AmD/ Milltek SEAT Leon Cupra Racecar in Build [Archive] - SEAT Cupra.net

shaun@amdessex

06-02-2008, 11:40

Hi

We received our Leon Cupra yesterday which we are building for Class A of the Dunlop SportMaxx Race Championship.

We will be building the car to the very restrictive (cost effective) SportMaxx rules which allow performance exhaust, remapping, aftermarket shock absorbers and race brake pads but not much else apart from safety equipment.

The team is AmD Essex and has support from Milltek, AmD Technik, Dunlop and Seat.

We will also be running a Class B Leon FR in partnership with Milltek, Seat and Dunlop. This will be raced by a number of journalists and the winner of the Dunlop Academy will race the car at the last event of the year at Rockingham.

Here is a shot of the car starting to be stripped ready for the cage to be installed:

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i181/bigboystoys/seatrace-1.gif

We will keep you updated over the next couple of months as the build goes on. The first race is at Snetterton at the end of April so we better get a move on.

Cheers Shaun.

traumapat

06-02-2008, 11:59

nice one... best of luck with it:)

ZBOYD

06-02-2008, 12:11

All the best with the project Shaun, looking forward to seeing the cars this year. :)

DanGB

06-02-2008, 13:13

nice one shaun, i'll have a nosey when im in on friday. :)

Also, what are you doing with the standard exhaust?

shaun@amdessex

06-02-2008, 13:31

nice one shaun, i'll have a nosey when im in on friday. :)

Also, what are you doing with the standard exhaust?

Hi

Exhaust will be available in a couple of weeks. Interior, shock absorbers/springs will be for sale and we would part-exchange Xenon headlights for standard lights.

Cheers Shaun.

jonjay

07-02-2008, 16:04

Aww nice one shaun! I may be down to see the progress if you dont mind?

Oh also what made you choose SEAT as you were previously running r32's...

//Mario

shaun@amdessex

07-02-2008, 16:33

Aww nice one shaun! I may be down to see the progress if you dont mind?

Oh also what made you choose SEAT as you were previously running r32's...

//Mario

Hi Mario

Hows your car running?

We still run the R32 in the VW Cup but the Dunlop SportMaxx seemed to hark back to the old Prod Saloon championships of the 70s/80s which appealed to me.

The rules in the SportMaxx championship give you a choice of cars and the Cupra gave good figures for power to weight remapping (275bhp at 1300kg). Class A cars (e.g. BMW M3, Nissan 350Z, Vauxhall VXR Astra, etc) have to run a maximum of 210bhp per ton.

Milltek were also keen to run a Seat given that they already have involvement with the VW Cup. Seat were also very supportive with helping to get the project up and running.

When you come down I'll show you around the car. It will be going away to have the cage fitted next week so probably leave it for a week or two.

Cheers Shaun.

P.S. Our new rolling road will be installed over the next week so I'll give you a sneak preview.

jonjay

07-02-2008, 16:54

Hi Mario

Hows your car running?

We still run the R32 in the VW Cup but the Dunlop SportMaxx seemed to hark back to the old Prod Saloon championships of the 70s/80s which appealed to me.

The rules in the SportMaxx championship give you a choice of cars and the Cupra gave good figures for power to weight remapping (275bhp at 1300kg). Class A cars (e.g. BMW M3, Nissan 350Z, Vauxhall VXR Astra, etc) have to run a maximum of 210bhp per ton.

Milltek were also keen to run a Seat given that they already have involvement with the VW Cup. Seat were also very supportive with helping to get the project up and running.

When you come down I'll show you around the car. It will be going away to have the cage fitted next week so probably leave it for a week or two.

Cheers Shaun.

P.S. Our new rolling road will be installed over the next week so I'll give you a sneak preview.
Superb Shaun, I am really really happy with the AMD map.

You were right about starting the car up the next day, felt like a totally different beast once the ECU started on cold values.

Sounds like a nice competition to be in for sure. I will speak to you more about it in person as I got to many questions to ask.

As for the rolling road thank you very much look forward to seeing it. I will be down soon as I got Leon Cupra R wheels now to accomodate a big brake conversion. I will need re-alignment from you once these go on. I also need to speak to Kenny about some deisel tuning.

Cheers Mario.

D.K

07-02-2008, 20:15

shaun@amdessex

08-02-2008, 09:12

Hello Shaun

i'm coming over on monday for a service and would like to see the car if its still there.
The rolling road sound good too, any chance of doing a group shoot out i'm sure we can get some intrest.

