Renault Laguna BTCC Super Touring Track Car Project

McGherkin · Feb 25, 2021

I was actually in the one-seat camp personally

But looking forward to this.

I’ve been considering building an S40 of that era for my racing endeavours but none of them from that era had a 5 banger as standard, I think the BTCC one was lifted from the 850.

getikte · Feb 26, 2021

So its on its way!

The driver is heading 300 ish miles up to me in the laguna and I assume turning many heads on the way!

Just look at it!

RustyMojo · Feb 26, 2021

I’m pretty sure my old mates could remove that splitter in about 30 seconds and 5 minutes later have it fitted to a Vauxhall Nova SR

alistairolsen · Feb 26, 2021

Much win! Whilst you wait for it, this thread needs more pics of period touring cars for inspiration!

Steve1986 · Feb 26, 2021

McGherkin said:
I was actually in the one-seat camp personally But looking forward to this.

I’ve been considering building an S40 of that era for my racing endeavours but none of them from that era had a 5 banger as standard, I think the BTCC one was lifted from the 850.

You just reminded me of a video about the 850 engine, very clever interpretation of the rules by TWR

Adey. · Feb 26, 2021

Subtle nod would be alot cooler and more modern looking than a full rep. More a privateer car than works version.

RustyMojo · Feb 26, 2021

I loved this era or touring cars! Nissan Primera being my particular fav

McGherkin · Feb 26, 2021

Steve1986 said:
You just reminded me of a video about the 850 engine, very clever interpretation of the rules by TWR

Yeah TWR were doing some clever s**t, but they were far from the only ones. The supertourers were a full blown manufacturer backed arms race.

IMO it needs to be the full Nescafe livery, go hard or go home!

Martin_172 · Feb 26, 2021

Heads to ebay "Green Laguna MK1"

good work looking forward to seeing how this progresses!

NorthloopCup · Feb 26, 2021

RustyMojo said:
I loved this era or touring cars! Nissan Primera being my particular fav

It was, without doubt the best era for BTCC. Good old chavaliers, E36’s, Alfas etc that looked pretty much the same as what you could buy in the show room!

IIRC the Nissans and Laguna’s were the only true 300hp+ n/a power units as well.

getikte · Feb 27, 2021

Its here!

And I've already put it to work. Today is also the day I'm selling my daily driver so we took the laguna down to Wetherby to meet the new owner of my E92 M3. I'm really going to miss that car.

Also, a very very nice porsche came to join the party.

jtexige · Feb 27, 2021

I was watching this on eBay! A bit too much going on in my world to take it on, but was thinking exactly the same... Full nescafe track car! What you thinking engine wise? Good luck, and hope to see the finished result one day.

getikte · Feb 27, 2021

So engine wise. I've got a 182 lying around that I have been getting ready for sale over the past couple of months but its needed quite a lot to get it up to standard and its still a little way off. So for this reason its now a donor car and I'm going to try and use its engine and box all be it with cams, a set of ITBs a diff and final drive. And also see what other bits can be transferred over.

Going to be a voyage of discovery thats for sure. The laguna is back at the lockup now so hopefully some of the fun can start Monday.

YorkshireKyle · Feb 27, 2021

If youre breaking that 182 I want the front end off it

getikte · Feb 27, 2021

Yea its going to be broken for parts ill give you a heads up!

Yorkshire Pudding said:
If youre breaking that 182 I want the front end off it

YorkshireKyle · Feb 27, 2021

getikte said:
Yea its going to be broken for parts ill give you a heads up!

Legend, ill have a load of bits off you mate

-Jamie- · Feb 27, 2021

Look forward to seeing what you do with it.

Scott was gonna K20 it [emoji23]

RustyMojo · Feb 27, 2021

Yorkshire Pudding said:
Legend, ill have a load of bits off you mate

Oooh don’t forget me! Let me know when it’s being broken!!!!

alistairolsen · Feb 27, 2021

And me....

How much is known about the original engines?

MicahGTi · Feb 27, 2021

Love it, brings back great memories. You just need this now

jrpmotorsport · Feb 27, 2021

http://www.touringcarspares.com/Use...gine__RML_Design__rebuilt__Dyno_d_at_Swindon/

Go on, you know you want to. I wanted to when I saw Laguna for sale but now cant wait to see ehat you do with it. I'm sure we can all help spend your money

Louis · Feb 27, 2021

Get this one bought as a spares car

Facebook

www.facebook.com

Dave 200 · Feb 27, 2021

NorthloopCup said:
It was, without doubt the best era for BTCC. Good old chavaliers, E36’s, Alfas etc that looked pretty much the same as what you could buy in the show room!

IIRC the Nissans and Laguna’s were the only true 300hp+ n/a power units as well.

the reverse head swindon c20xe in the cavs and vectras were over 300bhp too

McGherkin · Feb 27, 2021

The wonky head 850s were well into the 300s.

MarcB · Feb 27, 2021

Sure all touring cars where 300bhp.

My mate owns a genuine Honda BTCC .

Crazylegs · Feb 28, 2021

I went to the BTCC at Oulton years back, they had a special BTCC Super Tourers race on. Nescafe Laguna three cars in.

Crazylegs · Feb 28, 2021

Djw John · Feb 28, 2021

So, how does it drive then?

Crybert · Feb 28, 2021

What a phenomenal thing!

would the 2 litre not be a bit gutless in that thing? Or are they quite light

Adey. · Feb 28, 2021

1250ish kg?

JamesBryan · Feb 28, 2021

alistairolsen said:
And me....

How much is known about the original engines?

I'm sure they were built by Sodemo in France.

Quite a lot of development by Williams F1 on them and they were over £30k+vat a piece.

Around 300bbp

JamesBryan · Feb 28, 2021

Adeyspec said:
1250ish kg?

975kg dry they were

Adey. · Feb 28, 2021

JamesBryan said:
975kg dry they were

where did you find that info? no way a road going laguna was that light.

Adey. · Feb 28, 2021

JamesBryan · Feb 28, 2021

Adeyspec said:
where did you find that info? no way a road going laguna was that light.

Sorry I meant the touring car.

andy_coops · Feb 28, 2021

Great project. Dug these out from the Silverstone Classic 2012. First time the touring cars ran at the event from memory and the colleague I was with couldn’t understand why I got so excited over a Laguna.

P-Co · Mar 1, 2021

Subscribed, this reminds me of TOCA for the PS [emoji23] the Laguna was always my car of choice, can't wait to see this progress [emoji1303]

getikte · Mar 1, 2021

so little update for you.

After taking the Laguna on a 200 mile round trip to hand over my M3 on the weekend I can confirm its engine is totally gutless.
Luckily as I mentioned before I do have a 182 lying around so that is now the donor car for this project.

After a chat with both fulcrum and ARC in regards to a cage the Laguna is booked in with ARC for the start of April. The decision to use ARC was totally down to timescale, I'm a little impatient and really want this project to be cracking on at a decent rate. Cage wise I will update with the final plans when i have them but its going to be a pretty close replica to the super touring cage.

In the mean time I will be pulling the old engine out and seeing how the F4R fits and what will need doing to accommodate that. Further plans for the engine are a set of cams and ITB,s as well as sending the box away for some final drive work and a diff.

currently using my old PH1 engine for inspo! wish id never sold that little car!

massivewangers · Mar 1, 2021

Saw the Super Tourers supporting the BTCC at Oulton a few years ago. They're such amazing machines in the metal; so far removed from the road cars on which they're based. Few of the Lagunas: