[CTCRA19R4] CarSales 2019 TCRA Round 4, Queensland Raceway-2-4 Aug

[rass cass]

posted by tony c

It looks like the second alfa could be a bit of a dog, Jordan Cox did a good number of laps but didnt make progress. They should try Dylan O'Keefe in that car to confirm that it up to scratch.

Jordan Cox is only 2 tenths slower than O'keefe when the cars are on the same quality rubber in only his second weekend in tcr , does not seem to be too much wrong with the second Alfa.
Maybe the problem area for the second alfa at previous rounds was between the drivers seat and the steering wheel.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by rass cass

Maybe the problem area for the second alfa at previous rounds was between the drivers seat and the steering wheel.

Aha.... the nut that holds the steering wheel

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

JKV on pole, although by not much. Bright and the Renaults are nowhere.

https://www.speedcafe.com/2019/08/03...-Xtzj7RRpyyTfA

With any luck JK will run away and clear out.

Martin looking very consistent, the cream is definitely rising to the top in TCR.

Bright seems to hit someone whenever he is competitive.

Pither having an engine change. That's a worry.

[Umai Naa]

Pither engine drama seems to be a throwback to the shunt at The Bend.

Car dumped all of its coolant at the time, and may have hurt the engine.

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

Pither engine drama seems to be a throwback to the shunt at The Bend.

Car dumped all of its coolant at the time, and may have hurt the engine.

Is it running the famous Renault 2.0 F4RT iron block engine from the old Renault Megane RS (which you'd expect given it's an older car developed by privateers and released a full year before the actual road-going RS), or the new fangled aluminium Nissan MR series 1.8 unit from the current RS and Alpine A110? If the former, you wouldn't expect any troubles.

Shame to hear of the dreaded turbo car heat soak on the Alfa Romeo.

The race sure was a procession and a clear indication the level of the Australian series is far below that of the TCR World Cup series, which is a worry.

[Mixer]

Vernay trots it in for a win.

https://www.speedcafe.com/2019/08/03...25g-OK82ExJ9m0

Will Brown wants to quit trying to pass around the outside on the first lap, I would have thought.

Cox doing nicely, poor Andre driving great but just no luck at all.

Wonder a little bit where Molly Taylor would be if she swapped cars with Mrs Tander.

[chavez]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

The race sure was a procession and a clear indication the level of the Australian series is far below that of the TCR World Cup series, which is a worry.

Why is it a worry?

[E.B]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

The race sure was a procession and a clear indication the level of the Australian series is far below that of the TCR World Cup series, which is a worry.

More of an indication of the Aussie driver talent level than the series surely.... A Frenchman who has never been to Australia, let alone seen the circuit, steps off a plane from Europe the night before, snags pole, and wins by a margin after a completely mistake free run.

[champcarman]

Originally Posted by E.B

More of an indication of the Aussie driver talent level than the series surely.... A Frenchman who has never been to Australia, let alone seen the circuit, steps off a plane from Europe the night before, snags pole, and wins by a margin after a completely mistake free run.

A fairly highly credentialed Frenchman though! Most Indy Lights Champions progress to Indycar.

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by chavez

Why is it a worry?

Because it means the racing is (was) only close because all the drivers are equally off the pace, rather than equally on the pace!

It means it is very likely a driver could win TCR Australia, then enter WTCR cup and be right down the back, which would be rather embarrassing... it would be better for the series to be at a world class level so drivers could go from TCR Australia to other TCR races and actually be on the pace.

[Umai Naa]

TCR Australia is a national series. That's all it's meant to be.

[champcarman]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

TCR Australia is a national series. That's all it's meant to be.

Correct , but a worthwhile addition to the Australian motor sport scene, we saw a decent crowd at QR today , maybe even bigger tomorrow!

[Mark0994]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

Is it running the famous Renault 2.0 F4RT iron block engine from the old Renault Megane RS (which you'd expect given it's an older car developed by privateers and released a full year before the actual road-going RS), or the new fangled aluminium Nissan MR series 1.8 unit from the current RS and Alpine A110? If the former, you wouldn't expect any troubles.

Shame to hear of the dreaded turbo car heat soak on the Alfa Romeo.

The race sure was a procession and a clear indication the level of the Australian series is far below that of the TCR World Cup series, which is a worry.

Megane is using Clio 1.6 block that was enlarged to 1.8, and then they installed crankshaft from Nissan Sentra and they are using turbo from Mercedes A-Class.
Some Frankenstein, but since Renault is dumping all money in stupid F1 project there is nothing to support these cars, they only give Vukovic their blessing

[Mark0994]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

Because it means the racing is (was) only close because all the drivers are equally off the pace, rather than equally on the pace!

It means it is very likely a driver could win TCR Australia, then enter WTCR cup and be right down the back, which would be rather embarrassing... it would be better for the series to be at a world class level so drivers could go from TCR Australia to other TCR races and actually be on the pace.