BTW if you need a stand in driver just give me a shout :lol:

see you monday
Darren

Hi

We would be very interested in having a shoot-out rolling road day for seatcupra.net members. We are doing a uk-mkivs day on 24th February so how about sunday 30th March?

The runs will cost £35 with printout and 10% discount on parts and remaps bought on the day.

I'll put this up on the Rolling Road Day section and see what sort of response we get?

Cheers Shaun.

tris

08-02-2008, 10:44

Good luck and will have to have a look at the race car

jonjay

08-02-2008, 12:46

Hi

We would be very interested in having a shoot-out rolling road day for seatcupra.net members. We are doing a uk-mkivs day on 24th February so how about sunday 30th March?

The runs will cost £35 with printout and 10% discount on parts and remaps bought on the day.

I'll put this up on the Rolling Road Day section and see what sort of response we get?

Cheers Shaun.
Shaun if you do this I am more than willing to spread the word and be the main contact for yourself and other members.

//Mario

shaun@amdessex

08-02-2008, 13:06

Hi

Thanks Mario. I have put a post on the rolling road day section so put a post up there and lets see if we can get the ball rolling.

Cheers Shaun.

H_man

08-02-2008, 22:15

You need a driver Shaun!!!!;):D

Come to london over easter so will come down and see you guys!!!!!

shaun@amdessex

12-02-2008, 09:30

Hi

Here are a few more shots of the car before the car gets taken to have the rollcage fitted.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i181/bigboystoys/seatrace3.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i181/bigboystoys/seatrace2.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i181/bigboystoys/seatrace1.jpg

Cheers Shaun.

P.S. I always like the strategically placed empty cup of coffee to aid weight distribution!

jonjay

12-02-2008, 16:35

How much will the car be pushing in the end and how much lighter will the car be?

H8T WP

12-02-2008, 16:37

Poor cupra !! cant wait to see the finished results !

shaun@amdessex

12-02-2008, 18:18

How much will the car be pushing in the end and how much lighter will the car be?

Hi

The rules have a limit of 210bhp per ton. So we are guessing that the car will weigh 1.3 ton so we will map it to 275bhp.

If the weight is less we have to have less power but the car is capable of 320-330bhp so it will have a very flat power curve. Max power from about 4500 revs all the way through the range.

We have to do the same with the VW Cup R32.

Cheers Shaun.

Ninja

12-02-2008, 20:06

nice one.. Am looking forward to seeing the progress on this :thumbup:

wild willy

12-02-2008, 20:43

As good a job as i'm sure you guys are going to do, it still hurts to see a perfectly good brand new Cupra trashed. Did you at least feel a little bit guilty.:headhurt: :D

D.K

12-02-2008, 21:00

I saw the car in the flesh on monday :-o its seems funny seeing a brand new car completley striped.
The best bit was it didnt have the dashboard in it :lol:

shaun@amdessex

18-02-2008, 15:54

Hi

Our Leon Cupra left to have the roll cage fitted on Saturday. Should take about 10 days.

The Leon FR that we are running for SEAT and Dunlop in Class B of the same championship arrived and the Cupra left on the same trailer!.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i181/bigboystoys/classbcar.jpg

We haven't put on the Milltek and AmD branding yet.

Cheers Shaun.

jonjay

18-02-2008, 20:41

this is getting exciting! :)

ArosaRacer

19-02-2008, 20:41

if the gear knob is for sale from the cupra let me know :)

shaun@amdessex

19-02-2008, 22:52

if the gear knob is for sale from the cupra let me know :)

Hi

Sorry we are keeping that bit.

Seats, headlining, carpet, rear shelf going for £1000 though.

Various airbags and controller going for £100 per item.

Cheers Shaun.

Fishy

20-02-2008, 20:23

Will you be doing a bit of weight saving on the elecy rear windows? ;)
Fish

shaun@amdessex

20-02-2008, 21:04

Will you be doing a bit of weight saving on the elecy rear windows? ;)
Fish

Hi

We have to run the door locks and window mechanisms as standard so it all stays in the door.

I will give you a ring regarding the lights tomorrow.

Cheers Shaun.

shaun@amdessex

28-02-2008, 20:15

Hi

Here is our Class B Leon FR on the rollers getting its current 186bhp. Next year we can map it up to 207bhp with the car weighing its expected 1300kg. This can be mapped up to 255/260bhp but the championship rules mean the car would have to weigh about 1650kg!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sC0tm5-Ffs

Cheers Shaun.

DanGB

18-03-2008, 13:52

Shuan, are you still looking to part ex the lights?

shaun@amdessex

18-03-2008, 15:23

Hi

Yes, we can swop lights. I will swop them over for £300.

Give me a call.

