How to win the UTCC (or do really well) on a budget

While traveling today, I started thinking about the UTCC. I'd love to enter that event one day (although it would have to be with a hired driver) but I don't know what I'd want to enter. So here is my question. Using a $20xx Challenge mentality to keep the budget to a reasonable level, what would be the best build in order to be competitive? No rules on the answer, just curious what could be built reasonably cheap yet still compete for the top dog status.

My thought so far would be an LSx swap into something, with a turbo (or two) bolted on. Should be good for 500-600rwhp. Not sure what chassis to use though.

What say you?

Single turbo LSx FC or depending what you consider cheap, an all motor LSx FD. Heck though, a recent Vette would sure be tempting.

Could you suspend an FC well enough to contend?

In reply to dyintorace:

I think it's possible.

Lightened civics with a k series engine have historically done well in the independent JV standings. I would stick a 2.4 liter cr-v motor with a K20 vtec head into an EF civic or CRX and lighten it up as much as possible. Do something similar to a miata if you really want some adventure. A well designed and dialed in locost should have a shot in any class.

dyintorace wrote: Could you suspend an FC well enough to contend?

Absolutely. Our local well-developed FC LS1 car is a freaking animal! It's down on power for the UTCC, but the Bilstein's (top-spec ones, not yellows), GC's, C/C plates, bushings, arms, sways, etc, etc, etc and it's all adjustable plus the functional splitter and wing for aero, widebody setup with 275/295's. I think it's probably the ultimate go-fast package.

Having more money never hurts, and almost always helps. Think about using a $20xx budget mentality, but having $20xxx to play with...it would be hard to compete.

It's hard to argue with a bespoke chassis. A well designed "prototype" style car would do well IMHO. I am imagining something like a new age CanAm car, or more realistically, Per's LeGrand with an LS engine.

In reply to Javelin:

Lol-I was thinking GT500 Mustang wheels would work well. The 285/35/18 hoosier seems to be a popular size for cheap barely used tires and should compliment that chassis well on the mustang wheels.

Maroon92 hit the nail on the head, IMO.

I would say that a prototype style car (closed wheel, possibly closed cockpit) would have a small surface area, good downforce and be really really light, so you wouldn't need quite as much power as something the size of a stock car. You'd be building a dedicated locost sort of car from scratch.

Of course, you'd be trading lots of time for money.

What about getting an older A-Mod car and swapping the snowmobile engine for a LSx? Imagine the LeGrand with 500+ hp back there. Or swapping in a Porsche flat-6.

dyintorace wrote: Could you suspend an FC well enough to contend?

If you look at Glenn Bunch's Challenger and the success he's had, I suspect anything with 4 wheels and a gasoline engine could contend. (With enough brainpower, talent, and development, of course. A huge pile of cash couldn't hurt, but I don't think that's what made the Challenger so fast.)

One of the things about the UTCC that surprises me (every year) is the way that participants shoot for the very top of the leaderboard no matter what they're driving. Maybe it's a statement about the nature of humanity, but as a spectator/journalist/documentarian/staffer, I love the way the field "stacks up" and shows the variety of possible solutions to achieve an "ultimate" track car.

As always, I can't wait for this year's event.

Maroon92 wrote: It's hard to argue with a bespoke chassis. A well designed "prototype" style car would do well IMHO. I am imagining something like a new age CanAm car, or more realistically, Per's LeGrand with an LS engine.

I can't argue with this, but, in my mind, this would be a much more expensive path than say an LSx swapped into some sort of road going car. If nothing else, few have the ability to put together a (well thought out) bespoke chassis. Certainly I don't!

Interesting that the FC RX-7 immediately came to minds. Other than that and the Honda, any other interesting ideas out there?

Tom...isn't the point of the UTCC to shoot for the top of the leader board??

Isn't the answer always Miata?

Miata + V8 + aero trickery == fast?

MR2 Turbo with TRD2000 kit and tire the width of Texas?

One of the fastest cars last year (and the most terrifying!) was an LS powered Superstalker. (6th overall) He was absolutely flying!

John Meyers was the owner, and pilot and he built it in his garage!

If I was a betting man, I'd wager his budget was $50K less than the cars that finished above him.

That thing was amazing!

John Meyers is kind of heroic, that's a spindly little creation and I'm guessing he was hitting over 160 on the straights. VIR is such a perfect venue for the Ultimate Track Car Challenge, it requires both low and high speed handling ability, serious power for the straights, and killer braking in at least two zones.

One of my favorite incar videos from any UTCC so far was Glenn Bunch's incredible Hemi Challenger from the 2009 event. Watch as this beast claws its way out of the Oak Tree corner and down the striaght with just four forward gears. That's 0-100ish in FIRST GEAR.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x13C7-NGneY

Supah Seven clone with huge fat slicks, a big silly wing to heep it on the ground and 600 hp made with compressed air and fuel that burns invisible.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Supah Seven clone with huge fat slicks, a big silly wing to heep it on the ground and 600 hp made with compressed air and fuel that burns invisible.

I'd be willing to bet that to win it you'd need better aero than that.

A Caterham 7 with a highly boosted 3sgte, rolling on 15x12 wheels with huge slicks, and a dirt track sprint car wing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hoiazp7kPV0

I think a Radical or any other sports racer could win the way they come out of the box. The bike engines put out good HP and the car weighs anywhere from 900 to 1100lbs. f you took that platform and turboed or had it built it would put out great #'s. That coupled with descent sized slicks and the aero is a winning package. They're always the fastest thing at the racetrack, including GT-1 cars and the guys who run Nascars with a road setup. If you think a engine swap would be necessary, a B18 or K20 would be kind of a tough fit, but a good candidate. Anything V6 or V8 would be hard to put in the chassis without tons of modification. Then if that's done the balance of the car is now way off b/c it wasn't meant for a huge engine.

Steven

Ok, I want that! My kind of car but I second the MR2

and that FC is gorgeous!!

C5 Corvette + Bigass tires + Turbo - weight.

I have to think this combination would get you to the pointy end with relatively little outlay.

scardeal wrote: Isn't the answer always Miata? Miata + V8 + aero trickery == fast?

I like this idea - get a swoopy hardtop on an NB and make it 1800 lb light and stuff a NA LSx 454 in it making somewhere around 650-750 hp (which should be pretty easy) and modify the body (no flares) to run some super wide slicks...