Tom Hughes brought out his #18 Pro Formula Mazda racecar to partake in the Sport Compact Car G Masters Shootout. The feature is in the August issue which is on newsstands now.
Here is what Tom had to say about the event. “The main objective of the event was max Gs through turn 2 of Willow Springs. Emile worked with me on an oval set-up to get me flat from exit of turn 1, flat into turn 2 (at 125 mph), and flat or nearly flat through the turn. The article reports 2.01g average and 2.15g max lateral, but doesn’t include vertical Gs, which I think it should since there is banking. I calculate peak Gs at around 2.4g. Anyway the 2nd highest lateral Gs was the Williams at 1.64g average and 1.77g peak.”
“The secondary objective for the event was lap time. With somewhat less of an oval set-up I turned a 1:17.558. The Williams was 2nd fastest at 1:19.307. On the back straight I was running out of revs in 6th gear (top) at 141 mph. With the taller gear stack, a little more courage into turn 9 (due to pit wall after that), and raising the ride height to not bottom out as much at the apex of turn 9, I could have gone faster – but didn’t want to make the Williams look too bad.”
“The Lotus had highest lat Gs through turn 2 among the “Supercars”, turning 1.11g avg and 1.20 max lat Gs. Three “Race Cars” (sport cars) had higher Gs, up to 1.31g avg and 1.43g for the S2000 Honda.”
World Speed Motorsports would like to thank Jay Chen and the entire Sport Compact Car staff for allowing us to be part of the shootout, and also Tom Hughes for taking time out to do the driving, and for providing the racecar. WSM staff members Emile Tabb and Chuck Whitely squeezed the event in between very busy weekends, and made the deal come together so a special thanks goes out to them as well.
Read the online version here:
http://www.superstreetonline.com/features/news/0708-sccp-lateral-g-skidpad-testing/