We’re delighted to report that the first Torque Developments trackday, held on Tuesday 15th March, was a unqualified success, with many of our loyal customers enjoying the delights of the tight, challenging and undulating Brands Hatch Indy circuit. Torque Development’s personnel had a busy day as well, offering advice on set up and future modifications, as well as taking some circuit time themselves.

Torque Development’s customers attended with a wide variety of mainly Japanese machinery, including Honda Civic Type R’s, Subaru Imprezas and Nissan Skylines, who enjoyed ample running with little or no stoppages.

We’ll be arranging further trackdays over the next few months and look forward to inviting customers, both old and new, to take advantage of our pre-trackday inspection service and upgrade consultation service available from Torque Developments technicians.

After the outstanding run at the last round at Silverstone, Chris Randall and the TDi-plc engineered Hofmann’s of Henley Lotus Europa arrived with high expectations at the tight and twisty Brands Hatch Indy circuit.

Practice saw the car setting highly competitive times, but with qualifying taking place in damp conditions, the little Lotus Europa struggled with tyre selection, with Chris producing a fantastic effort to place the 400bhp ex road car  4th on the grid, immediately behind a BMW M3 GT and Dodge Vipers.

Weather conditions had improved markedly for the race, but after an excellent start the bright and cold conditions meant that Chris struggled to heat up the Lotus Europa’s slick tyres for the first few laps, which kept him ‘busy’ with wheel inputs to quell oversteer.   

With the Europa’s slicks starting to ‘switch on’ as the rubber warmed up, the Hofmann’s of Henley Lotus started to set competitive lap times and close up on the leaders when the car was forced to retire following being hit by a back marker which was being lapped.

Click on this link to watch Chris Randall’s performance at Brands Hatch, the impact happens at 7:26.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiLtS4ucFow

Alas, this incident broke the rear suspension as well as destroying the brakes. Sadly despite sterling efforts from TDi’s Sam Borgman and the Hofmann’s mechanics – which included fitting a new driveshaft -  the car was forced out of race two as the impact was such that the brake master cylinder had failed. With the middle pedal having to pumped for each bend, Chris wisely decided to retire.

On the plus side, TDi and Hofmann’s proved that the Silverstone race pace wasn’t a one off and with further developments planned for the Lotus Europa over the winter, it bodes very well for the GT Cup in 2010.