VTEC Challenge - Oulton Park - Official Review

PerformanceAutoworks · Post by **PerformanceAutoworks** » Tue May 22, 2012 9:15 am

Jonathan F - MotorV8 Media wrote:Oulton Park: May 19th (Rounds 3 and 4 of BARC’s VTEC Challenge)

With a bumper crop of entries, the VTEC Challenge pitched up camp at the fabulous “Oulton Park” circuit in Cheshire for rounds 3 and 4 of their 2012 season.

With a diverse grid, the action on track promised to be exciting, with some close fought racing. Ranging from the CRX of Dave & Adam Roberts, to the FN2 Civic Type R of Rick Rowles, Honda technology spanned 3 decades.

A number of new racers were choosing to use Oulton for their first taste of the VTC, with drivers joining from other race series.

It was a welcome return for 2011 season front runner Richard Voaden and his H22 powered Integra, who would be one to watch alongside the likes of Andy Smith, Rick Rowles, Stew Hutchinson and any one of the number of unknown entrants.

Entrants:

01 - Andy Smith – Production - Honda Accord Type R (ATR)
02 - Tim Arnold – Production - Honda Integra (DC2)
03 - Tim Blowers – Production - Honda Integra Type R (DC5)
04 - Mark Bennett – Production - Honda S2000
11 - Dave/Adam Roberts - Production 1600 - Honda CRX
17 - James Hammett – Tuner - Honda Civic EK4
22 - Paul Armitage – Production - Honda Integra (DC2)
24 - Richard Voaden - Super Tuner - Honda Integra (DC2)
26 - Rob Williams – Production - Honda Civic Type R (EP3)
27 - David Hill - Production - Honda Civic Type R
31 - Phil Wright - Production - Honda Accord Type R (ATR)
32 - Stuart Macmaster – Invitation - Honda Integra (DC2)
42 - Rick Rowles - Super Tuner - Honda Civic Type R (FN2)
64 - Richard Chilton – Production - Honda Integra (DC2)
70 - Michael Clark - Production 1600 - Honda Civic (EG6)
73 - Stu King – Production - Honda Integra (DC2)
85 - Stewart Hutchinson – Tuner - Honda Integra Type R
98 - Mark Chese – Production - Honda Civic Type R (EP3)

Qualifying:

With an overflowing paddock, and massive support from local Honda clubs, the atmosphere was building for an excellent day’s racing.

With heavy rain the night before, and an early qualifying session, the circuit was far from perfect. With the greasy surface needing respect from the drivers, they ventured out on track.

Showing no lack of pace following his extended break from racing, Rich Voaden in the “Performance Autoworks” Integra looked settled as he got into his stride and proceeded to put in consistent lap times.

Andy Smith and his ATR began the session well, but was soon doing his best James Bond impression, leaving a smoke screen 007 would be proud of. Unfortunately the course officials decided this was an unfair advantage and called the local driver into the pits.

The circuit began to remind the driver’s who was boss, and although several spins took place, fortunately no damage occurred.

New to the series, Stuart Macmaster in his DC2 ITR put up a great effort, which was rewarded with a 3rd place on the grid.

Stewart Hutchinson’s run of back luck followed him to his home circuit. A broken differential sidelined the Integra after only 4 laps, but during that time he had set 2nd fastest time. This will be a car to watch out for in future races.

Pole: Rich Voaden – 1.53.072
2nd: Stewart Hutchinson – 1.54.487
3rd: Stu Macmaster - 1.55.351

Race 1:

With no Hutchinson in 2nd place, the grid alongside pole man Voaden was vacant, giving Rowles in 4th a clear run to “Old Hall Bends”. Following a solitary green flag lap, everyone staged on the grid, ready for the off.

From the head of the grid Voaden launched perfectly as the race got underway, and held onto his position as the train of Honda’s followed in his wake, all jockeying for position.

Stu Macmaster capitalised on the vacant grid slot where Hutchinson should have been, and pulled cleanly ahead on Rowle’s, slotting into place on Voaden’s rear bumper.

Dave Hill also came through the grid from 8th, to challenge for 4th by the exit of “Old Hall”, and was up with Macmaster by the end of the 1st lap. The duo traded positions on a number of occasions until Macmaster gained the upper hand for 2nd place, leaving Hill to take the last step on the podium.

Mike Clark in the R-Motion Civic climbed to 4th place, not quite on the same pace as Hill and Macmaster, but enough to hold onto position throughout the race.

Andy Smith powered along the pit straight to take several places, jumping Williams and Chilton in the process, and ending up in 6th from 11th by the end of the lap. Unfortunately a black and orange “technical flag” was shown to the ATR of Smith, which meant he ended his race in the pit lane. A damaged piston meant that Smith wouldn’t be able to make race 2.