Cheers Shaun.

jonjay

18-03-2008, 16:09

Did you manage to get Pat to compress those video's in the end to put on youtube then Shaun?

Cheers, Marios.

shaun@amdessex

02-04-2008, 08:34

Did you manage to get Pat to compress those video's in the end to put on youtube then Shaun?

Cheers, Marios.

Hi

We found some software that got the job done in 30 mins per video rather than 6 hours!!

Cheers Shaun.

shaun@amdessex

02-04-2008, 08:36

Hi

The Leon Cupra is back from the cagemakers at last! Lovely job but it has set us back a couple of weeks with the build. Still set for race debut on 26th April at Snetterton though.

Here are some shots:

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i181/bigboystoys/srcinside1.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i181/bigboystoys/src10.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i181/bigboystoys/src3.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i181/bigboystoys/src2.jpg

Cheers Shaun.

tris

02-04-2008, 10:15

Looking forward to having a look over it on the 20th

D.K

23-04-2008, 21:39

Hello Shaun are you able to post up the race calender
I'm sure some of us will come and cheer you on

ArosaRacer

30-04-2008, 20:07

How did the first outing go Shaun? also Paul is still waiting on your call if you still needing us!

m0rk

30-04-2008, 21:02

http://www.tsl-timing.com/barc/2008/81721.pdf

2nd & a 3rd

good outing for a new build!

Can't work out have an M3 is in the same group......

D.K

30-04-2008, 21:17

:clap: Well done Shaun :clap:

Whats with the M3 ?

m0rk

30-04-2008, 21:18

Unless it weighs in at 3500kg I can't work out the PWR being fair

D.K

30-04-2008, 21:21

It must be running full road spec

Whens the next race?

m0rk

30-04-2008, 21:24

http://www.parcferme.com/content/view/5608/2/

dav3

30-04-2008, 22:00

:clap::clap::clap: Well done Shaun sounded like a good race:worship:

jonjay

01-05-2008, 09:28

:clap: :clap:
Well done Shaun!

Sounded like a great race.

shaun@amdessex

01-05-2008, 18:18

Hi

Thanks guys.

The BMW M3 was kicked out after qualifying for being underweight for power to weight rules. He did not run in Class A but in a hastely created Invitation class. This scored no points to the championship overall.

We have a series of mods before the next race at Pembrey in Wales next weekend.

The KONI shocks are being shortened by 50mm so that we can make it look less like a Range Rover!

Solid top mounts with 1 degree of camber built so that the outer tyre edges don't look like they've been attacked by a ***** at the end of the race!

Try some Ferodo DS3000 pads because the brakes on both cars, but especially the Leon FR, were getting too hot and fading.

Code out the ESP completely (or reposition the sensor) so that the ESP disengages completely. At the moment the car scabbles itself back into line if it thinks its getting a bit lairy!

Thats it so far but there are some pictures on the AmD Essex facebook site and some OnBoard footage going onto our youtube site once the DVD comes through from Greenlight television (Unfortunately it shows me missing a gear of the line. Doh!)

Cheers Shaun.

shaun@amdessex

15-05-2008, 13:47

Hi

2nd and 3rd places at Pembrey last weekend. The Renault was a bit unstoppable because it has a Limited Slip Diff as standard. Pembrey has lots of long, tightening corners which make the inside wheel spin if you don't have a diff.

Here is a link to our site for a bit more info and a nice picture of me beating the works Vauxhall! http://www.amdessex.com/news.read.cfm?articleid=49

The BMW M3 has been finally sent home because he wouldn't run the car with the correct power to weight. I found out that at Snetterton it was running about 500kilos underweight!

Cheers Shaun.

jonjay

15-05-2008, 16:50

AmD for the win :)

:clap:

D.K

15-05-2008, 19:48

Weel done Shaun when are you doing Brands?

Andywarr

30-05-2008, 08:30

Croft in 2 weeks ish?

Andywarr

18-06-2008, 09:36

i got a few nice piccys of the Leon from Croft

And an especially nice one of a fully controlled drift midway through the 2nd race

I will post them when i can work out how

Cheers

ZBOYD

18-06-2008, 09:40

Email them to me Andy, we'll host them. I'll need some pics anyway when Shaun does his write up pr bit. :)

shaun@amdessex

18-06-2008, 13:55

Hi

I am glad it looked "fully controlled" from where you were sitting, it didn't feel quite so controlled from my seat!!

A bad weekend for us with lots of suspension changes improving tyre wear, which was an issue, but losing traction, doh. 4th and 5th places still leave us 2nd in the championship.

Cheers Shaun.

jonjay

18-06-2008, 14:08

Shaun, get Pat to upload that video...If not i will have a look at it this Sat.