Well I would like that every national TCR series be on WTCR level, but that's impossible.
Just like that 1998 Bathurst. Rickard Rydell was 1.5 second faster then Steven Richards, and Richards later won Bathurst with Jason Bright, so he is not bad driver.
I would love to see Supercars drivers in WTCR, especially McLaughlin, but I don't know if they will be on top or not. After all almost no one from Supercars has driver FWD car.

[E.B]

Im enjoying TCR Aus very much.... but one irritating fact to me is that the leaderboard on screen only updates once per lap. The commentators are busy saying that driver X has gone off and dropping down the field, yet driver X still shows in 2nd or wherever for the rest of the lap.

A minor issue I admit, but in this day and age seems a bit outdated.

[GTRMagic]

Great to see the Enforcer in 3rd!
Car looked a lot better onboard & from the outside than at the Bend.
Schooling at Norwell making a difference?

[Umai Naa]

Originally Posted by E.B

Im enjoying TCR Aus very much.... but one irritating fact to me is that the leaderboard on screen only updates once per lap. The commentators are busy saying that driver X has gone off and dropping down the field, yet driver X still shows in 2nd or wherever for the rest of the lap.

A minor issue I admit, but in this day and age seems a bit outdated.

They're not fully utilising the timing system.

[Umai Naa]

Word is, the #777 crapped an engine.

The other thing that is apparent, is that GRM are now the only team actively running Renaults.

[Oldtony]

Originally Posted by E.B

Im enjoying TCR Aus very much.... but one irritating fact to me is that the leaderboard on screen only updates once per lap. The commentators are busy saying that driver X has gone off and dropping down the field, yet driver X still shows in 2nd or wherever for the rest of the lap.

A minor issue I admit, but in this day and age seems a bit outdated.

The TV production values are certainly not up to VASC standards EB, but I guess that would be a function of the budget.

The product (racing) is mostly of a very good standard although today's round was a bit processional.

[KA]

Originally Posted by E.B

More of an indication of the Aussie driver talent level than the series surely.... A Frenchman who has never been to Australia, let alone seen the circuit, steps off a plane from Europe the night before, snags pole, and wins by a margin after a completely mistake free run.

Originally Posted by champcarman

A fairly highly credentialed Frenchman though! Most Indy Lights Champions progress to Indycar.

...and a highly-credentialed Frenchman who knows fwd touring cars, and in particular the Audi, inside-out, racing against a field of drivers who mostly have got fairly limited fwd TCR experience...
To be honest, I'd have been very surprised to see Vernay anywhere other than right at the pointy end of the grid this weekend

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

Word is, the #777 crapped an engine.

The other thing that is apparent, is that GRM are now the only team actively running Renaults.

Does KR have a spare Astra engine?
Should Ms Taylor and Mr Rullo sleep in their cars in case they are repositioned elsewhere?

[Umai Naa]

Apparently there's a spare Opel engine trackside.

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by Mark0994

Megane is using Clio 1.6 block that was enlarged to 1.8, and then they installed crankshaft from Nissan Sentra and they are using turbo from Mercedes A-Class.
Some Frankenstein, but since Renault is dumping all money in stupid F1 project there is nothing to support these cars, they only give Vukovic their blessing

And yet TCR is "production car" racing as against Supercars "frankensteins"

Originally Posted by Oldtony

The TV production values are certainly not up to VASC standards EB, but I guess that would be a function of the budget.

I'll put it to you this way, just the package that does the grid run-through before the races is a $1m setup for Supercars.

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

Apparently there's a spare Opel engine trackside.

At least GRM & the Kelly's had spare engines (well KR had one anyway).

Also amusing how many mechanical issues we're seeing. Just like in Europe, road car parts are vulnerable and fragile, these cars will never approach bespoke race car reliability.

I'd love to see them in an invitational class at the 12hr but I wonder how many would finish.

[Mark0994]

Originally Posted by Mixer

And yet TCR is "production car" racing as against Supercars "frankensteins"

I'd love to see them in an invitational class at the 12hr but I wonder how many would finish.

Agree. That engine has gone too much from production based one. But neither Renault or Nissan have reliable engines in that class. That's why Lada Vesta uses 2.0 from old Megane RS, and they never had any issue with engine, that I am aware of.

Also TCR cars are racing in VLN and 24H Series, they will have TCR 500 event later this year. So they can survive even 24 Hours events

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by Mixer

And yet TCR is "production car" racing as against Supercars "frankensteins"

Honda and Volkswagen have completely standard engines, identical to the road car. It's only 350hp, not a big ask when the standard road car tune (with restrictive catalytic converter and a need to last for 300,000km) already makes 300hp.

Honda Civic Type R K20C1 production crate engine for $8,000 is a lot cheaper than Supercar's Aurora block Chevrolet for $100,000!