the
our privacy policy, please visit Kelsey Media takes your personal data very of turbocharger failure is oil starvation. A engine itself from ingesting harmful debris such
seriously. For more information of our privacy policy, please visit https://www. turbocharger’s turbine shaft runs at speeds 2 OIL CONTAMINATION as dust particles, small stones, dirt and leaves,
kelsey.co.uk/privacy-policy/ . If at any point you have any queries regarding of over 150,000rpm and at temperatures it’s also there to protect the turbocharger’s
exceeding 900°C, and can do so almost Many people assume that if they run their compressor wheel and its delicate blades,
Kelsey’s data policy you can email our Data Protection Officer at endlessly, but only when they are lubricated as engine on dirty or contaminated oil, the oil because almost any object that gets sucked in
[email protected]. they were designed to be. To work effectively, filter will remove any foreign matter before is going to do major damage. Just a small chip in
a turbo needs a constant flow and pressure of the oil reaches the engine or the turbocharger. one of the compressor wheel blades will cause
www.kelsey.co.uk clean, good quality oil. This not only works to However, this can be a very costly mistake. Just an imbalance that will cause the bearings to fail
lubricate the thrust and journal bearings, but like having not enough oil is seriously bad news at some point, while greater impacts can snap
also helps stabilise the rotating shaft and journal for your car’s blower, running with contaminated off portions of the blades or and even shatter
bearings, as well as acting as a coolant. This oil is also a sure fire way to kill off your turbo. the entire compressor wheel. Although more
requirement is intensified as the turbocharger This is because any particles of debris floating likely, and easier to prevent, impact damage
speed and engine load increases. Even a small around in the oil system, from the products of isn’t limited to the turbo’s compressor wheel,
reduction in oil pressure can be enough to kill fuel combustion such as ash, soot, the un-burnt as it can also happen to the turbine wheel by
your turbo in seconds and can be identified heavy ends of the fuel and water, to tiny metal debris from inside the combustion chamber.
by either blueing on the turbo shaft or seized particles produced by the general wear and tear This could be anything from lumps of carbon,
bearings. The main causes of oil starvation of the engine, will eventually get past the oil injector tips or broken valve parts, to bits of
range from oil pump failure, low oil levels and filter and end up at the turbo causing damage weld or rust from the manifold. But whatever it
old dirty oil, to broken or blocked oil feed pipes, to the usually smooth surfaces of the bearings is, anything hitting the turbine wheel will cause
which can be obstructing the flow of the oil to and shaft. But it’s not just particles getting past considerable amounts of damage.
the turbo, even if your oil pressure gauge is the oil filter that can cause damage, as other
registering that all is fine at the engine itself. engine problems that allow water or fuel to mix How to prevent it
Be warned. with the oil, even in small quantities – such as Always invest in a good quality air filter with
head gasket failure – will prevent the oil from good filtration properties as well as air flow
How to prevent it working as it should, reducing the supportive, and make sure you clean it regularly as per
Use a good quality oil and filter and change cooling and lubricating functions of the oil. And the manufacturer’s instructions. Also, be
them sooner than your manufacturer when this happens, it is always the turbo the sure to check the turbo for loose connections
recommended intervals. Keep an eye on your oil fails first. and debris, especially if fitting a turbo after
pressure too – through either the factory gauge a previous failure. If possible, check exhaust
or preferably a more accurate aftermarket item manifolds for signs of internal rust or loose weld
spots too.

defining car culture 053

006 www.fastcar.co.uk

Contents 012

FEATURE CARS 052 REGULAR FEATURES

Charge Of The Light Brigade 012 Front End 008
Carbon clad Evo packs a 790bhp twin-
charged engine for maximum carnage! BMW gets its drift on, Fast and the

Furious Supra sells for $550,000!

030 067

Amazon Fresh 058
025The build is now complete, so here’s the

inside scoop on Meguiar’s Volvo Amazon

East Meets West 024 021
With a supercharged Honda K20 engine
under the bonnet, this Fiesta ST is on fire!
Audi RS3 8V Buying Guide 067

030 How to get your hands on the king of

the hot hatch crowd

OUT THERE

Tuckin’ In 021
We check out the sun scorched rides at the
brand new Tucked On The Green show

It’s Not Easy Being Green 030 072
400bhp engine, air ride and a Kermit
green wrap mean this Golf R’s no muppet Hyundai i30N Tuning Guide 072

Courtenay Sport reveal how to modify

038 your i30N to heat up your Hyundai

Staff Rides 089

More modified shenanigans with the

PRODUCTS motors from the Fast Car fleet

The hottest gear this month 075 Subscriptions 094

Keep up to date withTeam FC Here’s how to get your favourite mag
on…www.fastcar.co.uk,
delivered directly to your door
Facebook, Twitter &
Birthday Bumps 038 Instagram Next Month 098

Celebrating 25 years of Porsche’s drop Check out what we have in store for you
top, this hydro-slammed Boxster is nuts!
in the next awesome edition

defining car culture 007

UP FRONT Tuning news from around the world

BMW GETS ITS
DRIFT ON!

THE MUNICH MOTOR MAKER HAS ENTERED ITS OWN FACTORY-BACKED TEAM INTO THE DRIFT
MASTERS EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

BMW’s M-division, the in-house terms of driving skills and technology. The ready builds also show how good a basis
builders of its line of bonkers road-going BMW M4 Competition is an ideal new the BMW M4 Competition provides
‘bahnstormers and the firm’s factory- competition vehicle for both of them to for motorsport use. From the start of
backed racing entrants, has finally jumped achieve success during the 2021 season.” its development, we had designed the
on the drifting bandwagon by supporting production vehicle to also form the basis
two BMW M4 Competition models set to But even with such an awesome for the BMW M4 GT3, which we officially
compete in the Drift Masters European machine at their disposal, the seasoned presented during the 24-hour race at the
Championship this year. sliders have still had their way with the cars Nürburgring earlier in the year.”
to make them even more competitive for
Driven and prepared by the Red drifting. For starters, the performance of The Driftbrothers will contest the
Bull sponsored Driftbrothers, Elias and the straight-six engines has been doubled series as two of the best 45 drivers from
Johannes Hountondji, the pair of highly to an insane 1050bhp and 958lb ft of Europe, the USA and the Middle East
modified M4s will take to the grid for torque, while the unique aero parts such that have been invited to participate in
the first time on the 10th and 11th July as the carbon rear spoiler gurney, the rear the Championship that sees the sideways
for the opening round of the season in diffuser side plates, and front and rear sliders face-off and burn rubber at circuits
Greinbach, Austria. winglets, were designed in collaboration in Austria, Norway, Poland, Latvia and
with and manufactured by BMW M Georgia. In addition to the five racing
“BMW M has always stood for Prototype Construction. weekends, demo appearances are also
motorsports at the highest level and in scheduled for 2021 at the MotoGP races
all of its diversity, whereby we are also “I am deeply impressed with what the at the Sachsenring and the Red Bull Ring,
open to disciplines such as drift sports,” Red Bull Driftbrothers have managed the Austrian Formula 1 Grand Prix – also at
says Markus Flasch, CEO of the BMW M to coax out of our vehicles and wish the Red Bull Ring – as well as the 24-hour
GmbH. “The Red Bull Driftbrothers belong both of them every success for the start race at the Nürburgring. Smokin!
to the absolute top group of the scene in of the season,” says Flasch. “The race-

008 www.fastcar.co.uk

FAST AND
THE FURIOUS
SUPRA SELLS
FOR ,

If Brian O’Conner knew that his lurid orange Supra would one day
fetch a whopping $550,000 (£393,000), we don’t think he would’ve
been so keen to give it away to his fellow petrolhead Dom Toretto at
the end of the original Fast and the Furious flick, even if he did owe
him a 10 second car! But this is not a movie, this is real life and that was
the actual price paid for the car when it went to auction in Las Vegas
recently. Eddie Paul at The Shark Shop in El Segundo, California, built
the vehicle which was used in the film for the interior and exterior shots
and driving sequences with Paul Walker behind the wheel, but admits
that, unlike its portrayal on-screen, this is no fire breathing modified
monster, but a standard 2JZ GTE with a four-speed automatic gearbox.
We know that prices of JDM cars have been going a bit wild recently
– we saw a factory fresh EK9 Civic reach £71k and a genuine Kenmeri
GT-R make a staggering £388k – but this is just insane!

defining car culture 009

UP FRONT Get ready for a show season to remember!

SHOWS ARE A GO!
RELAXING COVID RESTRICTIONS MEANS THE SHOW SEASON’S BIG THREE
ARE SET TO BE STORMERS!