ZBOYD

18-06-2008, 14:08

Croft has it in for SEAT's this year it seems. Well yellow and green ones at least. :)

Andywarr

18-06-2008, 14:43

Z i will get them over to you shortly

mark sheerin

26-06-2008, 10:38

shaun@amdessex

26-06-2008, 11:28

Great to read this thread and see the Cupra and FR as lil babies..lol.
I am currently waiting to go to Donnington to see if I can get my ass behind the wheel of the FR for Rockingham..

Small world Shaun. You know Eugene O Brien,

I used to race in karts against VW cup former champ Phil House . . He's a Harrogate boy like me and we used to race unlicenced prokarts at Tockwith He was quite quick but I did beat him a couple of times. Tockwith is where Nigel Moore and his father Simon used to run the track. Nigel has been a revalation in the Ginettas , straight from Junior into G50 and he is only what 16 or so.
Looks like I will be racing against another 16 yr old in class B in a corsa if I win.
Has the FR got the capability to beat the Corsa Shaun?
I know the FR is run with guest drivers so has it actually had anyone in it yet who could give it some justice?

Hi

Good luck with the competition and see you at Donington.

Yes it is a small world. Phil is a good little pedaller and Eugene is still out there strutting his stuff! It makes me feel old that I raced against Eugene back in 1987 in Formula First.

Cheers Shaun.

P.S. The Corsa is definately beatable, especially when the doorpanels fall off and the electrics go on the blink as all Vauxhalls do!! (Waiting for backlash from VXR owners!)

jonjay

26-06-2008, 12:02

You wont find them on here!

Andywarr

26-06-2008, 20:12

shane lynch did well in the FR last year, he took two class wins

mark sheerin

26-06-2008, 23:15

Shane Lynch did well in British GTs driving a tuscan. I don't discout him as a credible driver at all.

Some questions about the FR.

Does it have the standard VAG/Audi six speed gearbox?

The reason I ask is because my experience of the road cars with them (I have had two Mk 1 cupras) means they can be flat shifted to keep the turbo spinning.
But I would need to know if the electronic rev limiter still works as normal.
Also in the race prep is the ESP bypassed? or the traction control.

I have soooo many questions about the FR....:help:

shaun@amdessex

27-06-2008, 09:15

Hi

Standard 6 speed box and no traction/ESP.

I wouldn't go near the limiter as all the power has gone by then.

Cheers Shaun.

mark sheerin

27-06-2008, 10:06

Thanks Shaun .
I don't actually hit the limiter in my cars anyway but a tuned up engine would accelerate quicker once the load is removed even for a fraction of a second.

The gearboxes aren't bad and as mentioned can be flatshifted without baulking with the exception of the thrid to fourth shift which has a switch of layshafts so I tent to drop the throttle for that one.

Looking forward to seeing and driving the car in less than two weeks....:funk:

My local dealer has just done a black FR demo up in the aero bodykit so I am off to see if I can blag it to go to Donny in...:p

anybody want to sposor my drive down the M1?

Andywarr

27-06-2008, 18:01

i'll be at Combe Shaun, i'll come to say hello, i'll be dressed as the opposition though

mark sheerin

28-06-2008, 03:53

Shaun ,
Did you have any input into the DUNLOP car or was it just dropped off at your place already modded?

Are the brakes original or have they been improved with different pads/hoses/discs/fluid etc.
The reason I ask is because six or so laps round Donnington would see my road cars brakes go a little soft although to be fair there's only goddards chicane and scrubbing speed for the old hairpin that would tax the brakes.
Also what likely degradation is likely to be seen on the cars tyres throughout the day?. With seven drivers of varying skills.

been watching this loads of you tube in car vids from donny hence this very late post.

The best one I found after filtering through the ones where the drivers didn't seem to have any idea was this one with Sean Edwards.
He is using all the lines Eugene taught me including the same amount of kerbs.
Cheers Mark.http://youtube.com/watch?v=36ue0v28KZ8

BTW I will be turning up to the semi final in a SEAT LEON FR liveried in my local dealers name. I suggested a bit of PR wouldn't go a miss and he was happy to oblige. His PR dept are doing a bit for the local press too with me DUNLOP ACADEMY will obviously get a big mention.I just need to try and get him interested a bit more and he might field another car in the sportsmaxx next year if I can give him enough info about TV exposure and hospitality , passenger rides etc.. Oh and how good it would be to have me as his driver..:)

All this homework and smooching , lack of sleep , dropping chocolate , swimming every day ,phew getting in the car and driving will be the easy bit.

now for some sleep ..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz