OliverJ's Leon Cupra R : OZ AP Racing upgrades...

oliverj

Active Member
Aug 18, 2006
287
0
Nottingham
I am keen to see how I get on with her as 'standard' so then any mods I make I have something to compare against. I hear good and bad things about remaps and the affect on driveability etc. What changes have you made to yours?
 

Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
Hay Oliver, glad all went well bud.
How did you feel the car handlng was?
What in your mind needs sorted out next?
What motors were you mixing it with, any big scalps orr were you just doing your thing?
Were you two up the whole day?
How did your mates think you got on?
Did you mess about with the tyres pressures?
Lots of questions:)

Did you get a video camera rigged up?
Any more pictures?
 

oliverj

Active Member
Aug 18, 2006
287
0
Nottingham
Morning!

The car handled really well, as you can see from the pics there was no give in the tyres under hard cornering and my neighbour couldn't belive they showed no visible wear at he end of the day. His tyres were trashed and he had worn the corners off! The brakes were just superb and showed no fade after some quite hard laps, however, they did go dark blue!!! :D

Even though it was 30 degrees outside the car had plenty of go and was hitting the red line very fast. I can't imagine how much better she would be on a cool day but I suppose every car there was in the same boat.

I had no trouble keeping up with the Westfields and Caterhams around the track but didn't have the skill/speed to overtake them. There was a nice mix of cars there but i was just doing my thing - I was cautious because it was my car so didn't want to overcook things. That is how Mr BMW ended up taking his car home on a trailer. :D

It was just an evening session so 17:00 to 20:30 with an open pit lane. I would take mine out with the bloke next door while his cooled and then we would swap and go out in his Clio Trophy while mine cooled. This way we were both on the track pretty much all the time. I also had an instructor for 30 mins of that time and he really helped. I did go out on my own a couple of times but I think I prefer having someone with me - much more fun that way.

That was my third time at Donington, it took me 10 or so laps to get used to the track again but a friend who had come to watch said I was really smooth through Craner and got much faster as the evening went on. Most likely down to a rapidly emptying fuel tank!!! :D

Tyres were dropped from 33 all round to 26 front and 30 rear as advised by the Donington instructors. After the second set of laps they had gone back up to their original pressures!!!!

I didn't get a video camera, I will do at some point but want to do some more research as the quality is not brilliant and they are pretty expensive so want to get the right one. I have more pics, I will sort through them and post them up!!! I am still smiling - I had a great time and can't wait to do it again. :D

Next steps are I think to get myself some track wheels. I have 6 of the OZ so I was thinking of buying two more to put on the car. Taking the four oldest (scratched and marked) and having them re-furbed in gloss black then shodding them with some R888s. That way I have some good semi-slicks and if it rains on the day I will just put the other wheels with the Michelin PS2s back on. I think i would need to do the suspension too to get the most out of the new wheel set-up as mine is quite spongy at the moment.

I suppose another option is to just buy a really cheap car like an old Golf or BMW to do up as the money is comparible to that I would need to spend on mine and at least then it wouldn't matter if I did fall off the track. Decisions.......

Has your car been sorted yet? I have a metallic knocking (there before the track-day) and a few other minor issues to sort with SEAT before the warranty runs out in August.
 

Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
Great write up Oliver, makes me very jealous.

Mine is still not sorted, Seat have not been intouch and I'm getting pretty pissed with the situation. TBH I didn't expect anything else, so I'm not surprised.

I've been noticing the suspension spongeyness alot this past while so think I'll settle straight for the KWV3's, no point going anywhere else for a long term, top notch and track proven solution. Unlike others I'll set them up for the max ride height and fiddle with them on the track to see what is the best setting, I'm hoping it'll be perfect at the top ride height but we'll see. I had thought I'd go for a shock and spring set up but TBH I'd probably end up with coilovers at some point.

What you thinking about mapping, if your mixing it with the big boys then perhaps this is not in your mind;)
 

oliverj

Active Member
Aug 18, 2006
287
0
Nottingham
Great write up Oliver, makes me very jealous.

Mine is still not sorted, Seat have not been intouch and I'm getting pretty pissed with the situation. TBH I didn't expect anything else, so I'm not surprised.

I've been noticing the suspension spongeyness alot this past while so think I'll settle straight for the KWV3's, no point going anywhere else for a long term, top notch and track proven solution. Unlike others I'll set them up for the max ride height and fiddle with them on the track to see what is the best setting, I'm hoping it'll be perfect at the top ride height but we'll see. I had thought I'd go for a shock and spring set up but TBH I'd probably end up with coilovers at some point.

What you thinking about mapping, if your mixing it with the big boys then perhaps this is not in your mind;)


Cheers mate! Bad news about your gearbox but I am not surprised with SEAT - I am taking mine in next week for an odd metallic clanking noise underneath and my rear brake bulbs keep blowing!.

I have spongy suspension issues too - you can see some body roll in the track shots but nothing that caused my sphincter to clench unnecessarily on the day. My brake man has said it is the softest LCR he has been in so he is going to speak to some friends of his to recommend a track suspension set-up. I am not up on suspension at present and not sure as to the benefits of coilovers over other set-ups so advice welcome!!! :D

I am still not sure about mapping... I am most likely to sort some track wheels + tyres next, maybe followed by suspension and possibly a turbo-back exhaust. I would rather get more experienced with the car as she is than add extra power and possibly upset the balance!?!?!?!? :confused:

I a struggling to source R888s at present for an 18" wheel - I had quotes today from £160 to £235!!!!
 

oliverj

Active Member
Aug 18, 2006
287
0
Nottingham
That tis niceeeeeee, love the wheels, what i need lol .

Cheers Craig(?). The wheels do set the car off very nicely when they are clean. I am looking to get some more to have powder coated in gloss black and then shod in R888s for a more focussed track experience! Watch this space.

Topgear do a full set of my wheels in 18" x 8J for £1100ish with tyres etc. They have come down a lot in price! They even come in white and red finish now if you want to be different!!! :D
 

Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
Oliver it sounds like you'd be better off starting with ARB's
A Neuspeed 28mm (£190) adjustable rear one and a R32 23 mm (£70) front ARB with a S3 strutt brace (£60) and geometry set up will probably sort all your body roll problems.
 

oliverj

Active Member
Aug 18, 2006
287
0
Nottingham
I am on it - leave it with me!!! Donington full day on the 25th August here I come!!!!

Would you recommend anywhere to get these parts from online? Would it make sense to do them along with suspension or can the two be addressed indvidually?!?!?

Cars are such an expensive hobby! :D
 

revo carl

Active Member
Jun 18, 2008
104
0
Really like this, sutble but effective!

rather than Revo which just drop a standard one for that model on everyones.

This is a common misconception, all our maps are idividual to each ecu type. The software would then be set-up to suit the car and it's spec, then also data-logged out on the road to see if anymore can be pulled from the car

so each and every map is custom, just the fact that it's a lot more user friendly, also with the addition of a select plus switch you can run different settings for different fuel types (i.e. race fuel!) or a more aggressive boost setting. so you'll find the product to be far from a "generic" code


and keep up the good work!
 

Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
I am on it - leave it with me!!! Donington full day on the 25th August here I come!!!!

Would you recommend anywhere to get these parts from online? Would it make sense to do them along with suspension or can the two be addressed indvidually?!?!?

Cars are such an expensive hobby! :D
Suspension and ARB's can and should be addressed individually, in my mind. I think we think the same way about these things.
Get the ARB's on, get a day or two out on the track to get a feel for it, then see how you want to progress from there. I think this will keep you happy for a bit, well while you save up for coilovers anyway;)
 

oliverj

Active Member
Aug 18, 2006
287
0
Nottingham
Really like this, sutble but effective!