While we’d take the first six months of circuit in Northamptonshire is the venue for all
three of the biggest and best shows of the year,
2021 over the same period last year, for fans starting off with one for the Blue Oval boys.
of car shows it’s been a time of confusing and Ford Fair is on the 8th August and promises
often conflicting information. Can we attend a to be an event packed to the gills with Ford’s
car show? Will it be going ahead? Will we need finest. Next up on the calendar is Japfest on the
to be vaccinated? Well, it appears that, as the 4th September. This has long been Europe’s
country has done such a good job of culling the biggest and best celebration of cars from the
dreaded Covid, through all the measures that Far East and is set to continue that trend this
have been in place, we can finally enjoy a summer year too. Finally, there’s one for everyone, in
of car shows the way they always used to be, Trax, which is set to see out the bulk of the show
and just in the nick of time too. To celebrate our season with a bang on the 3rd October. Check
new found petrol-fuelled freedom, why not get out www.fastcar.co.uk for more info on each
yourself to one of the show season’s big three show and to book your ticket.
events and really get your show on. Silverstone

AIRLIFT LAUNCHES
NEW BLOG SERIES

The air ride gurus at Air Lift Performance have launched a brand new blog
series that will run on their website. Dubbed the “Around the World” series,
this online bi-weekly update is slated to feature 10 of the brand’s shops,
dealers and installers from, cunningly… all around the world. The series
has already featured bagged rides from as far afield as China, Indonesia
and Australia, so head over to the website www.airliftperformance.com
to have a gander and keep up to date with what’s going on in the wilder
world of air-slammed rides. ■

010 www.fastcar.co.uk



HOT RIDE

012 www.fastcar.co.uk

MITSUBISHI EVO IX

CHARGE
BRLIIOGGF THAHEDT E

Simon Cottingham’s superleggera Evo is packing
a militaristic arsenal within that brutalist carbon
profile: not just a massive turbo, but a massive
supercharger too…

Words Daniel Bevis Photography Adrian Brannan

Defining car culture 013

HOT RIDE

There’s a certain appropriateness to the way Mitsubishi Lancer which way you went.
Evolution models evolve at the hands of tuners and modifiers. After The car we have with us today has, it’s fair to say, evolved way beyond
all, the very nature of natural selection and genetic variation are baked
right in to the formula – it says it right there on the bootlid, the car’s even the wildest dreams of Mitsubishi’s own product developers and
all about evolution. And this is something the brand has been proudly engineers – a carbon-clad powerhouse with a truly innovative engine
displaying for over 150 years. setup designed for colossal and usable power. Built by revered

One of the oldest and most diverse manufacturing outfits in EVIL TWINS
Japan, Mitsubishi was founded in 1870 as a shipping firm; the name
translates as ‘three diamonds’, hence the iconic badge. The firm The developers at Norris Designs have been working on twin-charging
rapidly diversified – shipping requires coal, so company founder for some time. The basis of the setup you see here was originally
Yataro Iwasaki made inroads into the coal-mining business, then set- developed in 2010, and they’ve been refining it ever since. It’s a bolt-on
up an iron mill to provide the requisite raw materials, before starting a system with a bespoke Eaton supercharger which, unlike other twin-
marine insurance business. The aim was to cover all angles in-house, charging systems you might have seen, works in a true OEM style: that
and that’s a philosophy which has continued throughout Mitsubishi’s is to say, rather than running as a full compound at all times, it keeps
history: today the company deals in cars, aerospace technology, the supercharger and the turbocharger separate. As is the nature of a
nuclear energy, home electronics, machine tools, space launch blower, it spools up rapidly at lower revs, and as engine speeds increase
vehicles, financial services, even missiles. the clutched mechanism de-couples the supercharger and lets the
turbo take over. This essentially means that there’s no lag, just relentless
It’s the cars we’re most interested in, obviously (otherwise you’d be thrust: huge torque throughout the rev range, and extremely usable
holding a copy of Fast Missile or Fast Television in your hands), and power. What’s more, the bolt-on nature means that it works happily with
in particular the remarkable Lancer Evolution series. This firebrand the OEM power steering and air-con, along with pretty much any stock
hellion spilled out of the WRC and onto the road, selling insane four- or aftermarket turbo you care to name.
door saloons by the bucketload – cars that you could justify as practical The Version 3 supercharger kit comprises everything required for
to the other half, thanks to having a full complement of doors and installation, including a custom inlet manifold, 4-injector fuel rail, all of
a usable boot, but there really wasn’t anything sensible about these the pipework for the supercharger and turbo, a rocker cover breather,
machines. With engine and chassis tech developed in motorsport, and all the necessary bolts and belts. A supremely clever offering, and
there weren’t many ways to get from point-to-point quicker on open a very hardcore way to magnify and amplify the performance of an Evo.
ground. On winding B-roads, Ferrari owners wouldn’t have any idea

The Eton supercharger is bespoke
to the kit and offers zero lag
performance

014 www.fastcar.co.uk

MITSUBISHI EVO IX

The supercharger and turbo
combine to produce a brutal
790bhp of instant
face-rearranging power

Defining car culture 015

HOT RIDE

marque specialist Norris Designs for its owner, Simon Cottingham, it’s How Simon has the ability to keep an eye on these
quite possibly the most highly developed and advanced Evo IX in the when all hell’s breaking loose, we’ll never know!
UK today.
IX RS, it was totally factory-standard. It cost £18,500 back in 2016,
So what is an Evo IX? Well, the Evolution line ran from 1992-2016, which could have turned into a canny investment since this sought-
and can broadly be lumped into four distinct groups: the Evo, Evo II after model is floating around the £40k mark now… but this was never
and III were closely related; so were the IV, V and VI; the VII, VIII and IX intended to be a speculative purchase. Simon knows when to keep
were the last of the ‘true’ Evos, and the Evo X remixed the formula with things stock and when to go all-in with the mods, and he had a clear
a different engine (all of the previous generations having run the iconic idea in mind with this one: show-winning looks backed up by a serious
4G63 motor). The ninth-generation Evo was available in a variety of chassis and some devastating firepower.
spec levels in different markets, all with their own unique figures and
features. Ignoring the numerous special-edition variations and all the “All my cars are set up for fast-road, as I live in the best area in Wales
hopped-up MR- and FQ-branded nutters, the three fundamental for roads,” he says, “and my tuner Simon Norris has made specific
specs were RS, GT, and GSR. The RS was the lightweight one, the handling packages to achieve this.” The IX isn’t exactly soggy in stock
GSR was the one with the 6-speed ’box and Bilsteins, and the GT was form, but the chassis has been upgraded here with mighty AP Racing
somewhere in between. For truly hardcore enthusiasts – like Simon – brakes along with Öhlins Road & Track coilovers, a full Superpro bush
the RS is the one to have. “I fell in love with the spec after buying my kit, and all manner of bracing and stiffening. This creates the perfect
Evo VI RS,” he explains. “The RS variant is totally different to the GSRs environment for the powerplant which, as you’ll have noted if you’ve
and the like, it’s so much more pure and focused – and it’s very well glanced over the spec list, is pretty bloody serious.
suited to the amazing roads I have on my doorstep.”
Taking the revered 4G63 as a base, Norris Designs has reimagined
Situated in picturesque South Wales, Simon has a wealth of scenic the formula and taken it to hysterical new places. Dry-sumped in
vistas to hustle through in his fully dialled-in street weapons. And since motorsport style, the belt-and-braces have been taken care of by
we’ve presented him as a ‘truly hardcore enthusiast’, let’s lay out some strengthening the internals and running a Stage 2 cylinder head
credentials: his back-catalogue of cars started in typically gentle style with wire-rung gasket. The fuelling is massively uprated with ID
(as it is for most teenagers) with a Renault 5 followed by a Daewoo 1300 injectors, a Magnus regulator and inlet manifold, and high-flow
Nexia, but things rapidly spiralled as he got a taste for power. Simon Magnus fuel rail, and the throttle body, oil cooler and intercooler are all
has trouble remembering all of the high-performance machines he’s usefully enlarged. The real fireworks begin with the supercharger that
owned as there have been so many, but the list includes three Nissan you see nestling proudly at the top of the bay [see boxout], working
Pulsars, a Toyota MR-2 T-bar, an Audi Quattro, and a Ford Focus that hand-in-hand not with the standard turbo, but with a Norris Designs
previously featured within these pages… plus a bunch of Lancers 8R billet turbocharger and 66mm external wastegate, going into a full
including an Evo II RS, Evo VIII GSR and Evo X RS. A strong list, and 3.5in exhaust system.
today his collection makes for equally robust viewing: as well as this
astonishing Evo IX, he has not one but two shiny new Toyota GR Twin-charging is a technology with an interesting history. Lancia was
Yarises to play with (both with the Circuit Pack, natch), a new GR Supra, the first manufacturer to pioneer the concept in 1985, on the Group
one of only twenty Evo V RS to be built in red, and an Evo VI RS with B Delta S4 rally car. (As is the nature of homologation, there was a
a full Varis kit and 625bhp. road-going counterpart, making the Delta S4 Stradale the first twin-
charged production road car.) Japanese manufacturers were quick to
Phew. A man who knows his Japanese onions, then. And what’s harness the idea for efficiency as much as performance, with perhaps
particularly impressive to note is that when Simon imported this Evo

Bride GIAS 2 seats with Scroth
harnesses hold Simon in place

when pushing to the limit

Tiny boot-mounted battery
keeps the weight down and
frees up crucial space in the bay

016 www.fastcar.co.uk

MITSUBISHI EVO IX

“All my cars are set up for fast-road
and my tuner has made specific
handling packages to achieve this”

the most iconic manifestation being the Nissan March Super Turbo of No need for a gearstick when the
1988; nowadays the idea is a little more mainstream, with Volvo selling shifting duties are taken care of by
twin-charged T6s and T8s, and the Volkswagen group bolting 1.4-litre
twin-charged units into everything from Golfs and Passats to the SEAT the steering wheel paddles
Alhambra, Audi A1 and Skoda Fabia. But much of this is for economy Defining car culture 017
– if you want twin-charging for out-and-out power, you need to look to
the aftermarket (kits are available from various sources, for example,
for the MINI Cooper S, Toyota MR-2 and Subaru Impreza WRX) and,
if it’s an Evo you’re looking at, then Norris Designs are the go-to guys.
With the astonishing technology under Simon’s bonnet, day-to-day
usability and OEM-like reliability fuse with eye-watering power: his
4G63 is now running a colossal 790bhp, with a Link G4 ECU calling
the shots and offering anti-lag and launch control. And what’s even
more impressive is that, with so much obsessive weight-saving going
on throughout the car, this Evo IX boasts a power-to-weight ratio of
695bhp-per-tonne.

How so? You’ve probably spotted that there’s something of a
carbon-fibre theme here. And whereas some people like to fit spurious
carbon trim pieces simply for the look, or carbon-dip their stock
panels, Simon’s carbon upgrades have all been done for function.
You see, carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer has a very high tensile
strength, low weight, high stiffness, high temperature tolerance, low
thermal expansion, and high chemical resistance. The benefits are
obvious – parts are simultaneously stronger and lighter, making the
car faster and safer. Of course, it’s also quite pricey – making CFRP

HOT RIDE TECH SPEC:
MITSUBISHI EVO IX
Carbon boot floor
houses a neat ENGINE: 2.0-litre, 4-cyl, 16v 4G63, Norris Designs Version 3
subwoofer install supercharger, Norris Designs 8R billet turbo, 66mm external
wastegate, boost control solenoid and 3-position switch,
is a fiddly process – which is part of the reason why you often see Norris Designs 3.5in exhaust system, replacement MIVEC
people running unpainted carbon-fibre bonnets and what-have-you. solenoid, CAN, lambda and Bosch knock sensors, Norris
It’s a badge of honour. And it’s keenly in evidence here. Simon’s Evo Designs purple rocker cover, Norris Designs forged long rod
sports carbon doors, bonnet, bootlid, front wings and headlight ‘drop-in’ I-beam upgrade, Norris Designs Stage 2 cylinder
intake all from the craftsmen at Seibon. Further carbon bits came from head and wire-rung head gasket, dry sump kit, tank, lines,
Rexpeed, including the splitter, diffuser, J-panels, sideskirt extensions, breather tank and HD oil cooler, Norris Designs 25-row oil
spats, canards, window vents and wing mirrors. All of this works with cooler, Iridium HKS spark plugs, Piper MIVEC cams, Norris
the brutal majesty of a Voltex Street widebody kit, and topped off by Designs springs, Norris Designs single pulley, 525l inline
a Varis carbon roof. This thing’s so featherweight it near-enough has fuel pump, ID 1300 injectors, Magnus regulator, Magnus
to be tethered down to stop it floating away. But at the same time, inlet manifold, Magnus fuel rail, hoses and fittings, S90
it’s a road car in regular use, so the creature comforts haven’t been throttle body, Norris Designs CDI ignition kit, Norris Designs
ignored – there’s a high-end audio setup in here, and the Bride seats intercooler, Mishimoto black silicone hose kit, air temp
were chosen as much for comfort as function. sensor and boss oil pressure sensor kit for 3D cut-off, K&N
air filter, alloy radiator, Norris Designs breather system with
Being such a technological powerhouse, we have to give the last sump return, Zaklee clear cam cover, Link G4 ECU, anti-lag
word to the transmission. Because while this is a road car, Simon on switch with launch control, always-on battery in boot,
wanted the gearbox to be something perfectly suited to the twin- Spec R fuse cover, purple Spec R expansion vessel, purple-
charged fury of the motor, and this meant swapping in a Drenth lid Spec R power steering tank, purple-lid Spec R radiator
sequential dog ’box, with straight-cut gears and flat-shifting capability. brackets, purple Rexpeed carbon bonnet dampers, Carbing
You’ll have spied the redundant gearstick hole, and the carbon shift carbon fibre slam panel
paddles behind the steering wheel – this is an air-shift system, the
paddles operating solenoids that actuate a high-pressure air supply to TRANSMISSION: Drenth sequential dog ’box, air paddle
bang in shifts with staggering quickness. setup with carbon paddles, Exedy twin-plate clutch,
Motec MDC diff controller, Mitsubishi RS rear diff, Quaife
“The car is absolutely spot-on now, and flat-shifting with the air replacement ACD diff
paddles is the best fun ever,” Simon grins. “And of course my favourite
part is that it’s twin-charged, so I have zero lag. A massive supercharger SUSPENSION: Öhlins Road & Track coilovers, full Superpro
handing over to an equally massive turbo is just sublime.” He’s not bush kit, Cusco anti-roll bar, uprated front drop-links, Norris
wrong. The way this Evo has evolved is breath-taking. With so many Designs supercharger under-bonnet strut, Carbing rear strut
interesting chapters of history behind it, telling stories of pioneering brace, one-off Cusco power brace, powder-coated purple
technology, Simon’s IX is pushing the Mitsubishi spirit into the future Momentum rear subframe, roll centre kit
with devastating force. 
BRAKES: AP Racing 355 front brake kit, Carbotech purple
018 www.fastcar.co.uk XP12 front pads, standard Brembo rear calipers with
uprated discs and pads, uprated hoses

WHEELS & TYRES: 18in WORK M1-3P 3-piece wheels with
Nankang Sportnex AR-1 tyres, purple WORK open nuts

EXTERIOR: Seibon OEM-style carbon bonnet, Seibon
carbon bootlid, Rexpeed carbon boot lip, Seibon carbon
doors, Seibon carbon headlight duct, Seibon carbon front
wings, Xtreme Carbon rear diffuser, Rexpeed carbon
sideskirt extensions, Rexpeed Varis-style diffuser, Rexpeed
carbon J panels, Rexpeed carbon side spats, Rexpeed
carbon filler cap, Rexpeed carbon splitter, Rexpeed canards
x4, Rexpeed carbon window vents, Rexpeed carbon
Ganador wing mirrors, Rexpeed carbon boot badge,
Rexpeed carbon number plate bracket, Varis carbon roof,
Voltex Street wing, Voltex Street sideskirts, Voltex Street
front bumper, Voltex Street under-diffuser, Voltex Street
brake ducts, Voltex Street wide-body rear arches, USDM
rear lights

INTERIOR: Bride GIAS 2 carbon-backed seats, Bride seat
belt covers and backrests, Bride seat rails, custom harness
bar, Schroth 4-point harnesses, Momo Tuner steering wheel,
snap-off boss, Defi boost gauge, Defi oil temp gauge, Defi
pressure gauge, dash gauge pod, 3-position boost switch,
anti-lag on intercooler button, launch control switch, Cusco
rollcage, Rexpeed polarised mirror glass, Varis dry carbon
gearknob, carbon doorcards, Smart Track tracker, Clifford
650C alarm, Clifford Shock setup, custom Evo boot build
with carbon Alpine 9in screen, iPhone compatibility, X-Fire
amp X-Fire sub, X-Fire front speakers and tweeters,

THANKS: “Thanks to Norris Designs for their legendary
support and professionalism, Torque GT for importing my
amazing cars, Jaz Oakley at Endless Road for his genius
bodywork, RossSport for their help in supply of parts,
Coconut Flamingo Photography for his on-board shoots,
and Gethin Beva Jones and Ben Sage for their input and
help.”

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TUCKED ON THE GREEN

Tuckin’ in!
After the Covid-induced famine of automotive events came to an end, we gorged ourselves
on the feast of metal on display at the brand new show, Tucked On The Green

Words & Photography Dan Sherwood

They say that ‘fortune favours the and there was talk of relaxed rules on the Tucked Automotive banner up at
brave’. But if, at the start of the year, the horizon, but at this point in time The Sharnbrook Hotel in Bedfordshire
you were considering launching a making any plans for a car show in that had proved really popular,” Lee
brand new automotive event onto the near future was like spinning the explains. “I called them Meet & Eats,
the calendar, most people would’ve roulette wheel and slapping your house as your ticket price included entry and
thought you less brave and more on black. No one knew for certain just you got some pizza from the hotel as
foolish. This was a time that restrictions how, or even if, the tide would change. a snack. It went down really well and
on social gatherings were still rife. Add in the wildly changeable weather soon we were turning people away as
Yes, the vaccine was being rolled out we were having back then, and the they started to get too big.”
chances of a successful outdoor event
must’ve seemed slim. But then there
are people out there that love living
life on the edge. That like taking risks
in the hope that, just maybe, they’ll
pay off. One such optimist is 24-year-
old Lee Shaw, who not only dared to
dream about putting on a show in this
most uncertain of times, but his first
ever show. Big risks, big rewards?

“I’d done a few small meets under

defining car culture 021

OUT THERE Which was what gave Lee the idea
to move to a larger venue and put on a
Skoda Fabia gets the fully fledged show.
harlequin treatment
“I’d been speaking with Ciro Ciampi,
who is the owner of the Sharnbrook Eye-popping R8
Hotel and also Petrolheadonism events, and R35 GT-R
about working together to expand the
meets into a one-off show,” Lee says.
“We initially found a venue, which
was just a village green in Finedon,
Northamptonshire, that if the stars
aligned and the whole Covid situation
didn’t throw a spanner in the works, we
thought might work. However, when
the tickets went on sale for the new
event, which we called Tucked On The
Green, the restrictions had lifted, and
people were obviously very keen to get
back to shows and the event sold out in
just four hours.”

Seeing the incredible demand, Lee

Immaculate Audi RS2

022 www.fastcar.co.uk

TUCKED ON THE GREEN

Stunning Audi 100 Coupe
was a star of the show

TUCKED AUTOMOTIVE

Lee’s up front about how the whole Tucked Automotive brand was created, and it was more luck than judgement in the
beginning, having started with just a random sticker that he created for his slammed – and tucked – Mk5 Golf. “People just liked
the sticker and asked me do make some for them and it just grew from there really,” he says. “I then started doing some more
branded merchandise, such as lanyards, caps and clothing and eventually setup my own small meets. I can’t believe how big
it has grown in such a short time.”

and Ciro decided a new, bigger and Stanced R32 GT-R
better venue was necessary to do the had bags of style
event justice. Having liked the vibe of
shows such as Players Classic and the venue all day on Sunday 13th June, and
Bicester Heritage meets, they started stunning show cars packed the place
looking at decommissioned Ministry Of with everything from stanced German
Defence bases and Duxford seemed to whips to lurid-coloured Lambos on
tick all the boxes. display, and even an immaculate replica
Ford GT40!
“Most people know Duxford for the
Imperial War Museum, but there’s a “I was really shocked by the amazing
whole other side to the place which is support from the show cars, the
where the old barracks were situated traders, sponsors and general visitors
that, when we went to view it, we just who attended the show,” beams Lee.
knew would make a great venue for a “It turned out even better than I ever
car show.” imagined and I was so happy with
how everyone respected the beautiful
A bigger venue, costing more money venue.”
with more complicated logistics and
more to go wrong was a big gamble And with this success now under his
to take, especially as it was Lee’s first belt, Lee’s looking to the future to see
attempt at putting on show. But the what will be next for his burgeoning
show gods were obviously smiling on brand. But whatever he decides, one
Lee, as scorching sunshine bathed the thing’s for sure: this won’t be the last
we see of Tucked Automotive, as with
bravery like this pushing it forward, this
is surely just the beginning. 

defining car culture 023

HOT RIDE

Words & Photography Dan Sherwood

MWEEAEESSTTTS

Powered by one of the Far East’s most
potent powerplants, Jason West’s Fiesta
ST150 is a mental mashup of truly

transcontinental proportions

When it comes to truly legendary engines, there’s a strong case to say
that few can match the motors hailing from the Far East. Over-engineered
to almost bulletproof levels means that the likes of the 3.0-litre, twin turbo
2JZ-GTE, as found in the MkIV Toyota Supra, can, with a little fettling,
comfortably produce around four-times its quoted stock output. OK, it’s
a fair bit of fettling, but any engine capable of a four-figure output is still
something to be admired. But the 2JZ wasn’t the only freak of engineering
excellence, as there are countless other weird and wonderful Japanese-
designed powerplants that have stamped their nomenclature in the
history books. The RB26 from the Nissan Skyline range for example, or the
bonkers wankel-based wonder from the Mazda RX-7. But when it comes to
a Japanese engine that has truly defined legendary status, you need look
no further than Honda’s K20.

