I'm writing this up just before I leave for our Premier Inn near Bedford Autodrome. I've managed to the fit the ATS DTCs after some unexpected issues with the calliper bolts, but this has now been resolved. The car definitely feels a bit lighter on its feet as a result of the wheels but I haven't really pushed it too hard as the NS2Rs are still very much brand new and need scrubbing in. I went out with my brother earlier today, whose a dab hand with a camera to say the least, to get some photos of the car and it's new look and they've come out beautiful. The contrast of the finish on the wheels to the Flame Red paintwork is everything I had envisioned it to be. The weather forecast is set for light rain throughout Monday but hopefully I'll manage some dry time. Either way, I can't wait for it.. Bring on Bedford!
So, Bedford Autodrome, here we go.. We left our Premier Inn early Monday morning to head towards the track. The first impressions were that the roads had been covered in quite a bit of water and were quite slippy and greasy, which wasn't looking promising for the day. We turned up at Bedford in good time to get signed on and be ready for the safety briefing. While we were getting briefed, it wasn't ideal conditions, to say the least... wind and rain splattering the windows. Safety briefing done, we headed over to the pit lane where my friend and I had booked a garage, so we unloaded the cars and prepared for a few sighting laps. Ironically, as we started to get on the track, it felt like the rain picked up even more. Eagerly, we went out on our sighting laps taking it steady with the conditions but there was a buzz of excitement. Sighting laps done, we returned to the pits and waited for the queue to die down before we headed out on track. Doing the first few laps it was clear to see that there was a lack of grip with the NS2R, but obviously these aren't prime conditions for the tyres. I had to really wait before I could get on the power otherwise I would be off the track. Having the staggered tyre setup made things an interesting game, the rear was quite twitchy on the first few laps but reasonable. We returned to the pits and decided to drop our tyre pressures to around 28psi to see if that might help. After going out again, it was marginally better but I was really struggling to get some heat into the tyres because of how poor the conditions were and how much standing water was lying around. Going through some of the chicanes there were some hairy moments but I managed to catch it all the time and stay on the grey stuff. Lunchtime came about it and we realised that we'd need to go and fuel up because we'd used up half a tank of fuel flying around the track all morning. After lunch, it was a lot more promising. The rain started to die down and you could begin to find a bit more grip with the tyres. We came in after a few hot laps and checked the pressures. My friend decided to keep his higher and I went a little lower again, which I think was a mistake as he seemed to find more grip than I could. Pushing more and more as the afternoon went on, I got a bit braver and took the waterlogged chicane faster than I should've.. however, it was a fish tail moment and I only ended up about a meter off-track stationary. No harm, no foul but I was starting to get some more confidence with the tyres. Second to last session I went out and started to really push the limits, overtaking a few cars on the track. I was building speed more and more each lap but this is where I got confidence checked. Coming up to the pit straight on the last corner before my cooldown lap, I decided to take it slightly faster and use more curb. Going over the curb with more speed, the car started to go loose on the rear and I missed the catch and ended up in the field. Once again, the car was absolutely fine, no issues to be had but it did knock my confidence. To all credit to the guys on the day, they were absolutely sound. A few people asked if I was okay, came and checked on me and how I was doing, made sure I wasn't giving up on it. Anyhow, the last session came about and with my confidence checked, I took it easy when the track was at it's dryest, which I regret now. I should've pushed it a bit more in the corners as I could've been going faster for certain. Overall, even with the spin, it was a brilliant day. I was pushing the car every moment and it never skipped a beat. I ended up on 110+ track miles and it never once threw up a warning or made a noise that I should be concerned about. Even with the 240 mile round trip to the track and back, the car never once gave me a reason for concern. It was a shame about the conditions but it taught me a bit about car control and to maybe not use the curbs as much in wet or greasy conditions! Hopefully, next time it'll be some warmer weather and I'll be flying around. I'm already looking at March dates and Thruxton on 30th March is looking promising. Anyhow, here's my proof of track day fun with a few photos taken by the Javelin team. They ran the event superbly, were extremely welcoming and I wouldn't hesitate to book with them again.
Looks great, always higher pressures when wet though, Generates heat quicker due to the contact patch
I'll bear that in mind next time, thanks for the tip Jamie. Do you keep them consistently high during wet conditions or do you still reduce them back down when they have some heat in them?
Keep them high, They need to have the pressure to keep generating the heat, fwiw last time I was on track in the M3 was in torrential rain and I had 10/12psi extra pressure over what I'd had a couple weeks previous in the dry.
The front calliper bolts were way too big to fit in the wheel barrels of the DTCs, they had to be grinded down a lot to make the wheel fit.
Yeah, it was very wet in the morning and greasy in the afternoon. Not ideal for your first time driving with semi-slicks on track.
I mean, I basically did I just came spinning off and didn't hit anything but it was a very interesting day driving on the NS2Rs for the first time hard in those conditions.
Don't be too put off by them! I find them pretty good in the dry but they didn't stand a chance in those conditions.
Using them on road and track at the moment. The wheels are too nice not to use! Plus, I love the aggressive look on the 17s.
Oh no, I’m not put off at all. I had a really good day with them, balancing the limits all morning. I’m massively looking forward to some dry action. With the cars current setup, I think it’ll be nothing short of incredible.
Might be worth getting something more wet weather oriented tyres on your tibors. Then you can run them over winter and you will have the flexability on future track days if its wet. Wonder what other people run in the wet on track?