Dave Roberts made good progress through the pack. With the cooling issues of Pembrey a distant memory, the CRX was again showing excellent pace, even though the car’s gearbox was creating fresh issues.

James Hammett, the only entrant in “Tuner”, fell foul to race gremlins, when issues with his front suspension caused the 2nd retirement of the race.

Tim Blowers and Phil Wright in their DC5 and DC2 Integra’s respectively diced all race long as Blowers moved up the grid and Wright dropped back from 7th in qualifying.

Bring up the rear of the pack was Tim Arnold in his loan DC2 Integra. A professional race driver and instructor, Tim was dropping further down the field, which was not what anyone expected. Following the race, the lack of pace was pinpointed to a missing plug lead.

With the chequered flag hung over the pit wall, Richard Voaden crossed the line to take the race win.

1st: Rich Voaden - H22 DC2 - Super Tuner
2nd: Stu Macmaster - B18 DC2 - Invitation
3rd: David Hill - K20 EP3 - Production

Class wins were awarded to (INV) Stu Macmaster (P) David Hill (P16) Mike Clark (ST) Rich Voaden

Fastest lap: Rich Voaden 1.39.611 on lap 2 of 9

Race 2:

On pole for race 2, Rich was again looking for a perfect start, and a clean getaway.

Again, Voaden launched the Integra off the line perfectly and took the lead from Stuart who again was looking to give Voaden a run for his money. However Voaden was again to prove to be unstoppable and disappeared off into the distance, leaving and Stu to keep a watch on his mirrors for the challenge lead from behind by David Hill and Mike Clark.

Hill and Clark lead the charge of the rest of the grid, and soon began to pull away, closing in on the Integra of Macmaster, however all too soon Hill began to have problems with the Civic’s gearbox, and lost 4th gear which dropped him slowly down the order.

Clark and Macmaster traded places as the laps counted down, but a missed gear by Clark gave the Integra driver the break he needed to put enough distance between himself and the R-Motion Civic.

For race 2, the yellow CRX of Dave Roberts had been taken over by his son Adam, and because of the race rules, he had to start from the back row. Adam proceeded to drive what was arguably the drive of the race, as he fought his way up to 7th overall.

Mark Chese and Rich Chilton resumed normal service as each driver made significant progress through the grid, at the same time battling with each other for class spoils, and both finishing in the top 5.

Comfortably out in front, Rich Voaden eased off due to a seized outer cv joint, but not even that would cause him to drop much time.

1st: Rich Voaden - H22 DC2 - Super Tuner
2nd: Stu Macmaster - B18 DC2 - Invitation
3rd: Mike Clark - Civic (EG6) - Production 1600

Class wins were awarded to (INV) Stu Macmasters (P) Rich Chilton (P16) Mike Clark (T) James Hammett (ST) Rich Voaden

Fastest lap: Rich Voaden 1.38.612 on lap 3 of 9

Summary:

So, a dominant return to the VTC by Rich Voaden with pole and two lights to flag victories.

Oulton was a great turn out by both new members and spectators alike, with excellent clean racing in both rounds.

A huge thanks to the BARC, Yokohama, HEL, Hendy Performance, Petrona's Oils, VTEC Direct, R-Motion and Total Honda for their continued support this season.

The VTEC Challenge heads to Silverstone in Northamptonshire for rounds 5 and 6 of the 10th June. Who will challenge Voaden on his return to the VTC?

Words: Jonathan Fletcher
Pictures: Jonathan Fletcher & Lindsey Bridger

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Tue May 22, 2012 9:24 am

Great read

vtectom · Post by **vtectom** » Tue May 22, 2012 9:37 am

Pole position by nearly 1.5 secs!

PerformanceAutoworks · Post by **PerformanceAutoworks** » Tue May 22, 2012 9:54 am

vtectom wrote:Pole position by nearly 1.5 secs!

Yeah... all that in a car that "will understeer like a pig with a heavy H22 fitted"

toyracer69 · Post by **toyracer69** » Tue May 22, 2012 4:03 pm

ANd a great days racing was had by all!

Mostly....

vtectom · Post by **vtectom** » Tue May 29, 2012 11:57 am

Just watched the vids on youtube - Nice!

Rich, which is the easiest/preferable install into a 'teg - h22 engine & box or the h2b kit
using a b series box?

PerformanceAutoworks · Post by **PerformanceAutoworks** » Tue May 29, 2012 1:56 pm

Cheers Tom

H22 engine AND box all day long in my experiance and opinion.

Both options have their pros and cons but I personally think there are more cons to a H2B by far...and too many weak links.
Obviously both can be made to work very well but both need time, care and an understanding of the conversion.
Seen several of both types of conversion that I quite frankly wouldn't want to even drive into the workshop they've been that badly done!!