Equipped with the schizophrenic VTEC system, the naturally aspirated
2.0-litre lump is capable of 197bhp straight out of the box and can push
over twice that with the addition of forced induction, even while retaining
the stock internals. And it’s this hard-as-nails reputation, combined with a
love of living life at the redline, that has made it the weapon of choice for
many engine swaps over the years, and not just into similarly Far Eastern
machinery. Everything from Minis to Porsches have been K20-equipped
over the years and they are even used in the bonkers British rollcage on
wheels that is the Aerial Atom! So it’s of little surprise that it soon came to
the attention of engine-swap supremo Jason West.

“I’ve owned my fair share of hot hatches over the years, including
numerous Astra VXRs and Focus RSs, which are great as road cars, but
just seemed to lack the raw adrenaline rush you get from a more track-
orientated machine,” explains 30-year-old Jason. “And it was seeking
that visceral thrill that lead me into the often murky world of engine
conversions.”

Having previous experience with GM-branded machinery, Jason
dabbled for a while in the increasingly-common practice of Saab-powered
conversions, where he fitted a host of turbocharged 2.3-litre B234 engines
into various Griffin-badged motors.

“The B234 is a decent engine. It’s powerful, cheap and strong, and – at
the time – you could get your hands on them pretty easily,” Jason explains.
“But being a cast iron block, they was no getting away from the weight,
which wasn’t such a problem in the bigger cars I swapped them into, such
as Vectras and Cavaliers, but when I decided to do a crazy Corsa swap, the

024 www.fastcar.co.uk

K20 SUPERCHARGED FIESTA ST

Defining car culture 025

HOT RIDE

While not as potent as a Rotrex
‘charger, the Jackson Racing
unit adds a healthy 100bhp to
the K20’s output

Saab-sourced lump just didn’t fit the bill.” equipped with the high-revving Honda engine and he’d even given it a
Having tried the 2.3-litre unit in the cramped confines of a Corsa B shell, forced induction kick with a Jackson Racing supercharger too!

Jason knew instantly that it was just too much weight for the curvy Corsa to “The JR ‘charger is a popular modification to the K20, but it’s getting
bear, so started looking into other options. rarer now due to Jackson Racing not making them anymore and most
people looking to Rotrex for supercharging solutions,” Jason says. “So
“If you’re into cars, then you’ll no doubt know that the VTEC engine when a friend of mine said he had a secondhand JR unit up for sale for a
from Honda’s EP3 Civic Type R has a reputation for being able to handle bargain price, I didn’t hesitate to snap it up.”
abuse. What you might not know is that it has an aluminium block, which
makes it pretty light for a powerful 2.0-litre engine that produces nearly After a base map was added to the Honda ECU via a Hondata KPro unit,
200bhp from the factory,” Jason highlights. “It’s a much more expensive the ‘charged Corsa was making around 300bhp, however, it was far from
engine than the Saab unit, but it’s in a different league when it comes to the experience Jason had been hoping for…
reliability and tuning potential, so it seemed the perfect fit.”
“It just didn’t feel right at all,” sighs Jason. “The Corsa B chassis is
Jason bagged an example of Honda’s K20a2 engine from a friend who getting on in age now and just wasn’t stiff enough to utilise the power of
had recently backed his EP3 Type R into a barrier at the Nurburgring. the K20. Just keeping it in a straight line was a mission, and it wasn’t much
better in the corners! I knew in the first few miles of driving it that this really
“The car was a write off, but the front end – and most importantly the wasn’t what I wanted. I was gutted.”
engine – was in perfect working order, so a jumped at the chance,” he
smiles. “I then tracked down a six-speed Type R gearbox which was for sale But, not one to let all his hard graft go to waste, Jason decided he
on a forum, and it came already fitted with a Quaife auto-torque biasing would rectify the situation by re-shelling the monstrous motor into a
limited-slip differential, which was a big bonus.” more suitable chassis.

Two years of tinkering in his unit later and Jason’s Corsa B had been “I knew the Renault Clio was a small car with a good chassis as I’d
owned one before, but I just fancied trying something different, so began
Jason had custom looking at Fords,” Jason remembers. “Keeping it a similar size to the
engine mounts made Corsa meant that I was searching for Fiestas and I originally considered
a Zetec S, but then this ST150 came up for a good price and seemed to
tick all the boxes.”

The Fiesta came with a TRC front splitter already fitted and much of the
interior was stripped out, so it was the perfect base for Jason’s transplant
surgery to take place.

“I started by removing and selling the stock 2.0-litre Duratec engine
which paid for my custom engine mounts to be made by fabrication
experts ARC Autosport in Doncaster,” says Jason. “I also had a pair of
custom drive shafts constructed by DRD Racing and a custom exhaust
manifold and full de-cat system built.”

With the engine and gearbox in place and connected to the soon-to-be-
tortured front wheels, Jason focused on uprating the Fiesta’s suspension

026 www.fastcar.co.uk

K20 SUPERCHARGED FIESTA ST

“I had the 15in Team
Dynamics Pro Race 1.2
alloys powder-coated in

Porsche Acid Green”

and braking, the former with a set of KW coilovers, a Whiteline rear anti- Wrap-around Cobra
roll bar and a full complement of Powerflex bushes, and the latter with a bucket seats are a
pair of front discs and calipers from a Focus ST170 equipped with EBC super lightweight
YellowStuff pads. option

“I wanted a motorsport-inspired wheel for the Fiesta – or Fonda as Defining car culture 027
I now call it – so sourced a set of 15in Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2
alloys and had them powder-coated in Porsche Acid Green and shod
with 190/580R15 Yokohama Advan AO48 semi-slick tyres,” Jason points
out. “They’re a really lightweight wheel and the AO48s give immense
grip, especially in the dry.”

Coming with the interior already partially stripped by the previous
owner, Jason made short work of installing a pair of racing bucket seats
and harnesses into the Fiesta’s cockpit along with a billet shifter and
Momo steering wheel on an extended boss kit, to allow the perfect
driving position.

“I managed to fit a set of Type R dials into the factory binnacle,” he
beams. “I owe a lot of that to Paul at Racing Circuits, who made me a
custom wiring loom for the car which allowed everything to work exactly
as it should.”

HOT RIDE TECH SPEC:
K20 SUPERCHARGED FIESTA ST
The final icing on the cake was a trip to TDi Thurrock, where the
‘Fonda’ was strapped to the firm’s hub dyno and mapped by K20 ENGINE: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, 16v Honda K20a2
tuning legend Jesse Halford. VTEC engine from EP3 Civic Type R, Jackson Racing
supercharger, 550cc RC fuel injectors, 3in intake, methanol
“Equipped with a Cooling Mist water/methanol injection kit, it made injection, Hondata KPro ECU, alloy radiator, alloy coolant
275bhp at the wheels, which equates to 316bhp at the flywheel,” grins overflow tank, custom engine mounts, custom exhaust
Jason. “It’s certainly a flyer, and is so much better than the Corsa in manifold, decat stainless steel exhaust system
every respect.” POWER: 275whp / 316bhp (dyno proven)
TRANSMISSION: Civic Type R 6-speed manual gearbox
All that’s left now is for Jason to test out his latest creation on a circuit. with Quaife ATB limited slip differential, lightweight
“I reckon it’ll be even better on track,” he says. “The way the flywheel, Stage 4 Exedy clutch
supercharged engine delivers the power in a very linear fashion, combined SUSPENSION: KW coilovers, Whiteline rear anti-roll bar
with the huge amount of revs you have to play with, means it’ll be a perfect with adjustable drop links, rose jointed track rod ends,
track toy. Add in the kart-like handling and sticky rubber and it should easily OMP strut braces, Powerflex Black series polyurethane
put more expensive machinery to shame, especially when I fit a rollcage so bushes all round
I can really push the boundaries!” BRAKES: Focus ST170 calipers with 300mm discs and EBC
So the next time you’re considering your car’s future, don’t feel limited YellowStuff pads (front), standard ST150 discs and pads
by the engine and tuning options available to you within the bubble of its (rear)
make and model. Instead, why not take a leaf out of Jason West’s book WHEELS & TYRES: 15in Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2
and go for something with more than a hint of Eastern promise!  alloys powdercoated Porsche Acid Green with 190/580R15
Yokohama Advan AO48 semi-slick tyres
EXTERIOR: Standard white 3-door Fiesta ST bodyshell,
TRC front splitter and bonnet guard, gloss black roof,
grilles, rear spoiler and fog-light surrounds, flush bonnet
pins, Porsche Acid Green wing mirrors, front racing tow
eye
INTERIOR: Fully stripped interior, Cobra Evolution drivers’
bucket seat with 3in TRS harnesses, OMP passenger
bucket seat with 3in TRS harnesses, Momo steering wheel
on extended boss kit, billet shifter, Civic Type R clocks,
Cooling Mist stage 1 water methanol injection kit, AEM
AFR gauge
THANKS: Paul at Racing Circuits, Jesse Halford at J.Cal
ECU calibrations for the mapping and The Wife for letting
me build another toy!

With 316bhp on tap the
‘Fonda’ should be able to
shame much more exotic

machinery on track

028 www.fastcar.co.uk

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HOT RIDE
After a slew of problems with his Golf R, Steve Nurden has

finally found the right formula and with that gorgeous green wrap
snapping necks wherever he goes, he’s certainly no muppet

Words: Dan Sherwood Photography: Untypical Media

030 www.fastcar.co.uk

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R MK7

A lot of car manufacturers are pushing their models’ “The wrap certainly divides opinion,” he laughs. “But
‘green’ credentials these days. Of course, by this we to be honest, I get more positive reactions than negative
mean their environmental impact, not the colour of their ones and most people love the way it stands out among
paint jobs. And while the world is going crazy for these all the ‘safer’ colours. It’s actually what’s given the car its
squeaky clean electric and hybrid powered models, identity and even its nickname: Kermit.”
there still seems to be a big stigma attached to cars
that actually rock the polarising hue as a colourway. In In fact, it’s done much more than that, as Steve credits
fact, if you do some research into the most popular new the emerald wrap with completely altering the course of
car colours, you’ll see that green sits pretty much at the the build, and in turn his life as a whole, as it opened up
bottom of the pile. Not only that, but it actually tops a new world of shows, meets and friendships that he has
the list for the colours that attract the highest amount of made as a result of the car’s fresh look.
depreciation. Double whammy. And for these reasons,
it doesn’t take a genius to work out that green cars have But, this fairy tale ending was far from part of the plan,
become an increasingly rare sight on our roads. And as in the beginning Steve was simply smitten with the
while this may be bad news for anyone trying to flog an car in standard form, a love which blossomed from his
avocado green Fiat Multipla, for a modifier looking to first drive in the car when his dad bought it from new.
select a cool hue that’s going to make his car stand out
from the crowd, it’s actually a pretty shrewd choice. One “I’d had a bit of a thing for French cars in the past,
man who knows the benefits of going green is 34-year having owned a host of Peugeot, Citroen and Renault
old Steve Nurden, who has used this very logic to his hot hatches,” recalls the Wiltshire-based can nut. “But
advantage on his eye-poppingly perfect Golf R. when my dad bought this Mk7 Golf R in 2015, it just
blew everything else into the weeds.”

Having never driven a brand spanking new, top-level
hot hatch before, Steve was addicted to the way the

Defining car culture 031

HOT RIDE

turbocharged 2.0-litre E888 engine delivered its power to get more than 15mpg, even in Eco mode. Something
and, combined with the lightning fast gearchanges of the wasn’t right and he soon decided to remove the map
DSG dual clutch gearbox, he couldn’t believe just how and focus on the car’s styling instead.
potent a machine the Golf R is straight out of the box.
To get the look he was after a set of Vogtland lowering
“You just plant your foot and the car does the rest!” springs  were fitted to drop the Golf’s freshly Maxton-
he beams. ‘It really is an easy car to drive very, very fast beefed bodywork over a set of MSW wheels, while the
– and that’s when it’s standard!” head and tail lights received the tint treatment.

After that initial test drive in his dad’s car, Steve knew “The new look was great, but after a while I started
that this was the way forward for his automotive CV to crave that hit of speed again and looked into other
and asked his dad for first refusal on the car when he tuning options,” he remembers. “So after my mate
eventually came to sell it. Chris fitted an uprated Airtec intercooler I took the car
to R-Tech in Nuneaton to get the ECU mapped.”
Three excruciating years later, admiring the ballistic
Bavarian beauty from afar, Steve’s dad finally relented This time the stage one brainwash of the car’s factory
and decided to try a Mercedes A45 for size, meaning ECU went without hitch and Steve rolled out of the
Steve could finally purchase the Golf and start making workshop with 383bhp and the car running great. But
it his own. But even with visions of adding his own just like when that first hit of class A worms its way into
personal touches swirling in his cerebral cortex, Steve your system, the craving to go back for more becomes
had no idea just how far this particular snowball would almost too much to bear, and soon Steve was back for a
go when it started to roll… more potent stage two map.

“I started off just wanting to lower it, tint the windows Unfortunately, going back for more would turn out
and have a remap,” he says. “But that’s when the to be a mistake, as the second map threw up a host of
problems started…” engine problems again and, similar to the first map that
was removed, the car’s erratic fueling and running soon
A Racing Line R600 induction kit, resonator delete made the car practically undriveable.
and stage one map should’ve transformed how the car
drove for the better, unfortunately, issues with the map “I’d had the stage two map just before the Covid
left Steve with a juddery, hesitant car that was struggling lockdown, so R-tech had to close and I couldn’t get the

“The new look was great, but
after a while I started to crave

that hit of speed again”

032 www.fastcar.co.uk

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HOT RIDE

car fixed,” sighs Steve. “So I just had to battle through with people either loving or hating it with equal passion,
as best I could until I could get the issues sorted.” much like the whole phenomena of green cars…

Once again, Steve turned to the styling side of the “The Wasabi wrap totally transformed the car,” Steve
equation to keep his spirits up during this torrid time beams. “And it really set the tone for the rest of the
and reasoned a fresh new look would be just thing to project, as I started building it as more of a show worthy
keep his passion for the project alive. car than just a cool daily driver.”

“The original black paint had started to show signs of The attention and notoriety stirred up by the wrap
stone-chipping and it looked like a full respray was on meant Steve had to step things up, and soon a host of
the cards, which I considered, but then started looking carbon touches were lavished on the interior along with
into what was possible with a vinyl wrap.” Steve says. a custom carbon-fibre steering wheel from Lister Auto,
matching green painted trims and a swap of rolling
Having heard good things about Bristol-based Shades stock to a set of Bola wheels.
Wraps, Steve was keen to see what they could offer to
make his ride stand out among the rest of the modified “I was loving the new look, but the running problems
Golf Rs on the scene. were still there and R-tech were now so snowed under
with backed up work, that it would be months before
“The huge variety of wrap colours was just mind- they could book it in again.” Steve explains. “But I just
blowing,” he chuckles. “I must’ve looked through couldn’t wait any longer so, with the help of my mate
hundreds of different colours, but then this one seemed Chris, I installed a Cobra decat pipe, APR coilpacks, and
to jump out at me. Not only is green my favourite colour, a Remus non-resonated exhaust system and booked the
but the fact that it’s also quite a rare colour in the car car into MRC Tuning for a remap.”
scene just added to its appeal.”
This time, a stage two map went without a hitch and
The hue that Steve selected is actually called Wasabi the car was not only smooth to drive again, but had a
green, which is quite apt really, as the super spicy cool 408bhp to boot.
Japanese paste is also something that divides opinion,

034 www.fastcar.co.uk

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R MK7

Kermit coloured The custom carbon
theme even extends steering wheel is a
to the air tank install neat touch

Defining car culture 035

HOT RIDE TECH SPEC:
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R MK7
“It was night and day!” he grins. “I was so happy to
have it running right again that I decided to celebrate ENGINE  2.0-litre, 4-cyl, turbo, Cobra decat pipe, NGK
by bagging it with a secondhand Air Lift kit I acquired.” spark plugs, Remus non-resonated exhaust, MRC Tuning
stage 2 remap, APR coilpacks, Racing Line R600 air filter,
Unfortunately, not really knowing much about air Racing Line silicone hoses, Racing Line turbo elbow, Racing
suspension, the kit Steve bought was far from road Line muffler delete, Airtek intercooler 
ready, with various components either worn out, broken
or plain missing. To add insult to injury, the firm tasked PERFORMANCE  408bhp 405lb ft
with installing the kit, did exactly that, and didn’t even TRANSMISSION  6-speed semi auto DSG gearbox,
attempt to correct the issues or even bring them to Haldex 4-wheel-drive
Steve’s attention.
SUSPENSION  Air Lift Performance series struts, Air Lift
“The ride was awful, to the point that I was actually Performance 3P management, full boot install, hidden
driving around with huge paving slabs in the boot to try controller mount, KW DDC electronic damping cancellers,
and weigh it down to stop it bouncing!” he winces. “It uprated rear anti-roll bar 
was also constantly leaking air.”
BRAKES Uprated Clubsport front discs with Ferodo DS2500
The last straw occurred when he smashed his front pads all round, braided brake hoses all round
splitter because the ride height had dropped. It was
time to get things sorted. WHEELS & TYRES 8.5x19in MB Design Turbo S wheels with
champagne centres and 235/35/19 Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres
“I’d heard of a company called Airtek Automotive in
Cannock who were air ride specialists so sent them some EXTERIOR Carbon-fibre fuel cap and wing mirrors,
pictures of the install. They could tell straight away there Chameleon front windscreen tint, windows tinted, carbon-
were big problems with the kit, so booked me in the fibre front grille, TRC front splitter, carbon-fibre rear spoiler,
next week.” Maxton Design side skirts and rear diffuser, carbon-fibre
vents, Magna plates, full car wrap, tinted head an taillights,
Luckily for Steve, Airtek were able to sort his lacklustre carbon-fibre badges, 4D private plate 
install and even tweaked the settings to sort out the ride
quality too. No more slabs needed, just a silky smooth INTERIOR Carbon-fibre steering wheel, gear knob, door
ride that Steve reckons is even better than factory! handle trims and window button surrounds, steering wheel
surround an uprated paddle shifters painted green, green
“The car is amazing now,” he smiles. “Since the air speedo needles, carbon-pack leather seats, full boot build,
ride got fixed, I changed the Bolas for a set of 19in MB fire extinguisher, BAF Motorsport rear brace 
Design Turbo S wheels, fitted a BAF Motorsport rear
brace and my mate Clive created a proper boot build THANKS I would like to say a big thanks to my mate Chris
for the air ride, which has really finished things off. I can’t Brookes for all the engine mods and fitting parts for me.
wait to get out to some shows now and enjoy it.” Shade Wraps for doing the wrap and sorting all my other
wrap bits out. MRC Tuning in Banbury for the stage 2
It’s great to hear when an owner has triumphed over remap. Clive at Identity Autoworx for the boot build and
adversity, especially when they have gone their own way helping me out with problems and work they have done to
to achieve their dream car and had the resilience to not the car. AirTek Automotive for fixing and rebuilding my air
give up when the going got tough. Steve’s stunning ride the car is better than standard now thanks to them. And
Wasabi-styled Golf is a true show stopper that snaps finally to my sponsors EZ Care Car and Lister Auto custom
necks wherever it goes, but no ever said it was easy steering wheels
being green, and now Steve knows it! 