This is a common misconception, all our maps are idividual to each ecu type. The software would then be set-up to suit the car and it's spec, then also data-logged out on the road to see if anymore can be pulled from the car

so each and every map is custom, just the fact that it's a lot more user friendly, also with the addition of a select plus switch you can run different settings for different fuel types (i.e. race fuel!) or a more aggressive boost setting. so you'll find the product to be far from a "generic" code


and keep up the good work!

Hi Carl, apologies for the mis-representation. My knowledge has been acquired from reading reviews and feedback on REVO, CC and Jabba mappings. I am still not sure as to which I would opt for if at all. I think the most benefit can be extracted from learning how to drive the car properly! :D
 

oliverj

Active Member
Aug 18, 2006
287
0
Nottingham
Suspension and ARB's can and should be addressed individually, in my mind. I think we think the same way about these things.
Get the ARB's on, get a day or two out on the track to get a feel for it, then see how you want to progress from there. I think this will keep you happy for a bit, well while you save up for coilovers anyway;)

Evening chap, I think the suspension is one of the most considered decisions I will have to make on the car. There are so many options!

I think I have a wheel bearing issue too. The car has been making some severe droning noise for the past two days. I will call SEAT tomorrow and get her booked in next week as the warranty runs out in September. :(

Did you extend the warranty on your SEAT? Do you think it is worth me doing it or using one of these 3rd party companies? :confused:

I'll look into pricing for the ARBs and SB - be nice to get it sorted before my next visit to Donington on the 25th.
 

revo carl

Active Member
Jun 18, 2008
104
0
oliver,

not a problem, like i say it's quite common. if you need any help understanding the the principles of ecu tuning and the way the ecu on your car feel free to give me a ring at the office (the number is on the website). You're right! if you can extract the most from the car on a standard map that's the place to start, once you put code on it it'll be a whole different beast!

keep us up to date buddy :)
 

oliverj

Active Member
Aug 18, 2006
287
0
Nottingham
Cheers Carl! I'll keep posting the pics and progress. I just hope I don't fall off the track!! I was hurtling through Craner Curves on Monday and a pheasant hopped across the track in front of me!!! I thought that stuff only happened on the roads! :D
 

Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
I'm a non believer in extended warranties. They don't usually cover the big things like clutch, gearbox, master cylinder, air con system. But if you find one that covers all the things you feel you need covered and at a good price then it ight be worth considering. Also with your car getting tracked I doubt very much if they'd cover for that sort of use.
 

oliverj

Active Member
Aug 18, 2006
287
0
Nottingham
You make a good point, I'll give them a ring and see what they say and how much it costs.

How are you getting on with the book? I'm just about to do some research on the ARBs etc!
 

Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
Not had a chance yet dude with the book. I'm going away for a few days this weekend then offshore for a week as of wednesday so will be enlightened by the time I come back and ready to do a ghost rider;)
 

oliverj

Active Member
Aug 18, 2006
287
0
Nottingham
Hi Junior! Car is booked in tomorrow for some warranty stuff. She's started chewing through bulbs on the near-side rear brake light, I think the bearings have gone in the front off side (awful droning noise started last weekend), metallic clanking noise when I go over bumps (noticed that before the track day but can't pin point it) so we shall see what SEAT have to say as it is with them all day tomorrow.

I applied for a race license pack with the MSA last night - hopefully that should be through next week so I can see what is involved! Should give me access to test days etc... :D

Still umming and ahhing about getting new wheels with track day rubber for the 25th, holding off to see what SEAT say tomorrow as to whether I have any serious problems with the car.

I have spoken to a few people about the ARBs and SB and they have advised I hold off for now. My track instructor ran two LCRs without them for three years and another chap said that it is not quite so forgiving if you stiffen the car up without the skill to handle it as your reactions need to be much faster with a sharper handling car... So many opinions!!!!!

Any progress with your gear box?
 

Willie

LCR Track car
Aug 6, 2004
8,939
1
Sunny Scotland
Race license, very interesting

Thats good advice, I wish i could get my car sorted and i could give you a shot to see what you think of it.
Still no word from Seat
 
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