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Hello
European Motorsport Fans and welcome
to the fifth event report of the European
Performance Car Challenge thanks to
Go Pro Hero Digital Camera’s.
With the chill of winter heavy in the
air the, morning sun slowly parted the
clouds over Oran Park as competitors
driving almost every European Marque
began to fill the pits and the smell
of racing fuel and burbling European
Engines filled the air.
From a Lamborghini Countach, to the
immaculate AutoPrep Lexus RS200, to
a Saab 99 Turbo, to a Jaguar XJ6, this
day had something for everybody - it
was the biggest collection of European
Cars to date!
The Hot Hatch class was were all the
action was again with a strong charge
by the French Manufactures - Peugeot
and Renault...much to the disappointment
of a number of competitors – The French
had Ze Germans surrounded!
After the shockingly quick times Martin
set in his RenaultSport Megane 225 Cup
set at Wakefield, some competitors were
worried if it was even worth entering
after hearing about the French charge...however
he wasn’t as quick as expected, Joey
on the other hand also in a 225 Cup
though was, with a 1:25:7090 good enough
to claim the fastest time recorded by
the hot hatches.
Hot on his heals was Ian of Team Rennenhaus
with a trick new suspension set up to
tame the VW R32 Beast with a best time
of 1:26:1350 – close Ian, close...however
the French will be flying the winners
flag until next month at Wakefield.
Martin was a second and bit behind on
1:27:5810 with Nathan in his RenaltSport
Clio not too far behind either on 1:29:3070
– like I said, French cars everywhere!
Paul Flood – overall ‘Stig’ last year
in the VAG Motorsport series was also
in the 1 min 29 second bracket with
a 1:29:7790 driving the doors off his
mighty VW Polo Gti to keep ahead of,
yes, yet another RenaultSport Clio driven
by Chris to a best time of 1:30:2800.
The Penrite SINsational Eastern Creek
Sprint ‘Stig’ Nick (say that 5 times
really fast), sporting a sticky set
of hoops fitted to the VW Golf Gti was
also surrounded by the French with a
best time of 1:30:4410 keeping him ahead
of Rodney’s brand new Renault Sport
Clio 2 which set a best time of 1:32:0810.
Rounding off the category are Simon
and Dimitrios, Simon in his VW Polo
Gti with a time of 1:33:0490 a handful
of seconds ahead of Dimitrios with a
1:39:1320 in his Peugeot 206 Gti
As always timing is only one part of
the equation – remember the EPCC handicap
system evens the playing field...so
who won you ask?
Paul Flood claims the 1st place on the
winner’s podium with total score of
20.8 points narrowly ahead of Joey and
Ian in equal second place on 20.4 points
a piece, with Nick rounding off the
class on 20 points even...close indeed
guys!
On to the Coupe class – where the two
fastest competitors of the Go Pro Hero
Oran Park GP reside – Jeff and Mark.
While Jeff hit the circuit to bed in
his brakes in the first half of the
day, Mark hit the circuit in full attack
mode and after session one was the current
‘Circuit Breaker’ with a time in the
1 min 24 second range.
The BMW M3 Convertible of Michael put
in a valiant charge for outright times
also with Brendan in the dark house
Saab 99 turbo not too far behind on
1:38:1940...don’t right Brendan off
just yet, the handicap point system
had him a heart beat behind Mark in
this session.
In the second half of the day, and with
the brakes up to par, Jeff made the
charge to clamber back up the ladder
after the first session and in the process
setting the fastest time of the day
1:20:6750 with Mark less than a second
behind.
Despite Jeff spanking out some seriously
hot laps, Mark pushed just as hard to
hang onto first place and secure his
spot on the top of the podium with 11.6
points...just a fraction ahead of Jeff
on 11.4.
Brendan was unable to better his best
times from the morning sessions however
kept the pedal to the metal to keep
in front of the M3 on the points table...nice
work Brendan especially in a car from
1978!
Add two more doors to the Coupe Class
and what do you get – the Sedan Class
where the circuit action was just as
engaging with France, Brittan and Germany
all vying for the title.
The fastest car of the category was
obviously the Audi RS4, however, with
309kw and a PWR of less than 5.5 it
was hard pressed on the points table
against the VW Bora 4 Motion piloted
by Marcus, the Peugeot 405 steered by
Daniel and the XJ6 Jaguar wrestled to
impressive times by Owen – especially
considering the 1.8 plus tons of metal
he had to move around.
Owen lead the charge in the first session
with Marcus and Daniel only a few seconds
off the beat, much to the amazement
of crowd, however, as the day wore on
it was Marcus who became quicker and
quicker against the clock to climb his
way back up the ladder and eventually
to first place on 11.6 points and a
best time of 1:32:7820.
Owen kept the forging ahead and for
the rest of the day in an effort to
kept the Daniel’s Peugeot in his revision
mirrors to claim 11.2 points and a best
time of 1:37:2830. Daniel didn’t take
this lying down though and snuck in
a 1:37:2250 to stamp his authority on
the time board...next time Daniel, next
time.
Now for the award, and the title most
converted by anyone with octane in their
veins – The Go Pro Hero Oran Park GP
STIG – rewarding the best average time
/ PWR (also taking into account drive
type, transmission, aspiration, No of
cylinders, tyres, vehicle age, etc.).
And the winner is...Nick in his mighty
VW Golf Gti – that’s two in a row!
Nick better watch his mirrors though
a Last year’s STIG, Paul flood, was
only a fraction off (0.315 to be precise)
and the Meguiar’s / Liqui Moly Wakefield
Park Winter Sprint just around the corner
– be there to see if nick can go three
for three!
So what did all these people win? $100
credits on Go Pro Hero Motorsport Camera’s
thanks to iautosport.com.au and Go Pro...not
bad for a day’s worth of racing.
Want to be part of the most affordable,
most accessible and most prize packed
motorsport series in the country – then
contact the team at info@epcc.net.au
to reserve your spot on Saturday the
25th July for the Meguiar’s / Liqui
Moly Wakefield Winter Sprint and be
part of the action and excitement.
There are bucket loads of prize packs
to be won and as an added bonus you
can purchase Meguiar’s and Liqui Moly
Products on the day at discounted rates!
Congratulations to all our winners and
thank you to all the series competitors
for putting on a great display of European
Motorsport action.
For full event photography by Matthew
Mead click
here to view all his fantastic shots,
and click the video links on the front
page to for the race footage.
Drive Fast, Drive Safe and see you at
Wakefield on the Saturday the 25th
The EPCC
Team
All bookings should be sent to jayne@circuitclub.com.au
as soon as possible. Send in you interest
and Circuit Club will send a form with
all the details back to you.
Places are strictly limited, and as
such we recommend you book early to
avoid disappointment…don't miss out
on your chance to win a boot load of
Meguiar's and Liqui Moly Products!
For more information or a general enquiry
please email: info@epcc.net.au
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