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Craners is fantastic... until it isn't. I rolled at Craners about 10 years ago and it took me a good few years to find my confidence there again. Now I absolutely love it again.

The gearboxes are made of chocolate so don't try and rush gearchanges. If it starts crunching into 3rd then start saving for a rebuild! And these engines love to bend valves if you over rev them or miss a gear. You can change the bottom pulley for a keyed version (from a Megan) that will stop...

Pre Brands Hatch prep has started today. Hinge reinforcement being first on the list. After removing the hinge from the door it was clear that the fibreglass was starting to fatigue with some noticeable flex. Definitely needs reinforcement although to be fair its lasted this long, so it can't...

I've been racing one of these for 13 years. I think I've had pretty much anything these engines can do thrown at me at one time or another!

It is possible that its not the cam cover leaking. The heads are prone to leak from the core plugs between the exhaust ports (I've fixed this with silicone before) and also from the seal around the dephaser solenoid on the top. Worth checking both first.

Welcome to Clio ownership. Sadly, unlike Hondas a cam cover leak is not an easy fix but if you don't know the service history you can tie it in to a cambelt and dephaser change. Other than that, you'll find answers to any questions in this community and some might even be right!

The last week since Donington has been quiet thankfully. It's a welcome change to come back from a race without a long list of issues to sort. So, with so much optimism we booked the next race already. At Brands Hatch Indy on the 24th May. Again with the Tin Tops. Second driver to be confirmed...

Race report Packing tetris complete, I began the 2 and a half hour drive up to Donington on Saturday afternoon with a view to getting a good spot in the paddock, unloading the car and then heading to the hotel for the evening. An uneventful journey followed but they weren't letting any Sunday...

So, one day to go and I think we've done all we can in preparation for Donington on Sunday. Yesterday John came over for one final spannering session before the weekend and we may have found a smoking gun. Some fraying wires on the external cut-off button. One of the terminals was literally...

Not much to report but steering column is back in and seems to be working. Haven't changed the controller yet.

Parts have arrived and a bit more progress made. New - second hand steering column arrived. tested the stiffness and feels pretty much the same as the existing one. So, I've cleaned and repainted the existing one and for now that will go back in. Also received the new controller I'll look at...

Had a bit of time on Saturday this weekend to start investigating our issues. First off was draining the tank so we can see what's going on with the sender and possibly look at the pump. Once starting to pump the fuel it became apparent that there was air in the swirl pot. I only managed to...

Except that the car has been runing in this configuration for 5 years. Nothing has changed which suggests something is breaking down in some way. The most draw from the EPAS is normally when moving the car around at slow speed/stationary when it needs to make the most effort so I'd say something...

Yes, I know Richard. We've raced together for over 10 years. Would have been nice to have another clio out. Be good to see the videos!

Alternator is fine I think. Producing way over 13v while running but you can see voltage drop below 12 as the steering is turned. Might be worth investigating. Its a new alternator too.

Its always a sign of a good day at the track when you can drive the car on to the trailer at the end of the day. Weather wise, we couln't have asked for more and with a rare private trackday at Snetterton the day promised some good, clear track time. If only the car behaves... Not off to a...

Yeah, this engine has stock internals and standard cams. Everything else is the same as when I run the race engine. ITBs with high pressure pump and fuel return, 182 manifold and Yozza system and of course the Emerald ECU.

So, just to expand a little on the video posted previously. Dyno day was a success! Being just a 20 minute drive away meant a fairly leisurely start as they didn't want me there until 10am and knowing the setup there now made getting the car off the trailer and into the dyno pretty plain...

A successful visit today. 212bhp from a pretty much stock engine is more than expected but more importantly its safe. (we hope)

Off to the dyno in the morning. 🤞

Stickers finished, pump cover finished. Just a bit more prpgramming of the dash and its ready for the dyno on Wednesday. Keeping everything crossed!

More cosmetic work this weekend. Removed the last couple of parts that still had the original wrap on from 10 years ago. They've weathered well in fairness but the wing still had some gravel rash on it from the roll at Craners 9 years ago! Equally the side skirt was pretty rough under the wrap...

An overdue wash yesterday and today made a start on updating the livery slightly. Finally moving away from the traditional white number squares on the dors and bonnet and continuing from the Birkett with the more popular, these days - Yellow window numbers. I've turned the car around so I can...

A couple more arrivals for the new engine. My builder is concerned about the centra main cap on one of the blocks in that its showing signs of being a little loose. So he's going to make some repairs and then line bore the bottom end. He recommended usng some ARP studs for this once done, so had...

With the first race of the season booked. Donington on the 29th March, it's much easier to feel motivated! We also have a shakedown booked for Snetterton on Monday 9th March and before that a dyno session on the 25th Feb. So a bit to get on with before then. With the blocks now machined they...

Plans for '26 So, with another engine failure Rob Q and I came up with a plan. Since the Birkett we took the engine from his "Darth Vader" and installed it in my car. Although a standard engine it means we have a working car to start a 2026 campaign. With the engine installed, it started after a...

So, continuing from my last update... At the end of September we returned one final time to Snetterton. Feeling confident we went into the weekend to round off our season with the CSCC Tin Tops once again. We qualified P12 on the road and P2 in class, just 9 tenths off pole in class. So with...

Fueled but without me in it.

Yeah, mine is only 850kg so I’d struggle to get into class B even with a standard engine and definitely not with my race engine at 230bhp. Unless I ballast it up. We’ve got a calendar meeting in the next few weeks to decide what to do next year but with a couple of 2 hour races on the calendar...

Is that the BRSCC production cup? My car wouldn't qualify as it's a bit too light and modified but Rob's might. That was a new series last year wasn't it? How were the grids?