036 www.fastcar.co.uk

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HOT RIDE

Even though the Porsche Boxster is celebrating its 25th anniversary this
year, this juiced and liveried first-gen example looks fresher than ever.
But with a fire, two engine failures and multiple breakdowns along the

way, it’s a miracle it’s still here to blow out the birthday candles…

Words Graham Leigh Photography Dan Sherwood

25-years. A quarter of a century. That’s how long the for a Mk4 RS Turbo on the same day. The Ford phase
Porsche Boxster has been around. It’s a length of time saw Ben and a friend running the infamous Ford Freaks
that seems practically impossible, as even the earliest club before moving on to a range of different marques.
examples still look fresh today. But then, that’s probably Never one to leave things stock, he has owned no less
because Porsche hit he nail of the head with the than eight modified magazine feature cars including a
Boxster. In the early nineties, Porsche was on the ropes Renault 5 GT Turbo, R53 Mini JCW, an E36 M3 cabriolet,
due to the recent recession, cheaper competition and and a long list of Fords including a Fiesta ST on Cossie
an antiquated, over-complicated, manual production wheels that appeared in these hallowed pages.
process. The company knew that its 968 replacement
entry-level car had to be something special. And when Ben and fiancée Teri’s current fleet consists of this
the covers were pulled off at the 1993 North American Porsche, a chassis-notched Nissan Juke Nismo RS which
International Auto Show, it was an instant hit. It won is also on hydraulics, a VW Caddy on Rotiform Six wheels,
the hearts of the press and, importantly, the buying a T4 camper van and a BMW 1 series that has just been
public, who now had an agonising wait until it went into drafted in for wet weather duties. Even son, Archie (now
production three-years later. Sure, the production car 10) gets in on the action and his rodded Cosy Coupe was
had grown a few inches to accommodate a reasonable one of the cars that started the trend of stanced toddler
cabin space and roll hoops were added for safety, but it whips way back when. So it’s fair to say that this is a family
was very close to the concept that inspired it, including with petrol in their veins.
retaining those ‘fried egg’ lights, sloping rear quarters
and signature centre-exit exhaust. Porsche had managed Ben takes us back to 2017 when he purchased
to pull off a production car that looked up-to-the-minute the Porsche: “I’d literally just finished one of my Mini
whilst simultaneously doffing a respectful cap to the projects. I’d driven back from a show with a mate in
company’s design language of yesteryear. convoy behind his slammed 911. We had a stop-off
halfway and I put the Mini up for sale. By the time we
And it was this timeless style that had a big impact on arrived home somebody had bought it sight unseen.
this Porsche’s St. Neots-based keeper, 39-year-old Ben I knew that I wanted a Boxster and I thought a white
Ancliff. He’s the owner of renowned car detailing firm, example with tan interior would be my ideal base car.
Smart Clean Valeting and Detailing. His love of cars was A few days later I spotted a car in that very spec, so I
inherited from his Ford-loving father and this influence followed the driver up the A1 and then eventually into
was clear when the then 17-year-old bought his first his street where he jumped out and was about to call
car back in 1999, a Mk3 Escort XR3i. This was traded in the Police. I made him an offer of £4.5k, he accepted,
put his shopping in a bag and walked off home. He even

Dice valve caps are a The Pro Hopper system
cool custom touch was imported from
the USA

038 www.fastcar.co.uk

PORSCHE BOXSTER 986

The Apple race graphics
are inspired by a 1979 935
Porsche race car

Defining car culture 039

HOT RIDE

left me to pay the balance when I got home. The car was the start of a great relationship where they rebuilt the
meant to be!” hoops with the attention to detail that they deserve. The
wheels have been through a few iterations over the years:
The Boxster was completely stock apart from a pair of “I like to mix things up a bit and thankfully the team at
black indicators which were promptly thrown in the bin. Rusty Rimz have been patient enough to persevere with
The vision of having a decked Porsche was quickly acted my ever-changing tastes. The wheels have gone from
upon and a set of coilovers were bolted up. However, candy apple red to Porsche 964 Peppermint Green to
Ben explained that he couldn’t get the desired look and the current guise of white with metal flake.”
the back of the car was sitting much higher than he had
envisaged. He was leaning towards going down the BBS With the Boxster now looking so aggressive, the
and air route but a chance meeting with a passer-by to standard exhaust was not fitting the vibe. A trip to EMP
his business started a conversation that was to change Performance was the order of the day where a custom
the direction of this build dramatically. “I met a chap who design was fabricated which fitted the brief of “dickhead
said he could fit a hydraulic system and we agreed on loud”, according to Ben. On the subject of aural
what I thought was a bargain price. As ever, there’s no amusement, Ben has gone all out on high-end audio. A
such thing as a free lunch and what I actually ended up Pioneer DEH 6500 head unit takes the helm and feeds
with was a mismatch of parts and some were well past the crystal clear signal through to a pair of Ground Zero
their best.” amps which power no less than 10 PA speakers that were
sourced through Ian Pinder (AKA The Iceman). Phoenix
A catalogue of other issues such as multiple engine Gold wiring is a further sign that Ben takes sound quality
failures, electrical issues and the rare rolling stock seriously. The original tan interior was swapped out for
being wrecked by another so-called specialist, had the an OEM black version, the simplicity of which works well
normally-chipper Ben on the ropes. A chance encounter with the rainbow of colours on the livery, while a custom
with the guys at Lay n’ Play (these chaps are the authority Royal steering wheel and gear knob add some scene
on UK lowriding. Check them out at www.laynplay.
co.uk) at a show led Ben to feel inspired and that famous
lowrider community spirit came to the fore. They helped
him source the necessary parts and eventually he was
flicking switches. Finally, the car was not only low but
could lay frame and bounce.

Whilst the saga of getting the car on a working
hydraulic system ensued, Ben had pounced upon a
set of ultra-rare rims. “I saw a set of RH Turbo Ps that
had been run on a show Golf come up for sale. I don’t
think the lad knew the rarity of them. These are a split
rim with the Porsche style ‘twist’ design as opposed
to the RH Cups or Eta Betas that mimic the Cup style
Porsche centre.” Originally these wheels were sent to a
rebuilder who let Ben down. The sanding and polishing
process used was too harsh leaving abrasive marks on
the outers and a general poor finish that just wasn’t up
to the high-end detailer’s standards. Ben had received a
recommendation to approach Rusty Rimz and this was

The hydraulic setup allows
Ben to dump the Boxster’s
body onto its sills

040 www.fastcar.co.uk

PORSCHE BOXSTER 986

“I like to mix things up a bit
and thankfully the team at

Rusty Rimz have been patient
enough to persevere with my

ever-changing tastes”

TRU RIDERZ

Ben is a member of Tru Riderz lowrider car club. This organisation started in Lubbock,
Texas, so, as you would expect, most of their members are US-based. Ben is one
of the few recruits from overseas territories. Despite his car not being their normal
fare, word was out that Ben was keenly attending shows and demonstrations such as
Modified Nationals in the UK and 100% Tuning in Rotterdam; clocking up the miles
and cruising with a smile. It became apparent that the build was well-engineered and
capable and Ben’s enthusiasm was infectious and Ben was invited to provisionally
join Tru Riderz. This wasn’t a sticker and a newsletter affair: “I spent six months as
a prospect. During this time you can’t display a plaque or any stickers in your car
as you’re under assessment, making sure that you are not the sort of character that
could bring the organisation into disrepute. At the end of this period, the handful of
UK members liaised with the US headquarters and they elected to make me a full
member. This was huge for me and I’m truly honoured,” he beams proudly.

sparkle to the Germanic cockpit. Custom mahoganny
Just when things seemed to be coming together, a rimmed steering wheel

boot fire wiped out the rear of the hydraulic system.
For many, this would have signalled the end for what
seemed like a jinxed build, but Ben came back fighting.
Lay n’ Play sourced a Pro Hopper system which was
imported from the mean streets of L.A. As Ben became
ever more immersed in the lowrider scene and using his
car for demonstrations, he wanted the ability to perform
more radical tricks and manoeuvres. The combination of
dual 24v motors, four pump setup, 10 switches, custom
rams and Rayvern custom top mounts are the result of a
lot of hard work and expert knowledge. The Pro Hopper
kits typically end up in what the Americans refer to as
full-sized cars. Models such as the fabled ’64 Chevrolet

Defining car culture 041

HOT RIDE ABOVE: Shrunken TECH SPEC:
heads are a good luck PORSCHE BOXSTER 986
Impala, Cadilac Coupe De Ville and many others that charm in low rider
won’t fit in your average UK lock up. The fact that all of circles ENGINE 2.5-litre, 6-cyl naturally aspirated flat
this hardware now lives in a small European two-seater six, K&N air filter, EMP Performance custom exhaust
roadster is a feat of engineering genuis. and manifolds, uprated alternator 

But even with such a complex chassis setup, it was the TRANSMISSION Standard 5-speed gearbox 
visuals that had Ben’s brain in a twist, and he thought
long and hard about giving the pukka Porker a properly SUSPENSION Pro Hopper hydraulics, two 24v motors,
eye-catching look. He knew that he wanted to utilise four pump set up, 10 switches, custom rams, Rayvern
the base white of the car and then apply some kind of custom top mounts, anti-roll bars removed  
racing-inspired livery on top. “I’d seen other people
use the more popular Martini and Rothmans schemes BRAKES 986 Boxster S calipers painted body colour 
on modified Porsches, so they were off-limits,” he
remembers. “I then came across the Apple design, which WHEELS & TYRES 9x18in ET45 (front) and 11x18in
featured on a 1979 935 Porsche race car. This looked ET55 (rear) RH Turbo P 3-piece split rims with white
great and suited the Boxster perfectly, but I wanted to with metal flake centres custom painted by Rusty
put my stamp on it so the 26 numbers are a nod to the Rimz and gold hardware, 30mm spacers (front), 20mm
date that Teri and I met – the 26th December.” Gelato spacers (rear), Nankang tyres  
Studios nailed the design of the livery and expertly
applied the colourful graphics. Ben explains that the car EXTERIOR US-spec bumper with bumperettes,
runs a US-spec rear bumper with bumperettes and for all badges removed, 1979 935 Apple race livery,
show-use even runs US-style number plates. This leads inner arches removed, US-style number plates 
a lot of people online to believe that the car is actually
American, including the Apple marketing department, INTERIOR Black Boxster interior including carpet
who made contact wanting to use the car for a business and all trims, custom door cards housing ICE, custom
promotion in Ohio. When they realised that the car was Royal steering wheel and gear knob, quick-release
built and based in Cambridgeshire, they had to rescind steering wheel hub, full ICE install including Pioneer
their request. But it’s not only caught the eye of the tech DEH 6500 head unit, 2x Ground Zero amps, 2x 8in PA
giant, as it’s also been head-hunted by some huge music speakers, 4x 6in PA speakers, 2x PA 4in coaxials, 2x PA
stars, being featured in the video for both ‘London Town’ 2.5in tweeters, Phoenix Gold wiring 
by Mr Eazi featuring Giggs, and ‘Ting Dun’ by Ocean
Wisdom featuring Method Man. THANKS My fiancee, teri_juicedjuke, is the
most supportive person who puts up with all
So what’s next for the plucky Porsche? “Maybe a the car troubles, Smart Clean Detailing, Lay
different front bumper. I already have GT3 side skirts n’ Play for advice and parts, Rusty Rimz for
that are awaiting paint. Maybe a change of wheels…” bearing with my constant colour changes,
Something tells us this isn’t the last we’ll see of Ben. Long Iceman for the audio, EMP performance for
may his unique blend of modifying madness continue my dickhead loud exhaust, Tucked, Fitment
and we’ll check in on his bonkers Boxster on its 50th Junkies, Petrolheadism, Bedsmodified, Fenstance, Anti
birthday in another 25-years.  Scene and last but not least, your mum #jackmoorcroft

Ben’s party piece is making
the Boxster dance using the

remote switch box

042 www.fastcar.co.uk

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FC’S ULTIMATE GUIDE TO KEEPING COOL

TIME TO CHILL
Cooling is crucial for optimum performance, especially where forced induction
is concerned, so let’s take a closer look at what’s involved with keeping those
temperatures under control…

Internal combustion engines aren’t a fair chunk of that potential energy. intercoolers or chargecoolers, and
very efficient. They’re basically big More importantly, too much heat can sometimes even brake cooling ducts
air pumps that turn fuel into kinetic cause serious damage. Unfortunately, too. When we tune our engines, either
energy, via a controlled explosion in we can’t avoid the creation of this by naturally aspirated tuning or adding
the cylinder. During this process they heat but we can manage it. That’s boost into the mix, we have to beef up
create heat, lots of heat, which isn’t why every engine is fitted with cooling these cooling parts to keep up with the
ideal for two reasons. Firstly, it wastes devices, such as radiators, oil coolers, extra heat that’s created.

WHY DO TUNED ENGINES WHOHWATDIOSEAS CITOOWLOERRKA?ND
NEED BETTER COOLING?
Intercoolers, radiators and oil amount of heat absorbed is
Engines produce power by mixing air with fuel. In a petrol engine the coolers all work in a very similar down to many factors such as
mixture is ignited by the spark plugs, in a diesel engine it’s simply way. They pass air, coolant or the internal design of the core,
squeezed together. Both methods force the pistons down the cylinder oil through a main core. These its size, where it is placed, etc.
bores, and it’s these forces that turn the crankshaft and eventually the cores are mounted where there How well the cooler lowers
wheels. To increase the power output of an engine, we have to add more is a lot of airflow, typically at the temperatures is often referred
fuel and air. The ratio has to stay roughly the same, so we just stuff more front of the car. Hence the term to as the efficiency of the
of both into the engine. The direct result of this is a bigger explosion and ‘front-mounted intercooler’. cooler; all things being equal,
even more heat. As such, we need better cooling systems to keep these As the car moves forward, it the more heat it reduces, the
higher temperatures within the same safe working limits. forces air through the front more efficient a cooler is. The
and lets it leave out the back. principle is fairly simple but
TYPICAL DAMAGE As the air passes through, there are several things you
CAUSED BY EXCESS it absorbs some of the heat can do to maximise the ability
HEAT from whatever is inside the of your various coolers to keep
chambers of the cooler. The temperatures in check.
If temperatures get too high – oil, water, inlet air, and brakes – it can
lead to some pretty catastrophic results. The most common issues Working fluid exits after being cooled
resulting from excessive temperatures include: to a reduced temperature

ENGINE OIL BREAKS DOWN As vehicles move forward airflow passes
through the core. Heat energy within the
It gets thinner and doesn’t lubricate the vital moving parts of the core is transferred to this airflow which
engine properly, bearings run dry causing wear and eventually failure. cools the working fluid within the core

GASKETS FAIL Working fluid enters the core at a high
temperature ready to be cooled
Causing both oil and coolant to escape from where they should be,
leading to further overheating/lubrication problems.

PISTONS GET VERY HOT

They then expand and scrape on the cylinder bores, potentially
causing contact damage to the rings or piston skirt, resulting in lower
compression and damage to the bores.

TURBOS CAN FAIL

Excess heat build-up can cause carbon deposits to block the tiny
oil ways within the turbo, leading to bearing failure. Or, in extreme
cases, really excessive heat can even cause the turbine shaft to bend
if not allowed to cool gradually.

BRAKES CAN FAIL

Too much heat build-up will quickly cause brake pads to overheat
(especially OE ‘road’ pads) and braking efficiency will deteriorate. In
extreme cases the brake fluid can even boil, allowing air to enter the
system, rendering the brakes useless.

044 www.fastcar.co.uk

FC’S ULTIMATE GUIDE TO KEEPING COOL

Most performance radiators are made from RADIATORS
aluminium to ensure lightness and good
thermal performance Every water-cooled engine has a radiator, whether it’s naturally-aspirated,
turbo or supercharged. The point of a radiator is to keep the engine
Some race cars move the radiator coolant in check. Coolant is pushed around the engine by the water pump,
to the rear of the car in a channel that runs through the engine known as the water jacket.
When the engine is cold, coolant stays inside the engine’s water jacket
Uprated header tanks to help it warm up faster. However, when the coolant reaches a certain
work in conjunction with temperature, the thermostat opens and allows the fluid to flow through
the radiator to cool it down.
uprated rads to offer
a robust and efficient There are two main radiator core designs; crossflow and downflow.
Most modern cars use crossflow designs, where the coolant enters in one
cooling system corner and exits in the opposing corner, so the coolant flows diagonally
across the core. This means they’re typically the most effective design,
as it takes longer for the coolant to make it across than it would on a
downflow design, where coolant enters right at the top, in the middle, and
exits at the bottom. Gravity has more of an effect in a downflow design.
One advantage of this style is the core is narrow, so it can help packaging
where space is tight. You typically see a downflow design on older cars ,
whereas more modern designs utilise a crossflow radiator.

Standard radiators used to be made from brass-copper, because that’s
a good conductor, and more recently from plastic because they’re cheap
to produce. However, modern aftermarket rads are generally larger and
thicker than the items they replace, and usually made from aluminium. Not
only do they work well, they’re relatively light too. If you want to maximise
your coolant circuit, you should consider fitting electric fans on the back of
your radiator, consider switching to a waterless coolant or using a coolant
additive to improve the water’s ability to transfer heat, and even fine-tune
when the radiator comes into play by fitting thermostat with a different
temperature rating.

INTERCOOLERS Either way, you want the biggest intercooler work by giving the air passing through the core
possible. You may have seen arguments on more time to absorb heat and can be very useful
Turbos and superchargers both heat up the air the internet about bigger intercoolers causing where space is tight.
entering the engine. You need some method more of a pressure drop, effectively lowering
of reducing that heat, otherwise you end up the boost. In theory this may be the case, One factor that needs to be considered,
with a host of problems. At best, the ECU will but in reality, larger performance-orientated though, is that the cooling airflow will always
do everything it can to reduce power to protect intercoolers usually have better end tank designs take the path of least resistance. So, if we make it
the engine, which usually means pulling a load that actually help promote flow across the more difficult for the air to pass through the core
of ignition timing. At worst, if the engine sucks cooler. This often negates any negative effect than it would be to simply go around it, then we
in hot air then it will send temperatures soaring the larger core may pose, and in many cases massively reduce the efficiency of the cooler.
inside the combustion chamber, leading to boost levels actually increase because the new To help overcome this, many performance
detonation and melted components. intercooler poses less of a restriction than the intercoolers incorporate ducting to help guide
OE item, regardless of its increased size. the cooling airflow through the core, not
Intercoolers are air-to-air coolers, meaning allowing it to ‘escape’ around the sides.
they simply rely on air passing through them As with any cooler core, more rows mean
to draw heat away from the air inside. There more potential airflow. A larger surface area will Larger intercoolers offer a larger surface
are two main types of core used in air-to-air give you a better chance of reducing temps but area to better cool the charge air
intercoolers; bar-and-plate and tube-and-fin. can be hard to fit in the engine bay. Also, they
Both have their advantages; tube and fin is need to be mounted in such an area where they
significantly lighter than bar-and-plate (which will receive a constant stream of cooling airflow
is good when you consider where it’s mounted across them, there’s little point in having a huge
– right out at the front of the car where you intercooler that only receives airflow across part
really don’t want any excess weight), and they of the core because the rest is obstructed by
are usually cheaper to produce. However, bar- crash structures, headlights, or whatever. This
and-plate cores are said to offer better cooling is why some intercoolers are very deep but not
properties and are generally more robust due to much taller than the OE part they replace. These
their heavier construction. So, it depends on the
specific application as to which type is preferred.