Yeah, potentially. To be honest, I’d like two sets of 17s really but there’s so many bits to do and buy, it’s hard to justify where to put the funds. I think I’ll sell the Tibors later this year really. Wet weather wise, the norm seems to be PS4 or Rainsport 3s but there’s the Eagle F1 Supersport, I believe that’s the name? They are supposedly better than the PS4 but it’s not offered in a 17” diameter.
I ran Goodyear asymmetric 3's on a number of wet tracks and was very impressed, but now i have the 5's waiting to go on, there supposed to be even better. And there in 19's
I've just fitted the supersport on my mk2, but only have the ns2r to compare them with so wont be able to provide any comprehensive conclusions compared to other popular choices.
I did run a set of Rainsports last year, didn't last long as it was on a drying track, should have swapped to semi's earlier really, but when it's really really wet there epic and the Rainsport 5's are supposed to be even better.
Unfortunately, it's looking like it'll be a damp one tomorrow so the supersport will probably be staying on for most of the day!
Jamie, I think you should give yourself a pat on the back for using the ns2rs in those conditions and not going off in a ball of flames!!!! Just got back from anglesey and even on a mildly damp track, the supersorts were unbelievably better than the ns2r which were absolutely shocking!
Yeah, maybe I should feel a bit better about it considering I was pushing the car. Sounds like two sets of wheels for track could be worth their weight in gold?
I know race teams have deap pockets buy you just have to look at any racing to see who ever is winning has the right tyres on. Worth there weight in 'gold'. I wonder how a gold set would look against flamd red?.
We were one of the fastest things on the track with the supersport fitted in the wet/damp! It was actually hilarious at times! Switched to the ns2rs and the lack of traction/grip was shocking. They were great in the dry during the afternoon. The initial cost is obviously a factor, but you'll kick yourself for not doing it sooner if you eventually go down that route.
Part of me is thinking that I should sell the AD08Rs and then get Supersports on the Tibors for wet use..
Jamie have you done the resistor cheat mod to fool the air bag stuff or had the air bag coded out? Cheers
You won't regret it! I understand it can be a logistical issue taking another set of wheels to track, but the difference they make is well worth the hassle!
I have not mate. To be honest, I thought about doing it at KTEC but they wanted to charge me about £40 but resistors apparently work.. just not super bothered by all the dash lights really?
I ordered some resistors to try it out this weekend but they haven't shown up, i wanted to put my fixed back in for next Tuesday as i have a track day at snetterton
The car has had its 25k mile service to have everything refreshed. In addition to having the filters and engine oil replaced, I’ve also refreshed the gearbox oil and has the clutch damper delete and Evol lower gearbox mount installed. Driving the car with the Evol mount, it feels a lot tighter now and more stable under acceleration. With the gearbox oil change and clutch damper delete, it feels like I can modulate the clutch pedal more when before it was slightly more bitey? Of course having the Evol on the car there is a little bit of vibration but definitely not so much that it isn’t bearable, plus it feels more race car which you can’t complain about! Potentially planning for another track day at the end of March but I’m waiting to see the weather forecast before booking. If it’s all clear then hopefully it’ll be back out on track.
I’ve just been out for a quick hoon in the Mégane to get a feel for the NS2Rs as it’s actually reasonably good weather for a change. The tyres feel great in the dry. I was pushing round roundabouts at hilarious speeds and probably could have been going even faster but there’s a time and a place for that, which is the track. I actually came back home but realised I wasn’t done and went even further just to go through some more bends. I think a lot of my friends/family believe that I bought the car because of its straight line potential but it’s all about the corners for me, the car doesn’t need remapping or more acceleration. With the modifications made it just feels even better through the corners. The first step is admitting it, so here we go... Hi, my name is Jamie, and I’m a cornering addict.
Congrats. Truly fast cars go round the bends quick. My first experience of that was 20 years ago when the owner of Munich Legend took me out for a spin in a trackmeister spec E30 M3. They were not a fast car even 20 years ago. But there was NO slowing for the corners. Terrifying especially sitting on the wrong side of the car.
That experience sounds both terrifying and amazing all at the same time. I’d love to experience an E30 M3, I can imagine it being such a raw experience. Especially in one that has had modifications done to it as well.
Been over a month since my last update with the Mégane. Luckily, my brother and I managed to get out and grab some photos before the dreaded lockdown was officially announced and utilised some of the good weather that we had been having. Since then I've spent a lot of the lockdown cleaning the Mégane within an inch of its life. I went over the car with some Meguiar's Ultimate Compound polish, Poorboys Black Hole glaze (really recommend this) and then two coats of the "new" Fusso Soft99 (really recommend this too), you can see the final product down below with my bro's well specced DC5. Of course, now the car is waxed and protected for rain, it's sunshine only on the weather forecast and the car is being covered in dust, tree soot and all kinds of crap. In the past few weeks I have decided that post lockdown I'm going to be selling my ATS DTCs and reverting back to my Tibors, if anyone would be interested in these wheels, just let me know. Nothing bad against the DTCs as I love the wheel but I need to free up some money due to unforeseen issues. There is also the potential that the Mégane could be being sold post lockdown but this is yet to be determined.
I have the same spec car as yours on ohlins. And seeing your brothers car makes me miss my blue dc5 I had back in the day. How do you find they compare