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FC’S ULTIMATE GUIDE TO KEEPING COOL

It may say ‘intercooler’, but the CHARGECOOLER
Mk1 Focus RS uses a chargecooler
A chargecooler is an interesting alternative to an intercooler. Unlike an
system as standard intercooler, which is an air-to-air radiator, a chargecooler uses water to
cool the charge air. Essentially, it consists of a water-filled tank with a
tube running through the middle, carrying the compressed air on its way
into the engine. As the charge air passes through the tube, the heat is
transferred from the air inside to the surrounding water. The water is
then pumped back into the engine cooling system and cooled by the
radiator. Chargecoolers are a good option when you haven’t got much
space, or more specifically limited airflow. It’s obviously important that
the radiator is up to the task of cooling the fluid from the reservoir inside
the chargecooler. Otherwise you’re just giving that already heated charge
air a warm bath.

SILICONE HOSES Silicone hoses won’t
degrade or bulge and flex
These can be extremely helpful for both the radiator
and intercooler circuits. OE hoses are made from like OE rubber items can
rubber and have plenty of issues, such as bulging
and flexing under increased pressures
and temperatures. In contrast,
performance hoses made from
silicone are more resistant to heat
and pressure, maintain they’re
shape better, and will last a lot
longer before they degrade – they
generally look smarter too. Most
silicone hose manufacturers make off-
the-shelf hose kits for both coolant and
boost hoses, so you can replace all the OE hoses
in one hit. Aluminium hard pipes can also be useful,
especially for a customised installation.

Custom ducting ensures
maximum airflow through
the cooler core

Oil coolers don’t need to be as large
as other coolers, so can be discretely
mounted behind the front bumper

Oil coolers are great additions for OIL COOLERS
cars that get used hard for prolonged
periods, such as track and race cars Engine oil coolers play a crucial part in controlling engine
temperature. Many people think that the engine oil’s job is
purely to lubricate the moving parts within an engine, but
it also plays a huge part in controlling engine temperature
too. If the oil gets too hot, it thins, and it loses its ability to
lubricate the moving parts effectively. This in turn causes
more friction and more heat, which can quickly spiral out of
control until something breaks.
Nearly all production cars have some way of keeping the
oil temperature under control, whether that’s simply using
airflow to cool things or a more complicated setup using the
engine’s coolant system and a heat exchanger to remove
excess heat from the oil system. But, as with most things,
these are only designed to do a certain job, and once we
exceed the limits of what the OE oil cooler is capable of
we can start to see oil temperatures rise. This is where an
additional oil cooler is added. Effectively, it’s a mini radiator
purely for the oil system. Hot oil flows through the core,
which is then cooled by air passing over it. There are many
different sizes of oil cooler available, so it’s easy to find one
that will suit your application and intended use.

046 www.fastcar.co.uk

FC’S ULTIMATE GUIDE TO KEEPING COOL

A turbo cooler Transmission coolers are designed
cools the coolant to keep the oil inside gearboxes
exiting a super-hot and differentials within optimum
turbocharger before it enters working temperatures
the rest of the cooling system
TRANSMISSION COOLERS
TURBO COOLERS It’s surprising how many people overlook Transmission oil coolers can be a lifesaver
the oil in their gearbox and differential(s). on this type of car too. Without one, the
A turbo cooler is basically a small mini-radiator Regular gearbox oil changes are particularly oil inside can get very hot and degrade
that assists the rest of the cooling system important for anyone who does regular very quickly, causing wear to bearings and
with keeping the turbo temperatures under trackdays in a big-boost turbo (or other moving parts. In fact, in some cases,
control. When the water exits the super-hot supercharged) car, as the combination of simply re-directing more airflow across
turbo it then goes back into the header tank engine torque plus lots of grip from sticky the transmission with enlarged ducting
and the rest of the coolant system, potentially tyres, puts huge strain on the transmission can significantly reduce the operating
causing the entire coolant system to heat up. A and it gets very hot, very quickly. temperatures of gearboxes and differentials.
turbo cooler, is an additional cooler that cools
the water after it exits the turbo and before it
returns to the header tank. This helps lower
the overall temperature of the entire cooling
system, and can be a simple solution for
applications suffering from high water temps
caused by the turbo.

A transmission cooler requires an external
pump to circulate the fluid through the cooler

Many race cars utilise differential
and transmission coolers

Some performance intercoolers are SIZE MATTERS
so large they require a modified crash
structure to allow air to flow through The size of the cooler has a massive effect on its cooling
properties, but it is not always a case of ‘bigger is better’. The
cooler needs to be correctly sized for its application. It is more
to do with volume of the cooler and mass of the working fluid
(oil, air, water) than the actual size of the cooler itself.

For example, an intercooler the size of an oil cooler
wouldn’t be any good, and by the same token nor would an
oil cooler the size of an intercooler. This is where things start
to get a bit scientific. It’s all about the specific heat capacity
of the working fluid, which relates to the amount of heat
energy a kg of that working fluid can transfer. The specific
heat capacity of air is 1.01 kilojoules per kg. This means that
every kg of air can transfer 1.01kj of heat energy. Whereas
oil has a specific heat capacity of 2.13kj per kg. Therefore, oil
is twice as good at transferring heat than air, but it doesn’t
stop there. These calculations are based on mass (kg) not
volume (litres). So by the time you allow for the fact that 1kg
of oil is just 1.14 litres, but 1kg of air is 1114 litres, you can
see why an intercooler needs to be much larger than an oil
cooler! Furthermore, engine oil or transmission fluid generally
only needs to be cooled by around 10-20ºC to remain at the
optimum operating temperature, whereas charge air typically
needs to be cooled by as much as 50ºC.

The optimum size of a cooler is a compromise between
different factors, the most common being space available in
the engine bay. Intercoolers also have to consider the fact
that the more volume there is, the more turbo lag is increased
because there is a larger volume to fill before any of the
charge air enters the engine.

defining car culture 047

FC’S ULTIMATE GUIDE TO KEEPING COOL WATERLESS
COOLANTS
End tank design is crucial to the AANDDDITWIAVTEESR
pressure drop across the cooler
Water absorbs heat extremely well, but it does
DROP THE PRESSURE have some downsides. At normal operating
There will almost always be a pressure drop as a well-designed intercooler will pose temperature, small air bubbles form on the
across a cooler; the physical restriction of less restriction to that airflow, it can negate outside of the cylinder bores that understandably
working its way through the cooler will mean the negative effect of the larger volume. In get very hot. If the engine overheats, water in the
the pressure of the fluid coming out will fact, it’s not uncommon to see performance coolant channel boils and those bubbles implode
always be less than the pressure going in. And intercoolers actually result in a boost increase under great pressure. This is called Cavitation
this effect gets worse with larger volumes, so at the engine (because the flow is so much and damages the metal, eroding it away and
a bigger cooler will have more of a pressure less restrictive) rather than a boost drop, and eventually leading to a catastrophic failure. One
drop across the cooler. this is despite having a larger volume to fill. way you can get around this problem is to use
a waterless coolant or coolant additive, such as
However, many standard OE coolers are A lower pressure drop is good news all Evans Power Cool 180°, Red Line Water Wetter or
compromised (either by price, materials, round, especially for a turbo, as it means Mishimoto Liquid Chill. They all work in a similar
design, available space, and so on) and the turbo doesn’t have to work as hard to way, by reducing or completely eliminating the
a performance-orientated cooler can produce the same boost pressure entering water content in the coolant and raising the
actually reduce the pressure drop across the engine. Water radiators and oil coolers boiling point way above 100℃. Some claim to
the cooler, while increasing its size. The also suffer from pressure drop and while the absorb heat better than plain water, resulting in
same principles apply to all coolers, but to end result may not be as noticeable to the power gains with the right tuning. One definite
understand pressure drop its easiest to look driver as increased turbo lag and lower boost advantage of these products is they last an
at intercoolers. The theory would suggest pressures, it can be even more detrimental. extremely long time, although most require
that if you increased the size of an intercooler The oil/water pump will have to work harder you to use some kind of preparatory liquid first,
it would have a greater pressure drop across to force the fluid through the cooler, which which does increase the price. Using one of these
the core, meaning the boost level going to can lead to cavitation with potentially fatal products means you shouldn’t get any sludge
the engine is lower than before. However, consequences for an engine. build up in the bottom of your radiator either.

BRAKE COOLING The traditional way to keep CONTACTS
brakes cool is to use ducting
Brakes are another part of a car that get very from the front of the car... PRO ALLOY
hot, and failure to control this heat can result www.proalloy.co.uk
in poor performance – in the worst cases no ...but simple air deflectors to direct airflow
brakes at all! By their very nature, brake pads to the caliper/hub can be very effective too MISHIMOTO
biting onto a brake disc will cause friction, and www.mishimoto.com
friction causes heat. In many road applications
the factory setup will be fine, but if we then start SPEC R
to use those brakes harder and more frequently, www.spec-r.co.uk
that heat build up can’t dissipate quickly
enough and things start to overheat. This will DIRENZA
cause brake fade, and in really bad cases can www.direnza.co.uk
actually cause the brake fluid to boil and result
in no brakes at all! AIRTEC
www.airtec-cooling.co.uk
Complex water-cooled brake calipers are
certainly an option, but they’re incredibly REVO
expensive and complex to install, so are only www.onlyrevo.com
really used in top-end motorsport applications.
For most enthusiastic drivers and track day fans, SETRAB
simple ducting to improve airflow to the brakes www.setrab.com
is sufficient to keep everything under control.
Many modern cars have similar brake ducting EVANS
as standard, but it’s relatively cheap and easy www.evanscoolants.co.uk
to install to cars that don’t.
MOCAL
www.mocal.co.uk

048 www.fastcar.co.uk

Delivering Innovation, Exceptional Quality and
Pride in British Craftsmanship since 2004

www.proalloy.co.uk Design, development
and production of cooling and

fuel system components for
Automotive, Motorsport, Aerospace,
Defence, Marine and Commercial applications.

01440 710266 [email protected]

Pro Alloy Motorsport Ltd. 15 Rookwood Way, Haverhill, Suffolk CB9 8PB

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